MORE than £148,000 has been spent on projects in West Fife ranging from helping a pipe band and buying fireworks through to remembering witches and marking the anniversary of a pit disaster.

Councillors on the South-West Fife area committee were given an update last week on how money from the local community planning budget had improved lives for local residents.

More than £40,000 was given to 30 projects in ward 1, West Fife and coastal villages, including £2,000 for Remembering West Fife Witches; £5,000 for Carnock and Gowkhall Community Trust Development Project; £1,200 for Renewing Steelend Club; and £900 for the 80th anniversary of the Valleyfield pit disaster and Christmas Lights.

The local community plan 2019-20 also saw £800 handed out for the snowdrop festival in Valleyfield woods; £600, £1,500, £1,000 and £1,800 respectively for galas in Kincardine, Steelend, Carnock & Gowkhall and Valleyfield; £250 for flowers in Culross; £600 for fireworks in Saline; and £150 for the elderly in Cairneyhill.

The £4,900 given to High Valleyfield Bowling Club will improve facilities on and off the green and allow more young people and people with disabilities to take up the sport.

West Fife Woodlands Group received £5,000 for the development of a path between Saline and Comrie/Oakley that can be used by walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.

The project total is £17,000 and the council cash will contribute towards two bridges that are required to cross two burns and a stock-proof fence to separate the path from livestock.

In ward 5, Rosyth, seven projects shared just over £24,000. That included £3,051 for Christmas lights; £7,666 for a holiday programme; £1,435 for the 81st Fife Broomhall Sea Scout Group; and £6,000 for defibrillators at the Parkgate Centre and Fleet Grounds.

Regeneration of the Goth area in Rosyth is under way with £3,420 from the council and money from Sustrans in place. There's been consultation in the community, including the four primary schools in Rosyth, and the design stage has been completed.

And although the Rosyth Gala couldn't go ahead this year, the £2,500 they received will hopefully help next year's fun day to take place.

In ward 6, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, 16 projects received more than £47,000 in funding. That included more than £5,500 for Christmas lights in both towns; £7,667 for a holiday programme; £2,000 for Aberdour Community Council initiatives; £400 for Dalgety Bay Horticultural Society and £250 to cover rent for the Inverkeithing Local History Society.

More than £13,500 has been put towards Dalgety Bay town centre redevelopment and there's £14,975 for the Inverkeithing Neighbourhood Plan.