DUNFERMLINE councillors are set to approve funding of £15,000 to go towards installing CCTV cameras in Pittencrieff Park. 

It’s hoped that the technology will act as a much needed deterrent for anti-social behaviour and vandalism that has been plaguing the Glen, particularly in recent months. 

The total cost for the installation of the CCTV system is estimated to be £60,000 and the remaining funding should be provided by Fife Council's facilities management service.

The budget request will be made at the meeting of the City of Dunfermline area committee tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. 

A plea for CCTV to be installed was made back in January by Harry Dunn, chair of the Friends of Pittencrieff Park, after part of a children's playpark was set on fire, and has been highlighted as part of the Press’ campaign ‘Protect our Glen’. 

The case for additional security measures was strengthened further when memorial benches were destroyed by vandals on January 27. 

After the latest spate of incidents Councillor Helen Law, convener of the area committee, told the Press: “I have been asked to take this forward and I’m hopeful that we will be able to make that contribution. 

“It’s really heartbreaking to see the damage that is frequently being caused in the Glen and CCTV might go some way in eliminating that. 

“I’m delighted to take that request to the committee and I hope that my colleagues will agree to the funds. I would not think for a moment that anyone would argue against.”

Also on the agenda is a request for £4,000 for Pittencrieff House. The funds will go towards the installation of shutters on the historic building to enhance security. 

The total cost is expected to be £8,000 and the remaining amount will be provided by the council's community projects team. Another four requests will go before the committee. 

They are: £18,000 towards the £47,500 cost of replacing 16 floodlights at Dunfermline High School; staffing costs of £21,977 for maternity cover of the advice and information co-ordinator’s fulltime hours at the Advice Hub; £13,000 for woodland maintenance in the Calais and Townhill woods; and £3,000 to upgrade the kitchen at Townhill Community Centre. 

The committee have money left to spend from their £347,897 budget for the 2020-21 financial year. 

The money was split between the three wards – Dunfermline Central £19,556, Dunfermline South £22,812 and Dunfermline North £19,942, while there was £129,390 for Dunfermline-wide initiatives, £135,000 for anti-poverty measures and discretionary rating relief of £21,197.

However, £114,306 is still to be allocated and, if all requests are approved, this will reduce the balance to £39,328.