HOPES for a Men’s Shed in Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park were dashed last week – as it would be "burned down to the ground" within six months.

Members of a steering committee met representatives of Fife Council and members of the park’s staff to discuss the project but were warned it would be targeted by vandals and thieves.

“They generously offered us spaces in various buildings for our weekly meetings,” explained a spokesman for the committee, “but they told us in no uncertain terms to forget all about our ideas for a purpose-built Shed in the Glen.

“They informed us, as a matter of fact, that any machinery of any value we installed would immediately be stolen and that, if it was made of wood, the shed would be burned down to the ground in six months at most.

“We were horrified at the scale of vandalism and anti-social behaviour they described: buildings wrecked and burned, plants and trees uprooted, attempts to shoot the peacocks and set them on fire. It’s sickening.”

He added: “Our informants, who wouldn’t want to be named, told us that there is a serious problem every night in the Glen.

"The police know all about it, they said, but the police would prefer the troublemakers to be in the park than out on the streets so they do nothing.”

The idea for a Dunfermline’s Men’s Shed – a recreational area where men can work together on their own and on community projects – has been gathering pace throughout the year.

There are almost 150 throughout Scotland and the aim is to provide an essential social service by helping to combat isolation and mental health problems among men.

“We were hoping to bring real enhancements to the Glen,” explained the spokesman.

“We had ideas for helping to maintain the memorial benches, some of which are in a sad state of repair, and we have been talking about creating a tool library and a community repair service.

"It’s deeply discouraging that such promising plans should be wrecked for such shameful reasons.”

Dunfermline councillor Helen Law, who is also on the board of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, said she still hoped the Men's Shed could be built in the Glen.

She said: "I know Fife Council and the trust are very keen to help them get premises as it's a great concept.

"We're still looking at possibilities in the Glen, I'm hopeful we'll find a place for it and I'm keen to have another meeting, but if it can't go in there we'll try and find somewhere close by.

"I know there was a meeting with some concerns expressed but I don't think the intention was to stop the project moving forward.

"You can't have new developments and ideas being stopped due to vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

"The trust really have high ambitions for the Glen and there was a huge public consultation about the improvements they want to bring in.

"That work is moving forward and the Men's Shed would be a real asset."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Community officers regularly carry out patrols in and around the area of Pittencrieff Park.

"If there are acts of vandalism being carried out, we need these reported directly to police via 101 so officers can act accordingly."

The Press was told there had only been one call to police about anti-social behaviour in the park since the start of October and that while there were "sporadic issues" with youths in the Glen, they were usually "pretty minor" and that the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Fife Council "have no real concerns".

The police said: "If people are breaking the law in the park, they would be treated the same as if they were on the street, so that doesn’t make a difference to officers."

The council's safer communities manager, Kirstie Freeman, said: "We are aware that there are ongoing issues in Pittencrieff Park and we are stepping up our patrols in this area and working with police to help combat this behaviour.

"We would encourage members of the public to report any further incidents."