TWO options have been put forward for a new £1.5 million shared-use path to link Dunfermline with Crossford, Cairneyhill and the West Fife villages.

Named Carnegie's Way, it's a Crossford Community Council project to open up a better route to the city for walkers, cyclists and 'wheelers'.

Spokesperson Alastair Hibbert said: "It would help the community no end to have a sustainable route into Dunfermline.

"That something needs to be done has been apparent for decades."

Last October, Fife Council commissioned consultants, engineering firm WSP, to look at eight possible routes, their report has now been published and two scored highest in terms of feasibility and user impact.

An application will be submitted next month to Sustrans and their Places for Everyone fund, which uses Scottish Government cash to pay for infrastructure that encourages walking, wheeling and cycling.

Fife Council service manager Susan Keenlyside said: "A feasibility study is now complete and the community council is taking the lead in attracting external funding for the project which is expected to cost around £1.5m.

"Once funding is agreed there will be public consultation on the preferred route and formal design work can start."

Mr Hibbert added: “Construction is still at least a couple of years away but we're very hopeful our application will be accepted and the process can begin at last.“

He said the current route – a narrow and uneven footpath that's barely wide enough for one person – from Crossford to Dunfermline was "appalling".

Crossford Community Council support option one, a route from just outside the Glen Pavilion, in Pittencrieff Park, and out of the West Gate.

There would be a pedestrian crossing on Coal Road, the path would cross farmland along field boundaries to Urquhart Farm, divert around the cottages and then run parallel to the A994 and into Crossford.

The second option starts at Forth Street, cuts through parkland south of Lovers Loan and connects with an existing core path that approaches Urquhart Farm from the south. It would then take the same route, following along the south side of the A994 road into Crossford.

Mr Hibbert said: "We've tried to use the least amount of land, our proposal follows a line of trees and is an old historic route into Dunfermline.

"The West Gate has been locked up for half a century and we believe the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust are very keen to see the project going ahead, it could only increase footfall and help with their ambitious plans for the park.

“Unfortunately, the landowner does not appear keen to sell the necessary land and the tenant farmer does not appear keen on the idea either, although I'd have thought a footpath that brings cyclists and pedestrians right past the door of a possible farm shop would be welcomed.

He added: "The other proposed route would actually take you away from the city centre.

"It's an extra kilometre and uses an existing core path, which is used by agricultural vehicles to service four massive fields.

"It could mean a lot of traffic on that wee route and in my opinion is not desirable to have big, heavy agricultural vehicles going down a narrow road and then coming across a mobility scooter coming the other way.

"Also, we understand Places for Everyone will only provide funding for new routes if they're exclusively for the use of walkers, cyclists and wheelers."

The Press contacted Urquhart Farm but did not receive a response before going to print.

Full details of the project can be found at www.carnegiesway.org