PLANS for the proposed £1.5 million Carnegie’s Way have progressed to the next stages.

It's a new pathway between Dunfermline to Crossford and the aim is to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to move between the village and the city.

After a successful 'expression of interest' submitted by Fife Council to the Places for Everyone scheme run by Sustrans, Crossford Community Council have now been invited to submit a formal application for funding of the concept stage.

Alastair Hibbert updated the Press, he said: “It’s really quite an exciting project.

"The government keeps going on about developing sustainable travel and this plays directly into that, it benefits so many people.

"It’s not one little village that would benefit, it’s the whole of West Fife. It’s early stages and there are a lot of hurdles to cross but it’s exciting that the project has been accepted and we are moving forward in a formal way!”

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

Last month two options were put forward for the shared-use path.

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.

Service manager for Fife Council, 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 £1.5 million with a submission to Sustrans.

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

The project is currently in stages 0-2 where the focus is on developing a business case, consulting stakeholder feedback and data and exploring designs. They hope to move on to stages 3-5, with stage 5 being construction.