INSPECTIONS to decide if visitors can return to some of West Fife’s best historical attractions are to take place over the next year.

Several Historic Environment Scotland (HES) sites currently have access restrictions due to potential safety risks and there has already been concerns raised about the impact on the local economy.

The first phase of a programme to assess whether the buildings are safe has already been completed, with Inchcolm Abbey reopening before its winter closure period, but places like Culross Abbey and St Bridget’s Kirk in Dalgety Bay are still on the waiting list.

There was good news with an announcement earlier this month that the service would re-open the walkway through the walled gardens of Aberdour Castle, where inspections began this week.

However, HES has stressed that this survey does not mean that the castle will be open to the public immediately.

Anne-Marie O’Reilly, district visitor and communities manager, said: “If further work is required, there will be an action plan outlined with potential short and medium timescales and what that means for reopening the castle and the gardens.

“As everyone starts to get view of the castle again it will give everyone an opportunity to see the work that has continued during the closure in the walled garden.

“They may also get a glimpse of the survey when walking through when it begins.”

Surveyors will visit St Bridget’s Kirk next month, while Dunfermline Palace and Refectory will keep restrictions in place until visits are made next year, while Culross Abbey is also scheduled for inspection in 2023.

An HES spokesperson added: “Where possible we’ve maintained visitor access, with 73 per cent of the year round sites we care for fully or partially open across Scotland.

"To ensure we are undertaking this work as quickly as possible we have scheduled inspections throughout the winter months.

"At this stage we’re unable to give a date as to when we will be able to restore full access to the sites until we have completed the survey and analysed the results."

There's more information at https://www.historicenvironment.scot/inspections”.

The Press reported in July that heritage sites in the Kingdom, and across Scotland, had been closed while”high-level” inspections to address fears that crumbling masonry could put the public at risk took place.

The service said that climate change was a factor in this decision after an increase in deterioration of stonework and falling masonry was noted in several locations.