ORGANISERS of Dunfermline's Fresh Air Festival say they still hope to bring back the event despite having to shelve initial plans for it to return in June this year.

It had been hoped that the festival would be held on Saturday, June 3. However its Public Park venue has already been booked by the Apprentice Boys of Derry for a march.

A post on the Apprentice Boys of Derry in Scotland's Facebook back in August last year confirmed a decision that the 2023 S.A.C. Relief of Derry Parade would take place in Dunfermline, on Saturday, June 3, under the auspices of the Kingdom of Fife No Surrender Branch Club.

Central Dunfermline Community Council chairperson Jim Stewart expressed frustration at the booking having started the ball rolling for their festival to take place on the same day.

"The Fresh Air festival had taken place in the Public Park, on the last weekend in May or first weekend in June for seven years prior to Covid-19," he explained.

"The park has few, if any, events booked for 51 weeks of the year. We had already started the processes to be able to hold this year's event on Saturday, June 3, and were devastated to find the Fife Council had already booked the park for another event.

"Apparently the Apprentice Boys from all over Scotland will be assembling in the park to then march down the High Street. Normal process is that the community council are informed and consulted on such events."

Mr Stewart said they are now hoping to fix an alternative date later in the year.

He added: "Our family event considers school/weekend holiday, other local events, availability of the facilities, promoters and not least the weather.

"We still hope to have our Fresh Air Day in the Public Park as soon as we can make it happen."

Shona Robertson, emergency resilience manager with Fife Council, said they were working to help find alternative options for the Fresh Air Festival.

"We consider applications to use our parks and open spaces on a first come, first served basis," she said. "Anyone looking to hold an event in one of our parks can check availability with our events team by emailing FifeEvents@fife.gov.uk. We recommend they contact us before making plans or publicising anything.

"Once confirmed, we ask event organisers to share details with councillors, the community council and in the local area.

"We're keen to support the Fresh Air Festival and have offered to help the organisers find an alternative date or location for their event."