COUNCILLORS will need to wait until later this year to consider future options for the Inverkeithing High site.

While a report is due to go before Fife Council's Cabinet Committee on Thursday, the two page briefing outlines six possible options and asks elected members to agree to another report being produced in the Autumn.

Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor, David Barratt, described the latest development as "disappointing" .

"When I saw the contents page and saw the report was just two pages, I was not surprised," he said, "I scrolled down to see it was not the paper we have been waiting for.

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"It is a brief of what the paper will be and confirmation we have to wait until Autumn for it.

"It was firstly promised in 2020 and secondly, I chased it up in September to see where it was to now be told that we are not going to have it until Autumn.

"To some extent, I think the longer it drags on, the more farcical it looks and the more angry people in Inverkeithing become. The pressure then mounts on the council which will hopefully make the realise that the appetite is there and they can not get away with removing the facilities from Inverkeithing."

The report due to be discussed by councillors said the options proposed will "take into account" the impact of the loss of the school and the strong community desire to retain or replace the existing community use and sports facilities in Inverkeithing.

The disposal options outlined are:

  1. Retention and refurbishment of The Wing (including pool, community facilities, grass and synthetic pitches) at the existing Inverkeithing High School
  2. Construction of a new pool with community facilities at Inverkeithing High School site.
  3. Construction of a new stand-alone pool at the Inverkeithing High School site.
  4. Construction of a new pool at the replacement High School on the Fleet Grounds site.
  5. Construction of community facilities without a pool within Inverkeithing
  6. Provision of grass and synthetic turf pitches within Inverkeithing.

Cllr Barratt said out of the options, only two would be acceptable with his preference being the construction of a new pool with community facilities on the site of the existing school.

"There has always been this lingering suspicion after always saying new schools don't get swimming pools for them to say we will make an exception and move it from Inverkeithing to Rosyth," he said.

"We will see what the final report brings in the Autumn which will be over a year since it was requested. Points I will be making at Cabinet Committee will be around consultation and discussions with the community.

"I will be expressing my disappointment at the contents. However, I want it to be delivered so if officers need time – a year as it happens – then so be it but it needs to have proper dialogue with all stakeholders involved or it doesn't justify having taken a year."

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Liberal Democrat councillor James Calder has also expressed concern at the report.

"We are already losing significant swimming capacity in the West Fife area with the closure of Woodmill, and if we lose a second pool then the Carnegie Leisure Centre will be bursting at the seams," he said.

"While I am pleased the report is finally being published, I want to see a commitment soon to ensure that we continue to have a community-use pool locally.

"I will be urging the Administration to make it a matter of priority to protect swimming provision. The West Fife area cannot afford to lose another pool."

Fife Council's Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods Service, Paul Vaughan, confirmed that consultation will be carried out as options are weighed up.

He stated: "The Community Use Team is undertaking usage analysis of The Wing at Inverkeithing High School and will progress customer consultation as part of the options appraisal.

"Information on the wider availability and use of community venues in the area is also being collated including those facilities managed by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and the voluntary sector.

"SportScotland are undertaking research using their facilities planning model including provision across the South and West Fife and City of Dunfermline areas.

"A Fife report from their model, as part of a Scotland report, considering the demand for and location of leisure facilities, including swimming, is expected in the next few months.

"This will provide information for the options appraisal information and inform the scope the Fifewide review of leisure, cultural services and facilities."