A £9m redevelopment of the Kirkcaldy Sea Wall is to begin this week.

The sea wall is being refurbished and heightened to help protect the Promenade, while new seating and lighting are being installed to make it a more attractive place for local people and visitors to enjoy.

Two compounds have been set up from which the work will be carried out. One is at the basin car park, and the other is located opposite Volunteers Green.

Contractors VolkerStevin will be on site until November 2013, and will continue after the winter in March until the completion date of autumn 2014.

One of the first tasks for the contractor will be to repair the wall at the basin car park, at the south end of the Esplanade, and begin to put the rock armour revetment in place. This will break up large waves before they reach the wall.

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It is expected that the wall from the basin car park to Nichol Street will be upgraded in the first phase of the project, with the second half being completed next year.

Councillor Neil Crooks, Chair of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, said: "I am delighted to see this project finally get underway and that the Council have listened to local opinions that were expressed during the consultation.

"People were worried that the view over the wall would be obscured with the additional height, so the contract has been changed to take this into account. It will now include raising the whole Promenade to improve visibility, and resurfacing it in tarmac to replace the monobloc which has deteriorated over the years.

"Another good idea that came up at the consultation was about marking the sea wall with distance markers as a feature for walkers, joggers, runners and cyclists, which has now been included in the plans.

"There will be some inconvenience due to the rock revetment coming in by road instead of by sea, but the cost difference in favour of road transport has meant a better finished product can be delivered with new street furnishings and lighting."

A public drop-in office is being set up at the compound opposite Volunteer's Green.

It will open from 15 July to allow the public to learn more about the upgrade works.

(JP/CD)