Fife Council will make a final decision on the site for Kirkcaldy's new swimming pool on September 17.

Detailed design work will start later that month, with the aim being to have the new complex up-and-running by summer 2011. A total of 11 sites are currently under consideration. This approach was agreed at the latest meeting of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee. Councillors will also be holding a workshop session in advance of the September meeting in order to consider each of the possible sites in detail.

Committee Chair, Councillor Alice Soper said: "There has been a great deal of local interest in the new swimming pool, including a number of different suggestions as to the best location for the facility.

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"We are undertaking a detailed technical appraisal of each of the possible sites and recognise the importance of making the right decision for the Kirkcaldy area."

Councillor Soper added: "As a Council, we are committed to improving sport and leisure opportunities for all and this is reflected in what will be a major investment in the sporting infrastructure of the town.

"Everyone recognises the benefits of swimming and other sporting activities as being one of the key means of improving the health and well-being of our communities and I for one am very much looking forward to the provision of a state-of-the-art swimming facility in Kirkcaldy."

The sites under consideration for the new swimming pool are: the existing site, Tolbooth Street, Invertiel, Kirkcaldy Eastern Expansion, Dunnikier Park (adjacent to Kirkcaldy High School), Randolph Playing Fields, Windmill Road Playing Fields, the former Nairn Works on Victoria Road, Beveridge Park, Ravenscraig Park and Kirkcaldy South West.

Grant Ward, Senior Manager for Sport, Parks and Countryside, told the Committee that the site appraisal was already underway and that the results of this would help guide and inform the Councillors workshop session and the report to the meeting on September 17.

(GK/JM)