Fife Council's Housing and Communities Committee recognised the level of investment needed in sporting facilities throughout Fife yesterday.

Councillors discussed the development strategy for sports centres, swimming pools, pitches and community facilities such as golf courses and bowling greens, which includes investing in maintenance and refurbishment, developing new facilities and reviewing the availability of sports amenities. Following extensive consultation, the strategy incorporates the views of national bodies, local sports councils, sports clubs and local area committees.

The work outlined compliments the £50m investment previously agreed for Fife's three largest sport facilities; the refurbishment of Carnegie Leisure Centre in Dunfermline and replacement of the Fife Sports Institute in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy Swimming Pool.

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Chair of the Housing & Communities Committee, Councillor Brian Goodall, welcomed the clear direction outlined by the report: "Council officers have gathered a huge amount of information about Fife's current sporting provisions from national surveys and audits as well as local user groups.

"We now have areas of investment mapped out and a clear picture of what still needs to be investigated in order to make decisions about facilities for the future.

"This long-term strategy will guide the improvement of sport, leisure and cultural opportunities in Fife over the next ten years."

Steve Grimmond, Head of Community Services, added: "We can now start work on a programme of maintenance and improvements to sports facilities that Fifers will see the benefit of in the next one to three years. At the same time, we will be carrying out option appraisals in a number of areas, such as golf and bowling, to decide the long-term approach to providing facilities that are accessible to all."

(GK)