A mother who lost her child in a car crash has expressed her sadness after discovering benches installed in memory of her son have been removed.
Hazel Gibson, from Lochgelly regularly visits Lochore Meadows, where the benches were erected for Cole after his death in 2011.
Cole died in a car crash on the A9 when he was seven years old.
The manager of the park, known as the Meedies, says the benches had to be removed as their condition deteriorated and became a safety risk.
Cole’s benches were removed without warning
Hazel said: “We realised a couple of weeks ago when my father came to visit from England.
“We hunted high and low but couldn’t find them. My partner walked round the whole of the park but didn’t see them.
“I got quite upset because they were up for a long time.”
The benches were installed after a fundraising drive by people who live in Lochgelly.
Hazel takes her two children, 10-year-old Talon, Pandora, 5 and one-year-old Bjorn to visit the benches.
She said: “We decided on park benches because Cole was always at the Meedies and it was a nightmare dragging him out of there.
“He was also involved in the Kids Come First group and they quite often went to the meadows.
“He was constantly up there.”
The country park’s manager Ian Laing confirmed the benches had to be removed as they were badly degraded and becoming a health and safety risk.
He added: “We know these benches mean such a lot to the people who have donated them, but we had no records of the donor and we’re really sorry that we were not able to get in touch before they were removed.
“When benches are placed in the park, it’s on the basis that they remain the property of the donor and they are responsible for their maintenance.”
Hopes new benches can be installed
Hazel understands why she wasn’t contacted but hopes a new memorial can be installed next year.
She added: “There was no records left by the previous manager so when Ian started, there was nothing for him to go on.
“I understand why he couldn’t contact me but I’m annoyed that there was nothing on record and I fear that this may have happened to someone else.
“A lot of people choose to plant a tree but we’d want a new bench.
“It’s something the kids get really excited about, getting to visit their brother’s bench.”
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