Popular attractions will reappear at Craigtoun Park this year after it emerged that Fife Council is seeking applications from businesses to run them.
Locals and visitors to the St Andrews country park have been disappointed to see how rundown it has become in recent years a situation which has prompted a recent bid by St Andrews Community Council to start up a trust it hopes will eventually take responsibility for the park’s maintenance and development and lead to a much-needed revamp.
In the meantime, though, Fife Council is seeking companies to operate and manage concessions in the park during the 2012 summer season.
As well as the opportunity to run the park’s famous miniature railway, the local authority is also looking for an operator to run other attractions including putting and boating, catering and inflatable activities.
Area services manager Kate Hughes said these would complement the other free attractions already on offer at Craigtoun.
She said: “We hope that we get lots of interest so we can look forward to offering as much as possible for Fifers at the park this summer.”‘Wonderful peaceful surroundings’She added: “The park is a fantastic asset in north-east Fife and I would encourage local residents and visitors to the area to come along and enjoy free entry to the vast open green space, the plants, especially our iris collection, the adventure play area and the opportunity to relax in wonderful peaceful surroundings.
“We will only accept attractions that are appropriate to the park and that don’t disturb people who live nearby.”
Application forms can be found on the Public Contracts Scotland website and the closing date for anyone wishing to register their interest will be April 27 at 3pm.
While Fife Council has not been able to provide the community council with a detailed breakdown of cost, the repair bill has been estimated at £4 million, with potential running costs of £400,000 a year.
The council confirms that Craigtoun will continue to be operated as a free-to-enter park for the foreseeable time, with funding in place for at least the next 12 months.
A further announcement on the outcome of the tendering process is expected at the start of June.