The forever skyline changed forever when the 300ft Methil chimney stack that inspired artist Jack Vettriano was demolished on Wednesday.
The huge stone chimney, part of the former power station which dominated Largo Bay for over four decades, was brought down in a controlled explosion shortly after 2.30pm.
The move follows last month’s demolition of the boiler house and could herald a new dawn for the recession-hit area.
It is hoped that clearance of the site will pave the way for leisure facilities and attract tourists back to the once popular spot.
Fife Council’s Levenmouth area committee chairman Councillor David Alexander said he was delighted to see the power station’s demise.
“It was a big monstrosity and I’m glad it’s down,” he said. “Every time the national media have come down to Levenmouth to interview me on camera they always insisted on having the power station in the background to show how things hadn’t really moved on here.
“I’m more than happy that that whole site is now cleared.”
Mr Alexander said the council’s local plan had designated the site as a leisure and recreation area, although the land is owned by Forth Ports.
He added it would be up to private investors to negotiate with the land-owner before submitting planning applications to the council.
“To me, it’s a perfect setting overlooking Leven beach and the bay so the potential is there to bring Leven back as a tourist resort. But it’s going to take the private sector to step up to the mark and we have to persuade them the infrastructure is there.”
Not everyone was glad to see the chimney’s demise, with former employee Jim Moyes saying he was heartbroken to see it go.
The Buckhaven man, who worked at the power station from 1979 until it closed on March 31, 2000, said, “I was there when they turned the key in the gate for the last time. It’s heartbreaking because it was one of the best places to work.
“It was like a family that worked in there. Everybody knew one another and it was a great atmosphere.”
Mr Moyes and five other former staff members who witnessed the chimney falling marked the occasion with a meal at Leven Thistle Golf Club in the afternoon.
The power station was immortalised in the 2006 Jack Vettriano painting Long Time Gone which features a couple embracing in the building’s shadow. At the time, the Methil-born artist said its attraction lay in its “terrible beauty.”
“It’s been there since I was a boy and it’s such a landmark. It does have a terrible beauty it’s ugly but beautiful at the same time,” he said.
The project to remove the power station which in its heyday employed more than 1000 people and generated electricity for 3.5 million homes began in April last year as part of ScottishPower’s plans to return the land to Forth Ports.
Wednesday’s much anticipated demolition attracted hundreds of onlookers who lined the streets, the Promenade and the beach. Some even climbed on to the roof of a house overlooking the seafront in a bid to secure a better view.
Police worked closely with ScottishPower and contractor Brown and Mason Limited to ensure the event passed off safely, and road restrictions were in place for some of the afternoon.
This led to some congestion afterwards as those who had watched the explosion tried to leave the area.