A battle to stop one of Fife’s key tourist routes from collapsing into the sea is to begin in earnest.
A consultant geologist will be tasked with drawing up a blueprint to stop falling rocks and coastal erosion on a footpath in Dysart.
The path which runs alongside Fife’s popular coastal route has been closed to the public since a section of sandstone cliff collapsed more than two years ago.
Since then, the cliff has been precariously overhanging the beach and the main route between Dysart harbour and Ravenscraig Park has been fenced off.
Fife Council is now seeking a permanent fix amid fears any further erosion could cause a serious accident.
While the work could cost as much as £35,000, that is nothing compared to the revenue generated by users of the coastal path every year.
The annual 580,000 visitors currently spend up to £29 million in Fife and, with the Dysart section a favourite among visitors, a good proportion of the money is spent there.
Although the coastal path is not directly affected by the rockfall, walkers often took a detour to visit Dysart’s picturesque harbour and the popular Harbourmaster’s House.
Local councillor Kay Carrington said it is important to have the repairs done.
“If we are to earn money from tourism, this work is imperative,” she said.
“The main focus of this piece of work would be to maintain the steps from the harbour to the park which, at the moment, are shut off.”
A report to members of Kirkcaldy Area Committee by council officer Ken Halley said the cliff was clearly vulnerable and the overhang was likely to collapse in the not-too-distant future.
The preferred solution would be to shape the rock face to a more stable slope and place large rocks to limit further erosion.
Steel netting would also be installed to protect the public from rock falls.
Mr Halley said: “The project will directly benefit the large number of Fife residents who use this area recreationally on a regular basis, as well as visitors and tourists.
“It will help meet Fife Council’s priorities by improving the quality of life for Fife residents and will indirectly help with growing a vibrant economy.
“It will open up an area that has been partially closed to the public as well as protecting the coastline and coastal path, removing concerns over public safety,” he added.
Dysart councillor Lawrence Brown urged committee members to give the go-ahead to the geologist’s appointment.
“If we don’t get something done quickly we’re going to lose this,” he said.
“We can’t afford to let that happen. It’s an asset to the community and we need to get things moving.
“All it will take is another bad winter and high seas and we’ll lose it completely.”
He added: “Fixing it won’t just help Dysart. It’s for tourism, generally. Apart from that, it’s for safety.
“It’s fenced off at the moment but in high winds the fence gets ca’ed down,” Mr Brown went on. “We get youngsters climbing on it and it’s an accident waiting to happen.”
The consultant geologist will be appointed as soon as possible and design work is then expected to take around 12 weeks.
Funding will then be sought to carry out the repairs that are expected to be identified in the report.