An old coal mine could be a goldmine, according to a Fife councillor.
Fife Coast and Countryside Trust is taking over the management and running of Lochore Meadows Country Park from Fife Council from next month.
The local authority has already agreed to ongoing annual funding of £120,000 for additional staff and future planning as well as a one-off £1 million investment for the year 2015-16.
Now the trust will undertake a feasibility study around the options for visitor centre facilities. The park attracts more than 580,000 visitors a year, making it the kingdom’s top visitor attraction.
It is currently ranked 19th in the Scottish top 100 free visitor destinations. But the centre, now more than 30 years old, is in need of refurbishment or a complete replacement.
During the first year of operation, the trust has said it will carry out improvement work as part of the Living Lomonds Landscape project.
This will involve some minor upgrading work on the park centre, improved pedestrian access from the Kelty side of the park and work on historic Lochore Castle.
Cowdenbeath area committee chairman Willie Clarke said: “An old coal mine could be a goldmine for Fife. But I am surprised at the amount of people who do not know about it.
“Some people who have visited said they were amazed it hasn’t been publicised to the extent it should have been.”
He said the Meadies, as the park was known locally, was a real success story not just for Fife but across the whole of Scotland.
“There are good facilities in that park for example the facilities for the disabled. People can go right round the loch on a three-mile path and experience all the beauty of the park.”
Mr Clarke commended former Fife Council leader Alex Rowley for his drive in bringing the change to fruition.
“I have every confidence in Amanda McFarlane, the trust’s chief executive,” he said.
“She knows her work, she is an enthusiast.”
Mr Clarke said the park, on the site of a former mine, was one of the finest in Scotland.
“All the facilities are there, what it needs is the will and commitment and drive and that is coming.”