A community garden is to be created in Tayport in a bid to encourage people to grow their own food and reduce food miles and carbon emissions.
The £78,500 project supported by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund was given the thumbs-up by councillors who approved planning permission for a change of use of the open space behind Sandyhill Road.
Tayport Community Trust’s PLANT group is to create raised beds for use by community groups, a polytunnel and tool shed.
Two professional gardeners will be appointed to work with volunteers and deliver workshops and offer advice and support.
A plot will be set aside for Tayport Primary School.
Fife Council, which is working with PLANT on the scheme, is to also to revive the allotments on the other side of the burn, which will be linked by a small pedestrian bridge.
PLANT chairman Mark O’Reilly said the group had prepared the ground and sowed the seeds for the garden and was seeing green shoots with the decision of the council’s north east planning committee.
He said: “Now it’s our job to nurture this seedling garden and ensure that it goes on to yield its maximum capacity, which, in spite of its small extent, is enormous to yield edible produce, fresh, tasty and local, to yield education, health from eating and health from growing, and to yield carbon reduction and community building.”
Tayport Primary School deputy head teacher Jennifer Peterson said the garden will be an invaluable resource for pupils.
She added: “We are in the process of reinvigorating our eco-committee and a joined-up project where we could send groups of children to work on plots would be hugely beneficial to all our children.
“It is an exciting opportunity to develop our children’s understanding of their natural world and how to sustain this for their future.”
Council transportation officers had recommended the proposal be refused consent due to concerns about traffic using narrow Pond Lane, which has restricted visibility at its junction with Elizabeth Street, and parking issues.
However, PLANT said plot holders’ agreements would stipulate no access from Pond Lane.
A public meeting will be held next Friday, at 7pm, in Elizabeth Street Scout hall.