By Aileen Robertson

CARNEGIE DUNFERMLINE Trust and Fife Council plan to spend millions of pounds breathing new life into Pittencrieff Park.

The trust and the council are trying to secure lottery funding to refurbish the Glen Pavilion, create a horticultural centre, promote arts and crafts and improve lighting and signposting.

The public are being given an opportunity to shape the future of the park at a meeting being held at the pavilion on Tuesday at 7 pm.

Those attending will be able to discuss a 10-year plan drawn up by landscaping firm Scott Wilson Consultants.

The meeting is also being held to explore the setting up a “friends group” to promote public involvement in the running of the park.

Council area parks co-ordinator Peter Howden said, “Pittencrieff Park is a lovely park and attracts visitors from far and wide. Each year the council invests considerable resources in running the park.

“Fife Council would certainly welcome the setting up of a friends group and the involvement of local people in this public resource.

“The trust and ourselves have been involved in getting this 10-year plan drawn up thanks to money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

He added that in order to secure further funding the council and the trust would need the backing of local residents.

Carnegie Dunfermline Trust trustee Lex Lawson added, “The trustees wished to see a significant element of ownership of the park by the people who were involved, so that they would not only help at park events but also generate ideas and contribute to all kinds of functions.

“We want to create a very warm, welcoming and open type of set-up which will reflect both the public at large and a wide spread of voluntary organisations and businesses, who would perhaps become stakeholders in the park as user groups.

“The Carnegie Dunfermline Trustees recognise that the park needs a renaissance.

“One of the restraining influences has been our governing royal charter. We are now in the process of revising this and seeking the permission of the Privy Council to give us the flexibility to make changes.

“We are trying to put the heart back into the park.

“Experience has shown that if we provide good, quality events we can get an audience.

“We have to create the right infrastructure, ambience and environment.

“Our centenary son et lumiere moonlight walks through the glen and recent Guy Fawkes fireworks displays were marvelous experiences, which allowed people to see the park in a different light.”