A MAJOR piece of Dunfermline’s regeneration jigsaw yesterday fell into place as the new bus station was formally opened.

The £6.3 million hub was hailed as “superb” by Fife Council leader Peter Grant as he toured the Queen Anne Street development.

It replaces the bus station on Carnegie Drive, demolished last year to make way for an extension to the Kingsgate Shopping Centre.

The new building has 14 stances and brings buses right into the heart of Scotland’s ancient capital.

Within seconds passengers can be on the High Street and it is just a stone’s throw from the shopping centre. About 3500 buses will depart from there each week.

The bus station features a new access road, a pick-up and drop-off point as well as a new taxi rank.

It houses a ticket office, toilets, telephones, a cafe, a kiosk, electronic bus information, passenger and cycle lockers, all covered by CCTV cameras.

The council hopes the station will provide a shot in the arm for the town centre’s traders and form an integral part of the region’s public transport network.

Mr Grant, leader of Fife Council’s SNP-Lib Dem coalition administration, said, “I am delighted to officially open this superb new facility.

“It is a credit to all those involved that we now have a bus station which will hopefully bring many benefits to the local economy.

“It also completes the upgrade and replacement of all the bus stations in Fife.

“The opening of the new Kingsgate Shopping Centre later this year will further enhance Dunfermline City as a prime shopping location and visitor destination, thereby improving econ-omic development opportunities for Dunfermline and the bridgehead area.”

Bob McLellan, head of transport, added, “It’s great to see such a wonderful facility completed on time and within budget.

“A big thank you to all involved is very much merited and a big thank you to the local community for their patience during the construction period,” he added.

The project was funded by the council and a £4 million donation from the Kingsgate developer Crossland Properties.