Preparatory works for an ambitious Glenrothes heating project are to begin next week.
Roadworks will appear throughout the town centre area from Monday as part of preparations for the proposed Glenrothes Energy Network.
Eight trial pits and ten bore holes are to be dug throughout the heart of the town as part of the £17.1 million initiative, which those behind it claim could provide heat to homes and businesses throughout the area.
While warning of potential delays for up to three weeks as the works are carried out, Fife Council, which is developing the scheme with energy firm RWE, says the digging is essential.
“These works will identify the location of existing utility services so the energy network pipe work avoids them and will establish general ground conditions along the proposed route of the network,” the local authority said in a statement.
“Some of the works may require partial closure of some roads for short periods of time.
“We will try to keep any disturbance to a minimum but would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience and delay caused by the works.”
The scheme will construct a network of underground pipes to supply low-carbon heat to homes and businesses.
It will take advantage of the current heat capacity from the RWE Markinch biomass plant and energy could be provided to the council’s buildings at Fife House and Rothesay House as early as January 2019.
A further 327 homes have also been identified as potential beneficiaries, as well as the Rothes Halls and local library, major retailers, a social and community club and a local church.
Further phases could see the network expand to more homes and to the south of the town, as far as Pitteuchar West Primary School, Fife College and the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre.
The Scottish Government has awarded a grant of £8.5 million from its Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme to the project, with Fife Council and RWE providing the rest of the funding.
Meanwhile, the energy firm confirmed this week that it had completed the purchase of a building adjacent to the power plant from Tullis Russell.
The structure is on the location of the proposed Energy Centre and is set to be demolished, a move which Ian Calvert from RWE described as a “significant step forward.”
