A Glenrothes landmark could be demolished to make way for a state of the art community sports facility.
David Nelson, chair of the Auchmuty and Dovecot Tenants Association, says that he wants to form a charitable trust to take over Warout Stadium in a bid to transform the area.
Mr Nelson has said that if Fife Council rubber stamps the proposals then he intends to raze the stadium, replacing it with a new sports pavilion and 3G football pitches.
It would form part of a wider bid to install an artificial ski slope and green gym at the adjacent Red Ash Park.
“I’ve spoken to Fife Council and they seem all for it,” said Mr Nelson.
“The stadium building is not fit for purpose anymore.
“It was built 40 years ago and it’s just never been invested in.
“If this goes ahead then I think it will be massive for the town.
“At the moment the football park is only used once a week, but this could see it getting used all of the time.”
While a social club within the main stand has long been a popular nightspot, as a sporting facility Warout Stadium has been largely under-used over the years.
The stadium, the home of Glenrothes Junior Football Club, is one of the largest in Scottish junior football, with a capacity of around 5,000.
However, outwith game time, the site is largely dormant, a situation Mr Nelson hopes to change by bringing a dry ski slope back to the town.
Glenrothes used to have such a facility in the 1980’s as part of the old Fife Institute of Physical and Recreational Education.
Removed to make way for football pitches, the slope was never replaced and snowsports enthusiasts have to travel to Hillend, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, for year-round thrills.
Mr Nelson says that he is already looking into funding applications and if planning permission and money can be put in place, the complex could be complete within three years.
“The green gym will have about 10 different pieces of apparatus so that should not take too long to install,” he said.
“The big thing will be the ski slope though, and people seem very excited about that.
“If it goes in it will attract hundreds of people to the town.”
jowatson@thecourier.co.uk.
