A listed Kinglassie landmark is under offer after being put on the market for £75,000.
Fife Council confirmed a buyer had come forward for the old library and community halls, which was originally opened as the village’s school in the late 1800s.
Sheena McGowan, who is secretary of Kinglassie Community Council, said there had been hopes the building could have been preserved for community use.
With future plans for the C-listed site yet to be revealed, there is concern over how it will be developed because of its prominent location and importance to the village’s heritage.
“It’s nostalgic for people who remember it being used. It’s a lovely old building,” said Ms McGowan.
“I would like to see it used again and see it safe.”
The Victorian structure served as the village’s main school building for 30 years before pupils moved into the existing primary school, a few minutes’ walk away along Main Street.
It continued to accommodate woodwork, cooking, sewing and science classes for a number of years before being used for community activities including library and housing services and a clinic.
Latterly it was home to community groups and served as a hub for the former mining village.
Ms McGowan, a former community worker who helped with activities at the halls, said: “It was a pity it closed. We were saying to people it was temporary but that turned into permanent.
“But everything seems to have changed, not just down to Covid-19 because before that money was tight and things were pulled back to the centre.”
Local resident Allan Taaffe said many in Kinglassie feel the village has been left behind by Fife Council.
Meanwhile, the derelict old library building has led to safety concerns.
“The condition of the building over the years has deteriorated both when it was occupied and since its closure,” said Mr Taaffe.
“There is no doubt that most of the village feel badly let down by the loss of the building and its facilities as well as the loss contributing to the general belief held that the council does not care enough for the village and its people.”
There have been calls for the former hall across from the site, which was once part of the old school, to be taken over by the community.
The boarded up hall across the road at number 53 Main Street is subject to a title investigation, which will have to be resolved before community interest is considered.
Ms McGowan added: “A lot of people would like to see that back in community use, but it’s not as easy as just saying bring it back into community use. It’s going to need upgrading as its been lying empty longer than the old library has.”
