The trust which manages Lochore Meadows Country Park has walked away from the attraction as a row over a new visitor centre rumbles on.
Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, which also looks after the Fife Coastal Path, is to cease running the park known locally as the Meedies on March 31.
The charity took over from the council in July 2014, initially for a two-year pilot period, but admitted it was “not best placed” to do the job.
Staff were told just before Christmas that their employment would be transferred to the council when it resumes management of the venue, which attracts around 500,000 visitors a year.
There has been furore over the council’s plans for a £1.2 million replacement of the park’s existing visitor centre, with criticism of a lack of public consultation, its design and trust failure to source additional external funding.
On Friday, FCCT and the council confirmed reports that the pilot management arrangement was to end.
Grant Ward, the council’s head of area services, said: “We know how much this facility means to the community and want to ensure we have a robust plan for its future.
“So the council is investigating options for the future management of Lochore Meadows and a report will go to committee for decision on the best way forward.
“We will also continue to work closely with the FCCT with regards to the other services they provide across Fife.”
Chris Broome, chief executive officer of FCCT, said: “As a result of experience gained over the pilot period, on balance it was felt that the trust was not best placed to continue managing the park under the prevailing circumstances.
“At its board meeting of December 16, 2016, it was agreed by the board that at the end of the pilot period, FCCT would not seek to continue as the site manager at Lochore Meadows Country Park.
“The trust would like to thank those from the local community who have supported the Meedies over this period and have contributed to seeing additional investment in the park via the trust of over £300,000, a growth in visitor numbers and an increase in the number and range of events held in the park.”
He said the FCCT would work closely with the council over the next three months to ensure a smooth handover.
Tom Kinnaird, a member of the Meedies Action Panel, accused the trust of a string of management failures crowned by a management walk-out.
He said: “Despite three years in position it failed to match fund any of the money Fife Council put forward.
“People have asked what was the point if it became obvious so soon in its tenure it wasn’t raising any money.
“Someone from Fife Council should have stepped in a lot sooner than this.”
Mr Kinnaird said the buck stopped with the council and urged it to work with the trust to “sort this mess out” as the centre which closed for demolition in October was “left to rot”.
He said: “In the meantime no one seems to be taking responsibility and the existing centre, which has had tens of thousands [of pounds] spent on upgrades in the last couple of years is being allowed to go to rack and ruin.”
A report on the visitor centre project is due to be presented to the council’s executive committee later this month.
