Public support will play a crucial role if a community takeover of a Glenrothes sports stadium is to be successful, it is claimed.
Key stakeholders met last week as part of ambitious plans to completely redevelop Warout Stadium, with hopes a new football and sports hub can be created in its place.
Representatives of Fife Council, the Auchmuty and Tenants Residents Association and Warout Social Club were among those discussing ways of taking the facility into community ownership.
Norman Laird, Fife Council community manager for Glenrothes, said: “We have met with the interested parties and clarified the specific areas which each party is interested in.
“We asked them to note their interest in developing a case for community asset transfer.
“Fife Council has a clear policy and process for dealing with such requests.
“We’ve suggested the best way for the group to proceed would be to gather enough public support to form a trust, which is something that Fife Voluntary Action can also help advise on.
“Once they’ve established a trust they can focus on developing a business case and seek funding for the project.”
Built more than 40 years ago, Warout Stadium remains one of the largest arenas in Scottish Junior Football with a capacity of around 5,000.
However, the size of the ground has been something of a hindrance having sat largely dormant for much of its life, with social events accounting for much of the activity at the stadium.
The redevelopment plans have been spearheaded by the Auchmuty and Tenants Residents Association in recent months, which hopes to demolish the existing stadium complex.
A new football pavilion with community-use artificial pitches would be created in its place, along with an artificial ski slope and a green gym.
David Nelson, chair of the Residents Association, also hopes to incorporate a charity respite centre for families affected by child cancer.
Confirming a meeting will take place in January to update stakeholders involved with the stadium takeover plans, he added: “Our latest meeting went quite well.
“We are going to set up three working groups and there will be another meeting in the near future.”