New Bayview could become Methil’s Camp Nou if ambitious plans to create a community sports centre near the football ground get the go-ahead.
A business case is being drawn up for a £5 million sports complex on ground between the stadium and the soon-to-be-demolished power station.
East Fife FC associate director Eugene Clarke said the proposal, still in its early stages, was based around local people’s needs and had been compared to FC Barcelona due to its strong links with the community.
He said, “We’re putting a business case together at the moment to create what would be a first-class community sports club.
“I know it sounds ambitious, but the model we’re using is the Barcelona model, where the area would be the focus of sporting activity for the Levenmouth area, providing facilities which are at the moment sadly lacking.”
Plans include artificial pitches, gymnasia, changing rooms and training facilities for many sports.
Mr Clarke said the centre could help regenerate the Levenmouth area by providing employment and encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get involved in sports and exercise, and he hopes having sports facilities nearby will help get young people off the streets.
“We all know there are issues about solvent, drug and alcohol abuse. Developing a sports centre is one thing to help combat that.”
The field earmarked for the sports centre is owned by the football club and is directly next to Methil Power Station.
“When the power station is demolished it will make the area much more attractive and whatever development goes ahead will be nicer to look at than a power station,” he added.
A spokeswoman for Scottish Power said work to demolish the eyesore was on target for completion in about a year’s time.
Contractors are currently removing asbestos insulation from the power station and once a section is cleared it is demolished. Some of the smaller outlying buildings have already been razed.
Before it was shut down in 2000, Methil power station produced enough electricity for more than three-and-a-half million homes and employed more than 1000 people.
Any future use of the site will depend on Forth Ports, which owns the land. Scottish Power’s lease is set to run out in 2012.