An eyesore playpark at the centre of a maintenance wrangle is to be ripped out.
The play equipment at Kilmux Park in Kennoway, was installed by the now defunct housing developer Lomond Homes almost four years ago.
However, no agreement was ever secured for the playpark’s maintenance and, despite efforts by residents to maintain it themselves, it was left to decay.
It was branded a “midden” earlier this year and fed-up families living in the area said they had had enough.
Talks between Fife Council and Lomond Homes over the park’s future were set to begin at the start of this year, but the housing firm went into administration in January.
The local authority has now decided to remove the broken equipment and landscape the area but, because the land belongs to the housing firm’s administrator, it has to apply for planning permission to do so.
Councillor Tom Adams, chairman of Levenmouth area committee, said a planning application had been submitted and it was hoped work could begin soon.
“The park is a mess and nobody plays in it,” he said.
“It’s for very little kids but it’s dangerous. The equipment is broken, the grass is all overgrown and residents have been up in arms because it is just an eyesore.”
Mr Adams added: “Lomond Homes’ administrators say they have no objections to us clearing it but we will have to pay for it ourselves from the area budget.
“We’re looking to have a grassed area with seats and residents will have to look after it because it is still private land.”
The councillor said he believed most of the residents supported the move to remove the equipment but added that a questionnaire was circulating in the Kilmux Park area, asking householders what they would like to see happen.
“Fife Council’s parks are inspected every week for insurance purposes and if any defects are found, they are fixed,” he said.
“This one has never been inspected in the four years it has been there so who is going to let their kids play there?”
Photo by David Wardle