The leader of Fife Council has described as “irresponsible and ludicrous” claims that funding for new sports facilities in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy are in jeopardy.
Councillor Peter Grant has attacked political opponents he believes are using the issue as a means of point scoring following further questioning of the projects this week.
In particular, Mr Grant was responding to a statement made by John Morton of the Glenrothes Community Action Group who claims that the construction of the new centres has been based upon “false economies.”
In a press release this week, Mr Morton, primarily talking about the construction of a new Fife Institute in Glenrothes, said, “The entire project was to be mainly funded through ‘prudential borrowing’, that is, borrowing guaranteed against future efficiency savings, e.g. with the use of more efficient heating systems and the like.
“There is now a distinct possibility that ‘prudential borrowing’ will no longer be available.
“If that happens, it’s unlikely that Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy will get any new facilities in the foreseeable future.
“In short, the sports and recreational aspirations of two of Fife’s three largest towns have been not only delayed but also jeopardised by chasing false economies.”
Mr Morton’s statement comes a week after plans to develop a Fife Institute in Glenrothes received a blow after the joint contract to develop it and a £15 million swimming pool in Kirkcaldy fell through.
While opposition parties in Fife have attacked the SNP administration, Mr Grant this week hit back at those claiming the developments would not go ahead and added his belief that Mr Morton has a political motivation of his own.
He said, “Recently it’s been a weekly occurrence that Labour activists seek to recycle the myths they’ve been spreading about Fife Institute and Kirkcaldy pool.
“The latest nonsensical claims have come from someone who purports to represent a wide spectrum of community interests but who is also a well-known local Labour activist and we have to wonder whose agenda he is pursuing here.
“The same person was responsible for a spate of ridiculous scaremongering when the Sports and Leisure Trust was first set up.
“His prophecies of doom were as irresponsible and ludicrous then as they are now.”
Fife Council has confirmed leisure projects in Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline are progressing despite recent difficulties.
Steve Grimmond, executive director of community services, also confirmed the council is considering issuing contracts for the construction of the Fife Institute and Kirkcaldy pool with work expected to start on the former in spring of next year.
He said, “Plans to deliver a new state-of-the art sports and leisure facility in Glenrothes are moving ahead as are the plans in Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline.
“Fife Council still remains fully committed to the Future of Leisure projects and funding for them is still secure.”
Mr Grimmond also moved to allay fears about funding for the projects, stating that the combined budget for the Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy projects would be sufficient.
Confirming that the council would be borrowing some of the funding, he added, “We fully expect, therefore, to be able to deliver both the Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy projects in line with the original budget allocation of £32.8 million.
“I can confirm that the council is using prudential borrowing to fund part of the £50 million allocation for the three projects.”