THE new visitor centre at Lochore Meadows Country Park will bear the name of former Benarty councillor Willie Clarke.

Cowdenbeath Area Committee took the decision on Wednesday when councillors unanimously backed a motion tabled by Lochs councillor Alex Campbell.

Willie Clarke stepped down as a councillor and chairman of the committee in May after serving on different local authorities for over 40 years.

Alex Campbell asked his colleagues to agree: "The committee would firstly like to congratulate Willie Clarke on being awarded the Freedom of Fife in recognition of his many years service to the people of Fife.

"The committee would also like to recognise the significant contribution Willie has made to the communities in the Cowdenbeath Area. In recognition the committee would like to proposed that the new visitor centre at Lochore Meadows be named in recognition of Willie's contribution to the local area."

Councillor Campbell told the committee that he had met with Willie and told him about the motion and he had been very honoured by the proposal.

He added: "It was a very interesting conversation. Willie talked about how he had seen the park develop from pit bings to become one of Fife's biggest visitor attractions but he still felt there was things that could be done to increase its popularity and he felt that bus services to it were still not good."

Fellow Lochs member, Mary Lockhart, who was elected to replace the retiring Councillor Clarke, said that this could not be more appropriate as he had felt for some time that the park centre was 'tired' and needed replaced.

She added: "Willie has played his part in seeing the country park develop to what it is today and he wants to see it have even more attractions in the future.

"This new modular building we will see emerge next year is something he has dreamed about and how fitting that it should bear his name."

Lochgelly and Cardenden member, Linda Erskine said that she could remember that Willie felt that there should be a mining heritage facility in the park and the modular style of build of the new centre would provide the opportunity to house such a thing.

Committee chairman, Councillor Mark Hood, concluded: "I have been accused of being too ambitious with my ideas for Lochore Meadows, well Willie was always ambitious with this thoughts on the park and it has developed superbly through his input.

"I think it fitting that the new centre should bear his name."