WORK is progressing on construction of the new visitor centre at Lochore Meadows Country Park.

Convener of the Cowdenbeath Area Committee, Councillor Linda Erskine, visited the site with former councillor Willie Clarke, whom the Centre will be named after.

The much needed new centre will consist of a café, two educational rooms with a retractable wall for flexible use, an outdoor decking area and public toilets with disabled access and baby changing facilities. There will also be an interpretation area that will display information about the history of the park and interactive displays to help people navigate around the park and get the most from their visit.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of October, weather permitting.

Cllr Erskine said: “For over forty years Willie made an outstanding contribution to public services in Fife.

"He worked tirelessly for his local constituents and championed improvements that we’ve all benefitted from. Lochore Meadows Country Park is at the heart of our local community and I can see no more fitting a tribute than to name the new visitor centre after him."

She added: “With funding earmarked for further investment for Lochore Meadows, improvements to our much loved County Park don’t end here.

"With over half a million visits every year, it is vital that we continue to invest in and develop Lochore Meadows Country Park to its full potential.”

Willie Clarke added: “Our Country Park is Fife’s most popular free visitor attraction and this is a much needed investment that’s being made.

"I look forward to seeing the finished facility later this year and hearing about what future funding is set to deliver for this park that holds an affectionate place in many a Fifer’s heart, mine included.”

Work is almost complete on the park’s new golf and football pavilion too.

The pavilion, benefits from £83,000 of Active Places Legacy Funding from sportscotland alongside £15,000 investment from Lochore Meadows Golf Club and £25,000 from Fife Golf Trust.

It will be home to two changing rooms, a golf starter facility and sitting area, two changing rooms and toilets with disabled access.

Throughout the works, visitors can access public toilets, visitor information and a café in the park’s nearby Outdoor Education Centre.

Our picture shows left to right Ian Laing, Park manager at Lochore Meadows, Willie Clarke and Cllr Linda Erskine, Convener of the Cowdenbeath Area Committee, on site of the new Lochore Meadows visitor centre.

For more information about Lochore Meadows Country Park, activities on offer and future events being held in the park visit www.lochoremeadows.org