COUNCILLORS have confirmed that full consultation will take place at a local level before any lease terms are agreed with St Andrews University for a boat shed at Lochore Meadows Country Park.

An amended motion was put before all councillors at a full meeting of Fife Council on Thursday, which stated that "any decision on any proposals will not be made under delegated authority, and that, when appropriate a report will be presented in due course for discussion by the Cowdenbeath Area Committee, before any report is presented to Asset, Property and Facilities Committee for approval."

The situation has arisen through a planning application by St Andrews University to create a boat house at the Meadows to house the craft used by their teams which train on the loch at the park.

There had been concern that the application could be rushed through to allow the structure to be created but that was never going to happen.

Convener of that APFC, Cllr. Craig Walker, who submitted the amended motion,  said he wanted to put a stop to rumours and scaremongering in the area.

He said:"The local community are being stirred up by unfounded rumours of a university take over of Lochore Meadows.

"This sort of misinformation is not only creating unnecessary worry for regular users of the Meedies, but is also wholly unfair on the university.

"The University have already been using facilities at Lochore for the last 18 months and that has been a positive experience both for them and for other users. Any future use of the area would need to continue in that way and any future lease will contain terms to ensure that is what happens."

St Andrews University are seeking a ground lease from the council with a view to building a boat shed on the side of the loch, which will be used by their rowing club.

No lease has been agreed and any decisions on this will only be made once clear proposals for use are set out and agreed between the university and local stakeholders. Full planning consent will then be required for the boat shed and that would be subject to the usual consultation process.

Cllr Walker concluded: "I want to re-assure the public that they will have a part to play in the decsion making surrounding this proposal.

"Lochore Meadows is a well-loved and well-used local facility that provides recreational space for all ages, and a huge variety of different activities. We will ensure that continues to be that in the future. "