THE £1.8m investment in the new Lochore Meadows Country Park Visitor Centre should be the start of a new era at one of Fife's biggest visitor attractions

That is the view of the man the facility is named after and he wants the new management structure at the country park to grab the opportunity with both hands.

Willie Clarke has followed the story of Lochore Meadows since it was pit spoil during his 40 plus years as a councillor and when he officially opens the new visitor centre and golf and nearby football complex in February he wants it spark a period of new initiatives at the Meedies.

Work started in February on the new visitor centre after the demolition of the old park centre building.

The new Visitor Centre maximises public space which will consist of a café with outdoor decking area, two educational/community rooms with respective retractable walls for flexible use, 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 entire country park and get the most from their visit.

Willie Clarke said this week: “This is something we have needed for a long time and I hope it is just the start of a new era of Lochore Meadows.

"It is something I have been asking for over a long period of time and hopefully the park will now be able to realise its full potential.”

He added: "A new park centre management committee is to take charge in 2018 and what an opportunity they have to steer this magnificent facility on a really ptogressive path.

"Chances have been missed in the past to properly develop this outstanding lay-out and how we do not have the likes of camp sites and holiday homes at the Meadows really frustrates me.

"However, the two new facilities we have should be just the platform the new management committee can move on from to make it one of Scotland's biggest tourist attractions.

"I just hope that the new committee strides forward confidently and lets Lochore Meadows Country Park develop to its full potential."

There are plans for extensions to both the Visitor Centre and Golf and Football base.

Cowdenbeath Area Committee today (Wednesday) will appoint the new management committee.