A BRAND new closed loop cycle circuit could be on the cards close to Lochore Meadows Country Park, as Fife Council does its bit to try and improve the profile of cycling across the region.

Fife Council has around £4million for one-off investments for projects over the next two years, and one of the proposals that could get a funding boost is the suggested Lochore Meadows circuit.

The council are looking to build on their commitment to cycling and they hope such a facility will attract visitors from all over Scotland and beyond for events, as well as having a positive impact on the local economy while promoting the sport and encouraging people to live a healthier lifestyle.

Plans for the future of cycling in Fife were discussed at a cycling network event held last week at Lochgelly High School. Around 90 people attended, packing out the room in order to have their say on how to improve cycling all across the region.

The event followed a discussion about cycling during the executive committee meeting last Tuesday, where councillors admitted that more needed to be done to support initiatives and build on the commitment to make the sport more accessible. Councillor Tim Brett pointed out that they needed to focus on cycling, not just as a sport but also a viable means of transport, particularly for commuting.

“We want 10% of all journeys to be made by bike but we’re way off that at present,” he said. “We need to make it easy for people to use bikes, and treat it as a serious mode of transport.” Councillor Peter Grant agreed, adding, “We need better joined-up thinking. Cycle routes need prioritising as well as road routes.

“They need to be safe and comfortable to go on or it will put people off. We need to maintain them properly and get more people out there.” The council’s aspiration is for high-quality off-road routes, with an end goal of emulating European countries like Holland and Scandinavia, and Lochgelly Councillor Mark Hood believes that investment in cycling will pay off in the long run. “For every £1 invested in physical activity, £3.20 is saved down the line,” he said. “We need to get in early, get kids on bikes early and give them a safe environment to participate in the sport.

“It will have significant benefits on health and well-being and investment makes a huge difference. We need to continue to do that.”