Lochore Miners Welfare and Social Club is looking forward to feeling the heat, thanks to a new zoned heating system being installed with the help of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

The Trust awarded the club £10,000 from its Community Investment programme in recognition of its role as a social hub for the area.

As well as providing a range of services for its 500 members, mostly from Ballingry, Lochore and Crosshill, the Miners Welfare hosts local clubs from boxing to zumba.

They recently upgraded their kitchen facilties, but an energy audit, through Resource Efficient Scotland, highlighted the need for an efficient heating system which will go ‘live’ this week.

Club President, Brian McDonald, said, “We are really grateful to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their financial support.

“The new heating system will make a massive difference, saving us up to 40% of our energy costs, as we will be able to programme it to heat the parts of the club that are in use at any one time”.

He added, “The old system heated the whole building even if we were only using the bar or a committee room. “We are proud of the part we play in the social life of our members and the club is also the main centre for the whole area, hosting a wide range of activities and family celebrations including weddings and funerals.

“That means our facilities have to be of the highest standard and our new heating system will mean that the club will be warm and cosy all the year round.” Benarty was part of the Coalfields Community Futures programme in 2013/14 and improvements to the premises were identified in the 5 year action plan under theme1 Local Economy and Heritage priorities.