A COMMUNITY Rail Partnership in Central Fife could have a major impact on the area's three railway stations.

Central Fife Crime Prevention and Community Safety Panel's vice-chairman, Colin Bird, told Thursday's meeting that he had attended an event in Glasgow at which ScotRail representatives had explained how they were prepared to make a pot of £50,000 available over three years for Community Rail Partnerships which could be used to provide different improvements at stations, inspired by community groups.

The Panel is prepared to spearhead the Central Fife Community Rail Partnership and is hoping that community councils in each of Cowdenbeath, Crossgates, Hill of Beath, Lumphinnans, Kelty, Benarty, Lochgelly and Cardenden will consider joining it.

Colin told Panel members: "At the event there were Partnership groups from Ayrshire, the Borders and the Lothians who had ideas in place.

"These varied from special electronic boards linking train and bus services through to facilities for letting rail passengers know where certain services were available in communities immediately they got off trains.

"We already have a few community safety features that we feel can be introduced to Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and Cardenden stations but we would like different sections of the community to come on board and put forward their ideas on what they would like to see done to improve the stations which provide a rail link for the communities of the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area.

"To move things forward we will be inviting the community councils to be represented at a meeting in May at which the nuts and bolts of the Partnership will be explained by a representative from ScotRail.

"We would welcome anyone who is interested in putting forward ideas to get in touch with us via Cowdenbeath Police Station and any individual or community group would be welcomed."