RESIDENTS at Sunnyside Court sheltered housing complex in Cowdenbeath received some special guests as Gordon Brown and Alex Rowley dropped in to see the refurbished facility.

It was Mr Brown’s first visit to the town since announcing he was standing down as MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, and he seemed pleased to spend time with the residents and find out how they were enjoying their new surroundings in the Union Street home. The renovation work started in the summer and the room was re-upholstered, new furniture provided and a £500 smart TV installed.

Mr Brown told the Times, “It’s good to have this room up-to-date and meeting the needs of the people. Many of them don’t want to be on their own and like to congregate here, and the room now fits the needs of the times. They can meet their fellow residents in the main sitting room, though I see the men are greatly outnumbered here!” The residents and the visitors enjoyed tea, coffee and a buffet lunch.

Cowdenbeath MSP Mr Rowley said facilities like Sunnyside were crucial to make the elderly feel at home.

“The difference since I last visited is striking,” he said. “It’s very homely and it’s safe - it’s somewhere where older people can come together. It’s so good, it’s friendly and it allows them to spend time together socially.

“It’s key for shaping the future. Sheltered housing for older people is what we need - the new facility at Lumphinnans will have facilities like this and we need places for older people so they can come together and socialise. I see this as a start, and Fife needs to make sure that the elderly aren’t isolated. This can be a model for the future.” Peter Lockhart, councillor for Cowdenbeath, added, “It used to be a very institutional looking room, and now it’s more like a home. It should be seen as an extension of where they live. It’s got proper furniture now and we pushed to get the TV because they wanted to have film nights.” Sheltered housing officer Jackie George said the old lounge was “unsightly” and said, “It needed some warmth. There are 15 people who use the room and we felt it should be more like a sitting room in their homes. We had the bedrooms done last year and we’re having the garden done next year so this was what it needed to be like. It’s much warmer and it has changed the atmosphere. The residents feel like people care about them and that people are listening to what they want.”