KELTY'S new £7m community centre will be open by the middle of this month.

And Cowdenbeath Area Committee took the decision on Wednesday to call the facility Kelty Community Centre.

Councillors were told that the official opening of the Main Street development, which links in to Kelty Primary School and the village football ground, would take place on Friday March 4.

Community Resources Team Leader, Gary Daniell, told the committee that council staff began work on preparing for the opening of the Centre on Monday (February 1), and added: "Community Resources staff will effect a phased transition of staff and user groups from the Moray Institute during February.

"It is expected that Kelty Primary School pupils will commence use of the sports facilities once a completion certificate has been issued and all necessary risk assessment and testing has taken place.

"The 3G astro turf pitch at the nearby Central Park has been used by Kelty Hearts now for some months but the acoustic barrier has been undergoing fitting along with a power supply for the floodlights but these facilities will soon be in place."

Mr Daniell insisted that the history of Kelty would not be forgotten in the newCentre with several 'heritage features' included including art work from the former library building in Cocklaw Street, key stones from the old community centre and the miner's statue from outside the library.

He added: "The statue has been sited at the entrance to the new Centre providing a focal point for future memorial services."

On the name of the Centre, Mr Daniell said that the village community council had carried out a formal process inviting names to be submitted by the public and a wide range of recommendations had resulted.

These had ranged from a mining historical flavour through to naming after people but there were 28 suggestions that it be called Kelty Community Centre.

Lochs Councillor, Alex Campbell, said: "The variety of suggestions really was outstanding and there was no doubt that the most popular title was Kelty Community Centre and I would move that this be accepted."

Councillor Ann Bain seconded and the name was uninamously chosen.

Both councillors said that they were looking forward to the opening and they were sure that it would be a facility that would be very well used by the people of the village.