A LONG-AWAITED dream of a brand new skatepark in Kelty has taken a step forward after planning permission was lodged this month.

The idea has been in motion for more than two years now after the Cowdenbeath Area Committee agreed to adopt a skatepark strategy back in 2013 which would see five facilities built around the area, including one in Kelty.

Now, if the proposal is given the green light, work can finally begin on the project at Keltyhill Avenue playpark.

Young skating enthusiasts have had their say in how the park will look and met with designers to develop plans, which include several ramps and slopes across a flat concrete base in the middle of the park.

These initial designs have now been turned into technical drawings as part of the planning permission as the process moves forward.

Funding was put in place for the whole group of new parks, each being different in design but most of them similar in cost. Cowdenbeath Area Committee provided £178,000 and later approved a further £156,000 from the Fairer Scotland Fund, while external funding helped reach the total cost of £500,000.

With both funding and designs now in place, all that remains is for planning permission to be approved and then work can finally begin on constructing the skatepark, which is hoped can be open by the end of spring.