A SENIOR Fife Councillor has been left ‘dumbfounded’ after an attempt by SNP Councillors to stop the £2m project to build Scotland’s first purpose built closed road cycle circuit in Lochgelly.

The 'loop track' is proposed to be just behind Lochgelly High School and the Meadows Country Park.

SNP councillors proposed last week that the new cycle circuit be relocated in Lochore Meadows and the funding for the club house be used to increase the size of the new visitor centre.

The SNP proposal, made by Lochs member Ann Bain, was made during the council's Executive Committee meeting when debating the plans to build a new visitor centre in Lochore Meadows.

Lochgelly and Cardenden councillor, Mark Hood, who has led Fife Council’s sport and physical activity strategy since 2012, said: "Initially I thought I had misheard what was being proposed but when it was clarified I was left dumbfounded at how they could think this was a good idea.

"To suggest we put a 1.6km looped road in the centre of Lochore Meadows shows a complete misunderstanding about this project."

He added: "As well as being a completely inappropriate location we would likely lose the £600k external investment in the cycle circuit.

"Officers from the council have been working with Scottish Cycling, British cycling and SportScotland for over three years to develop the plans and seek funding .

"If we were to try and relocate the circuit now we would lose all credibility with the Fife cycling community who have supported the project from the start.

"Cllr Ann Bain claimed that the project had no local support which is simply not the case, officers from the council have attended all the community councils in the area and received nothing but a positive response."

Mr Hood concluded: "As a local councillor with a £2m national investment being in their ward I would have expected Cllr Bain to understand more about the project and appreciate how ridiculous her proposal was. I fear for this project if the SNP lead the council after May’s local government elections."