THE Benarty Community Boundaries Group on Monday handed a petition containing over 1,400 signatures in to Fife Council calling for moves to be made at establishing Glencraig's historic borders.

The Boundaries Group are worried that the history of the former large pit village will be lost.

Lying between Lochgelly and Crosshill the community grew up as Glencraig Colliery became one of the biggest employers in the Central Fife area.

The Boundaries Group was set up after information came to light that Glencraig's historic boundaries had been removed and that the old part of the village, which had been demolished more than 40 years ago, had been included in Lochgelly Community Council's remit.

At Benarty Gala hundreds had signed the petition and since then this figure has climbed to 1,456, the vast majority of whom live in the villages of Ballingry, Lochore, Crosshill and Glencraig, but support has been received from exiles living in different parts of the world.

Two of the Boundaries Group, Willie Clarke and Brian Menzies, were at Fife House on Monday to hand over the petition to Linda Bissett, the returning officer for Fife Council.

Said Willie, the former chairman of Cowdenbeath Area Committee: "The petition is asking Fife Council to change the boundaries between Benarty Community Council and Lochgelly Community Council so the whole village of Glencraig is within the boundaries of Benarty CC as it should be.

"Government laws state that ties of community, history and heritage should be part of drawing up boundaries and for Fife Council to cut a village in half severs these ties and goes against legislation.

"We feel the mistake must be rectified."

Brian added: "Glencraig is part of Benarty, whose history runs deep with historic and family ties to Ballingry, Lochore and Crosshill.

"Fife Council should take heed of the public support and mass of evidence the Benarty Community Boundaries Group, in association with other Benarty organisations and individuals, has provided and respect the wishes of the people of Benarty by changing the Community Council boundary."

The problem that exists is that the current boundary of Glencraig runs from the Fitty Burn to Garry Park which takes older part of village out of Benarty and lands it under Lochgelly's remit.

Lochgelly High School is built on old Glencraig and the Boundaries Group feel that this has played a part in including the old village in Lochgelly.

Added Willie Clarke: "There are a lot of people who feel very strongly that an historic part of Benarty is being separated from the community it has been part of since before the coal industry saw the villages grow in size.

"Hopefully, the council will look favourably on the strength of public opinion on this issue."