RESIDENTS of Cowdenbeath can have their say on how the area develops over the next five years.

A public meeting on Wednesday October 10 will launch a Coalfields Community Futures initiative, backed with a budget of £20,000.

It starts at 6.30pm in the Maxwell Centre, Stenhouse Street.

Angela McGillivray, of Cowdenbeath Community Council, said: “We are excited that the Coalfield Regeneration Trust (CRT) is coming to Cowdenbeath after reading about all the excellent projects that have happened in other towns and villages that have taken part."

Chairman of the community council, Alex Haddow, added: "This is fantastic news for Cowdenbeath but it needs people to come forward with ideas.

"Groups and people in the town need to be willing to support the process and share their thoughts and ideas about what would make Cowdenbeath an even better place to live.

"There is funding available as part of the process and it would be great to see a wide range or organisations and groups benefit from this, ensuring that Cowdenbeath can offer the widest possible services and activities that residents want to see in their town."

Nicky Wilson, Scottish trustee of the CRT, said: “We will be delighted to welcome Cowdenbeath into our Coalfields Community Futures Programme and I would urge as many people as possible to attend the public meeting on October 10, so that the community can seize this golden opportunity with both hands.

“The programme has made a huge difference in 40 mining areas already, with the communities involved drawing up, and implementing five-year action plans for the area, and many going on to build on these initiatives."