COWDENBEATH MSP Annabelle Ewing has welcomed movement on the part of Fife Council regarding a review of the boundaries of Benarty Community Council.

The move by the Communities and Housing Committee backed an amendment at their last meeting to ask officials to look speedily at the issue.

This was after the Benarty Boundaries Group handed in a petition to the local authority, signed by well over 1,000 people, asking that the boundaries covered by Benarty Community Council be reviewed.

This came after the former Lochgelly Community Council believed the historic village of Glencraig lay partly in their boundaries.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Ms Ewing said: “At some point in the past, the Community Council boundary between Lochgelly and Benarty was changed with a part of Glencraig being moved into Lochgelly.

“It really makes little sense, since it splits Glencraig - which has always been considered part of Benarty – in two, unnecessarily".

The MSP added: “I have been advised that Fife Council’s Community & Housing Services Committee has agreed to commission a separate review of the Benarty Community Council boundary in advance of the planned overall review of the Community Councils in Fife next year.

“There will now be a consultation process reporting back to the Community & Housing Services Committee in February of next year.

“This is really welcome news and I would like to take this opportunity to praise and thank both community campaigners Willie Clarke and Brian Menzies for their tenacity and determination that has brought us to this stage.

“I look forward to seeing the detail of the proposed consultation process and encourage everybody with an interest in this matter to get involved, have their voice heard and make their views known".