COWENBEATH MSP, Annabelle Ewing, has welcomed the news that projects within her constituency have been included in a list of proposed initiatives which Fife Council’s policy and co-ordination committee has agreed will receive a share of £4.35 million through the Scottish Government’s £50 million Town Centre Capital Fund.

Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and Inverkeithing are to benefit significantly.

Ms Ewing said: “Fife received a higher portion of the Scottish Government’s £50million Town Centre Fund that any other local authority area and I am really pleased that projects in my constituency are to be supported with a share of those funds.

“Indeed, £1,020,000.00, almost a quarter of Fife’s allocation, will be spent in Cowdenbeath, Inverkeithing and Lochgelly."

Speaking about the individual projects which will get backing, the MSP added: “£400,000 of that money is for the redevelopment of the Town House, in Cowdenbeath, into a third sector hub with a further £150,000 supporting the purchase of other property in the town centre to enable planned regeneration works.

“Inverkeithing will see the expansion of the impact of the town’s built heritage programme beyond the Conservation Area with a £170,000 injection, while another £300,000 will go towards a new Town House Square, in Lochgelly, near the former St Andrews Church building behind Bank Street, which will be used to host open air events.

“Town centres everywhere have been really struggling in recent years but the figures show that places like Cowdenbeath and other nearby constituencies have been harder hit than many with, for example, town centre property vacancy rates running at twice the national average.

"So these Scottish Government funds are welcome, needed, deserved, and have the potential to be transformational in impact".

The news about the Town House will be of interest to the eight councillors on Cowdenbeath Area Committee who have been concerned about a positive future for the historic building since they ceased meeting there three years ago.

It used to be the civic hub of the area but when the council offices moved to Brunton House at the other end of Cowdenbeath High Street, it has been unused.

This new project will breathe new life into the building which housed many infamous meetings of Cowdenbeath Town Council.