A NEW group is aiming to raise £100,000 and transform an "awful" playpark in Crossgates into a place the whole family can enjoy.

One of the mums said the existing area next to Windmill Knowe is so poor that, even though they live next to it, her daughter will beg her to take her to Rosyth instead.

Lynne Morgan, of the newly formed Crossgates Playarea Association, said: "The playpark is awful. It's very dated, the ground is concrete, it doesn't have much equipment and parts of it are broken.

"It's got a roundabout that doesn't go round very fast, three swings for older kids and two for babies and a see-saw you can hardly push.

"The access isn't great, there are recycling bins next to it and a sewage problem that the council are aware of."

She added: "My son Max (11) doesn't really go there as there's nothing for him to do and although we live next to it, Libby (7) will say 'Can we go to Rosyth instead?'

"A group of about 30 of us have been going there in the summer holidays, we'll park our cars and take a picnic because the park at Rosyth is so much nicer and it's got a lot more for kids to do.

"We'd like to be able to do that here, with a park on our doorstep that we can all walk to and enjoy."

Frustrated by the poor facilities and told Fife Council doesn't have money to spend, a group of mums and dads decided to try and raise the cash themselves.

Lynne said: "We've had a look at Townhill, there's also a good one at Kelty, we've looked at different parks for ideas and £100,000 is the figure we've been told we'll probably need.

"So far we've got a cheque for £165. It could take a while but we're determined to see it through."

It's hoped the community and businesses will back them and there are plans to approach potential funders such as the Muir Dean Environmental Trust and the Mossmorran operators.

She said: "Everywhere else seems to have these beautiful playparks but we've got all these new houses and there's not a decent park in Crossgates.

"It'd probably have to double in size and we'd like to make it all-inclusive, so wheelchair users can use it too, and put in picnic benches.

"It's important to keep green space for kids to run around in, Crossgates Primary use it for their sports day, the after-school club go there and a lot of dog walkers use the park, so we'd like to put in picnic benches."

The Crossgates Playarea Association is separate from the Crossgates Village Park group which disbanded in February after locals said no to proposals for new sports and recreation facilities at School View and Humbug Park.

More than 250 people took part in a poll and there were "conflicting" views about the way forward, although a general desire for improvements was clear.

Lynne said: "It's the same area but their plans were different and on a much bigger scale.

"I wasn't part of it but we've been looking at trying to improve the playpark and set up a group for a while.

"We've not been able to meet in person yet but we've got a constitution, a bank account, Facebook page and we had 155 people fill in a survey about what they want to see in the park.

"The school is supporting us and one of the homework tasks is to ask the children to fill in the survey and design a park.

"We want to get their views so hopefully they'll give us plenty of ideas."

You can fill in the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D2XDHLG.