SATURDAY August 15 will be a red letter day in Lumphinnans.

The new garden facility created by the Robert Smith Court Community Group will be officially opened by the chair of Cowdenbeath Area Committee, Councillor Linda Erskine.

It will be a day which will see a small social event held to mark the occasion.

The RSCCG's Mark Davies explained: "Our group was started two years ago after our area became run down and suffered reputational issues.

"We created a community group of owners and residents/tenants to address key areas. We engaged with the two housing associations (Kingdom HA and Ore Valley HA) who also own properties in the scheme - and they too are now part of our project.

"We sought and were successful in obtaining approx £16,000 in grant funding to improve our area and built the community garden. We also generated income from monthly owner contributions".

Added Mark: "We have now completed a number of significant projects to improve the area including the building of the community garden.

"We plan to formally open this garden on Saturday August 15 and our local councillor, Linda Erskine, has kindly agreed to undertake the opening. "We will hold a community social event this day to help publicise what has been done and to showcase our work.

"It is important to to highlight how strong collaboration between private owners and tenants and housing associations can turn a community around, there has been the creation of a sense of social responsibility and a sense of collective and community pride.

"We are now a properly constituted community group with a committee, a business bank account and Facebook page.

"We are immensely proud of what we have achieved".

The Community Group has been active in encouraging people to think about getting fitter. Added Mark: "We have subsequently encouraged our community to undertake walking and cycling activities.

"We have posted walking routes on our noticeboards and on our Facebook page. There has been considerable uptake and our community are using the beautiful countryside at the back of Robert Smith Court. We would like to offer our thanks to Cycling Scotland and this is all very much in-line with government strategy of sustainable travel.

"Our community group has also served to provide a focal point for resident concerns whether it be noise, dog fouling, inappropriate dumping of rubbish or other anti social type behaviours.

"It allows us to work with landlords, housing associations and residents to resolve issues and were necessary to alter community behaviours for the benefit of all. Our group has also served as a sort of neighbourhood watch scheme to keep our community safer."