Kinghorn Library reprieve welcomed by locals

Councillor George Kay with supporters of the Save Kinghorn Library campaign which launched last year

And a new group called Kinghorn Library Renewed has written to Fife Council to ask if it could use the current premises for a possible community library and heritage centre.

The library is due to close at the end of March 2017, but the group of interested residents is exploring the possibility of taking it on and running it as a community enterprise.

Alan McIlravie, chairman of the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn Community Council and a member of the new group said the year’s breathing space granted by the council was “very welcome”.

“This gives us time to work up our plans and explore the various funding avenues which we could use to get this up and running,” he said.

“Informal discussions have been very positive and there seems to be a willingness to support the community on the journey to find how best to use the space.”

Eight libraries – Markinch, Pitteuchar, Kinghorn, Falkland, Colinsburgh, Crail, Pittenweem and East Wemyss – have been granted a stay of execution while ‘alternative delivery models’ are explored.

Libraries in Glenwood (Glenrothes) and Abbeyview (Dunfermline) will also stay open for the time being, while feasibility studies are carried out into the possibility of introducing community use libraries at Glenwood and Woodmill high schools.

Five libraries – Thornton, Freuchie, Bowhill, Crossgates and Lundin Links – will close at the end of March.