BY a three to one majority the current design of the proposed new Lochore Meadows Country Park visitor centre was rejected at Monday's public meeting held to update people on the issue.

Benarty Community Forum held their second public meeting regarding the potential new build at Lochore Meadows upwards of 200 people from the community took part.

Also in attendance were councillors Alex Campbell, Mark Hood, Mary Lockhart, Ann Bain and MSP Annabelle Ewing.

The meeting was again chaired by usinessman John Drummond from Kinross and the Community Forum's Michael O'Hare welcomed everyone and made the introductions.

It was then passed over to Ian Laing, Park Manager of the Meadows, to give an insight to what the potential new build would look like and how it would be run in the future and what the alternatives could be if more finance were to be sought in future years.

There were quite a few questions for Mr Laing, some of which he answered but some he did not have the information for.

At this point in the meeting it was stated by Michael O'Hare that it was unfair for Mr Laing to be answering some of these questions and that these should have been answered by Fife Council officials. It was also stated at the meeting that officials were invited along as well as Cllr David Ross, Leader of Fife Council; deputy leader Cllr Lesley Laird; Grant Ward Head of Leisure & Cultural Services; and Andy McLellan, Fife Council Sports Partnership Manager. They were unable to attend and their reason as given by a third party that they would not attend as someone at the last meeting had recorded the meeting.

This was looked into and anyone has the right to record any meeting, it was contended.

The Forum and the panel members along with the community members present, were disgusted at the non attendance of the officials and will be putting it in writing to the Chief Executive, along with a host of other questions.

Lorna Bett, from the Forum/panel went over a host of points that they had looked into over the past three weeks.

The main issues that were pointed out were that the consultation process by Fife Council and the Trust had 'about been non existent'. Why were there not more designs other than the one from Fife Council, it was asked.

Also that Fife Council had stated that the plans were sent out to various groups/organisation and put up in public places but this was not carried out in full, it was claimed.

There was plenty of debate on the issue of the new centre as was the new proposed new build to accommodate the Ballingry Golf Club and Benarty Astros football club, which it was felt well overdue. After much discussion from both sides of the argument it was decided that it would be down to the community to voice their opinion as to where they want the project to go.

It was decided that the two projects be split and to let the new football/golf pavilion be given the go ahead and to be started asap, there was a vote and it was unanimous for this to go forward. This would probably cost an additional £50,000.

The second vote was to accept or reject the proposed new build, it was voted by a majority of 70/30 to reject the proposed building put forward by Fife Council. Benarty Forum chairman Mr O'Hare said: "May I say that MSP Annabelle Ewing has written to two Fife Council officials, one being the Chief Executive Steve Grimmond and the other Leader of Fife Council.

"These were sent out on November 21st and to date still no reply.

"The next part of this process from the panel/forum's point of view is to ask Fife Council again to attend a meeting to discuss this mess".

It was decided that there will be feedback to the community after the festive period.

The Forum would like to thank the panel members and the community for all the hard work in this process and for their attendance on Monday night.