Kincardine residents plan to keep fighting for new health centre

The existing health centre has been deemed not fit for purpose for reasons and plans for a new facility have been developed in recent years.

However hopes were dashed last year when the the Scottish Government revealed that they were delaying their funding until “the second half of the decade” because it was no longer a priority.

Monday's meeting was hosted by Kincardine Community Council and chaired by Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville.

READ MORE: MSP secures Kincardine Health Centre meeting

Donald Campbell, chair of the village's community council, said they will continue to fight for a new facility.

"The consensus was not to go with temporary portacabins and go for full planning application for the full health centre and go ahead and try and get the funding," he said.

"I was involved with this back in 2018 when they first talked about it. We went to all the meetings held by NHS Fife and others and decided on the plan, the site, we went on site visits and all this sort of thing.

"We are hoping to persuade the Scottish Government to do a bit of a u-turn about. The problem is we have only got until the end of January to get it into this year's budget planning."

Mr Campbell said NHS Fife plan to take proposals through the planning process so they are "ready to go" if and when funding does become available.

He added: "Both councillors, Graeme Downie and Sam Steele, are on board and all working together with Shirley-Anne's office as well to get things done and hopefully we can change the Scottish Government's mind."

Shirley-Anne Somerville said she is determined to "keep fighting" for a new health centre.

"Everyone in the room agreed that Kincardine badly needs a new health centre – but the funding needed is unfortunately not currently available to allow works to get underway," she said.

"I understand that it is hugely frustrating for people, and I must admit that I really do share their frustration.

READ MORE: Minister urged to explain health centre funding decision

"The sad truth is that the Scottish Government is doing all it can to protect people and public services from the very worst effects of reckless Westminster priorities.

"My focus for now is to keep working on solutions that will improve healthcare experiences for people in Kincardine, while the community waits for funding to become available in the longer term.

"I am clear however, that this project is still very much active and will keep fighting to ensure people in Kincardine can access improved services in their own purpose-built facility, as soon as possible."

Councillor Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour Councillor for West Fife and Coastal Villages, said it was "clear" from the meeting that Kincardine residents are angry and frustrated at the issues around funding for a new centre.

"While it was good to hear the views of the local MSP, the Health Secretary's unwillingness to face local people was raised several times," he added.

"There were suggestions of possible short-term solutions such as temporary buildings to increase the space available but the sense I got from the meeting was that this would not be acceptable and could lead to further delays in getting Kincardine what it needs, which is a modern and fully functional health centre.

"Sadly, Shirley-Anne Somerville was unable to explain the funding criteria that has meant the Scottish Government chose to prioritise other projects instead of providing the promised new Health Centre in Kincardine until after the Budget was passed by the Scottish Parliament."