THERE'S only a week to "build the case" for a £28 million sports facility and a new swimming pool at the Inverkeithing High School site.
That's the view of local councillor David Barratt after Fife Council gave details of six options for future community-use facilities in West Fife.
They'll be presented at a cabinet committee meeting on November 7 and will outline what could be possible when the current high school shuts in the summer of 2026 and is replaced by an £85m newbuild at Rosyth Fleet Grounds.
Cllr Barratt has led the campaign to keep and enhance The Wing - the community-use part of the school with a swimming pool and other sporting facilities - or replace it with something even better that can become a hub for Inverkeithing.
He said: "The papers have been published and include options for new or refurbished facilities at the Inverkeithing High site as well as options to build a replacement pool in Rosyth at the new school site.
"The option for Rosyth would see the removal of one of the planned pitches for the new school.
"We've now got a week to build the case for meaningful investment that delivers for all of West Fife and delivers on implicit commitments made in 2020 for Inverkeithing.
"In my own view, the only option in the paper that has any credibility is option two.
"It's indicated to be the most expensive, but every other option represents a significant compromise on delivering the facilities we clearly need.
"Even option two is not perfect, but with it there is scope to work with the likes of Inverkeithing United FC to deliver a full size synthetic pitch alongside the facilities and to consider the re-purposing of parts of the existing high school.
"The proposal would see a new pool developed on the east side of the existing site."
The first option is the retention and refurbishment of The Wing, including the existing pool, community facilities, and grass and synthetic pitches at the existing high school site.
Total cost would be up to £16.2m.
Option two is for a new six lane swimming pool, sports hall, grass pitch, car park, meeting room / rehearsal space, cafe, social area and flexible learning space, and keeping the existing 3G astroturf pitch at the site.
The report to the committee states the 25-year whole life cost would be a capital cost of just under £24m and and a further £3.8m to maintain it.
Option three is the construction of a new stand-alone pool at the high school site with car parking, a total cost of just over £15m.
Option four is a new pool in Rosyth, at just under £14m, at the high school that's being built at the Fleet Grounds site.
Option five is the construction of a new community facility with sports hall but without a pool at Ballast Bank in Inverkeithing. It would include a new seven-a-side synthetic pitch and retention of the skate park, play park and the athletics track and come in around £12.5m.
Option six is the provision of new grass and synthetic turf pitches to the east of the existing high school, estimated to cost between £3.1m and £7.5m.
The current high school has a sports hall, gym and a four lane, 22 metres long swimming pool.
The new school in Rosyth will have two new synthetic pitches, two grass pitches, two sports halls, a dance studio, gym and multi-use games areas.
The report to the cabinet committee said: "The council requires to develop a clear business case and establish available budget to meet any development using the capital cost estimates as an indicative guide.
"There are significant pressures on the council’s capital programme."
There is currently £1m of capital cash set aside.
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