Fife Council agree six options for future at Inverkeithing

The SNP's David Barratt said he was "absolutely appalled" with Labour, Lib Dem and Tory members after his move to fulfil a promise to the town and give locals what they want - a swimming pool and "meaningful investment" in the high school site - was outvoted 13-10.

The cabinet committee agreed to continue with six options for future community-use facilities in West Fife, the land will become vacant when the new £85m replacement opens in Rosyth in August 2026, with the most expensive a £28m sports hub.

Two options are for alternative locations, and not all include a pool, which Cllr Barratt said amounted to a "slap in the face" for the community, but other councillors said they didn't want to narrow their options and that the high school may not be the best possible site.

READ MORE: Six options for the future of the Inverkeithing High School site

SNP councillor for Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, David Barratt. (Image: Fife Council) After the meeting he posted: "Cllr Sarah Neal and I have just sat through cabinet committee and are absolutely appalled by the backstabbing from Labour, Lib Dem and Tory councillors in rejecting our amendment to commit to investing in the existing high school site in Inverkeithing.

"The decision in 2020, in the context of the replacement high school going to Rosyth, was to bring back a report on future investment into the existing site in Inverkeithing.

"It was acknowledged what impact the loss of the school would have on Inverkeithing, and it was agreed that the council should look to retain services in Inverkeithing.

"The paper presented today included options for no new swimming facilities at all and other options that would essentially abandon the existing site.

"Our motion proposed that we get back to what was agreed in 2020 and commit to exploring options for community, sports and swimming facilities on the existing site.

"Not only was this motion voted down by Labour, Lib Dem and Tory councillors, but they insisted on retaining options that would see no investment in swimming or community use."

His amendment said that "none of the options presented fully reflect the ambitions of the community" and asked officers to engage with stakeholders, elected members, Inverkeithing United and West Fife Aquatics to further develop options for a community sports hub and swimming pool on the existing high school site.

READ MORE: Waiting list for lessons tops 700 in West Fife amid closure threat for pool

Cllr Barratt, who represents Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, said: "We've waited four years for that report and what's been brought back is a paper that includes options to all but abandon Inverkeithing, options that would be a slap in the face to communities that I represent."

He said the community councils of Aberdour, Dalgety Bay and Hillend, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry, Rosyth and South Dunfermline, as well as Inverkeithing United FC, had all signed a joint letter that delivered a "powerful message".

Cllr Barratt explained: "They are telling us to go back to what we agreed to look at - meaningful investment in the existing high school site."

He added: "We should commit to exploring investment on the existing site not just because that's what we promised to do four years ago, but because it represents the only site with the potential to deliver ambitious plans for the west of Fife."

Labour councillor Altany Craik said the council was "facing the biggest financial challenge we've ever faced" and added: "I take a lot of umbrage at being told we're not ambitious.

"Having ambition is one thing, having no money to back it up is all fur coat and no underwear.

"That's possibly why with this government in Scotland we've found financial unsustainability has come home to roost as you can't keep making promises and spending money you don't have.

"Eventually you have to pay for it so for us as a responsible council, yes, we will look at this, look at the costings and try and deliver the best that we can."

Labour councillor Patrick Browne, who also represents the Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay ward, said he was "fully supportive" of trying to retain services in Inverkeithing but argued against narrowing the options.

"There's lots of information there that allows us to take this forward," he said. "The views of the community are very important, I just think we need to move this process on.

"It's been four years to get to this point."

Cllr Brian Goodall highlighted that even Rosyth Community Council had backed the proposal for community-use and sports facilities, including a pool, to be established at the Inverkeithing site, rather than the Fleet Grounds.

He said it would be a waste of council officers' time and resources working on options "that have no community support whatsoever".

Cllr Goodall asked: "Why support options that don't have a pool? "The community have made it clear. They want a pool."

He said financial reality may hit and compromises may have to be made further down the line but went on: "The only way we can get to somewhere near the high class facility we want is to be clear that it is our priority and work towards it."

And fellow SNP councillor John Beare said: "There is no justification for moving away from the 2020 decision this organisation made to re-invest in Inverkeithing after the school moves to Rosyth.

"We made a commitment to Inverkeithing and it shouldn't be abandoned now."

Tory councillor Kathleen Leslie said it was better to keep their options open, adding that one of her main priorities was to ensure more kids could learn to swim.

She said it may turn out that the best possible site and solution is not in Inverkeithing but wanted to consult fully with the community and find out more about the possibilities before ruling anything out.