SPORTS clubs based at St Columba's and Woodmill face a near two-month wait before they can use facilities at Dunfermline Learning Campus.

The new high schools open in August but Fife Council have said that community use will not be available until October.

That's not gone down well with local sports clubs - especially as the current St Columba's and Woodmill buildings will be closed by then and being readied for demolition - with the local authority stating they'll work with those impacted to find "alternative accommodation" in the meantime.

A source said this was a "U-turn" from what the clubs had been promised and went on: "The decision to prevent community groups access to the facilities for over two months from its opening whilst council officers have, until very recently, been promising access would be from mid August, is ill judged and illogical. 

"From the information we have been given it will result in significant unnecessary expenditure by the council whilst the new facilities at the campus lie unused in the evenings and weekends during August and September.

"We should be using these good weather months to showcase the new facilities and be encouraging members of our community to see what is on offer locally."

The Press were made aware of concerns that those clubs currently based within the existing school buildings, who believed they could make use of the £220 million complex from its opening, were facing a delay.

Currently, Dunfermline Carnegie Hockey Club, Dunfermline Boxing Club and Dunfermline Stars Netball Club are accommodated at Woodmill, whilst Dunfermline Reign Basketball Club are based at St Columba's.

READ MORE: WATCH: Dunfermline Learning Campus is almost complete

The source continued: "Community use is from 6pm on weekdays and both schools presently have very limited after school use of sports facilities so 4pm is effectively the cut off time.

"Thus we have a two hour window before community use occurs and cannot make sense of the ban regarding community groups access to the sporting facilities.

"The situation is further complicated by the fact that apparently many thousands of pounds are now being planned to be spent on providing temporary external accommodation for changing and toilets at Woodmill to enable groups to continue to have any sort of access to facilities.

"In addition we understand that since the old Woodmill buildings will be 'fenced off' during the summer for security reasons, access to switching on floodlights will not be possible and no doubt an expensive work around will be necessary."

The council said that a "phased approach to the delivery of some services" would take place when the schools open on Wednesday August 21.

"The first term after the summer holidays will see big changes for pupils, teachers and support staff," they said.

"There will be new floor layouts, new operating systems, new technology and new learning spaces for everyone to get used to. Also, during the first term we’re planning open evenings for parents to tour the new schools and experience this new era in education.

"We want all our facility users to get the best possible experience in the new campus. We have therefore agreed a phased approach to the delivery of some services.

"Following the schools starting in August, we will start community access to the sports facilities at Dunfermline Learning Campus from October 7.

"In the meantime, we want to ensure continuity of service and we’re working with the clubs that currently use St Columba’s and Woodmill high schools to find alternative accommodation, where possible, before moving to the new campus."

There are less than 100 days to go until the campus opens and the council's education spokesperson, Councillor Cara Hilton, recently said it would herald "the dawn of a new era in education".

The site at Halbeath will be shared by the two high schools and Fife College, whose new building is due to open next year.