Ambitious plans to improve access to the River Leven is to benefit from a share of £19.4 million of Levelling-up funding from the UK Government.
Fife Council has welcomed this week’s announcement which will see the money spent on new walking routes around the river, and will also accelerate the regeneration of Riverside Park in Glenrothes.
The projects will enable delivery of key elements of the Mid Fife Action Plan, adopted by the Council in 2021, and will complement the Levenmouth Reconnected programme, supporting the return of a railway to Leven, which is currently under construction.
The improvements in Glenrothes Riverside Park include a new transport hub with electric charging, bicycle hire, information hub and enhanced accessible link to the Fife Pilgrim’s Way.
Closer to home though, the Levenmouth Connectivity improvements will see the creation of 5km of paths along the river, and 30km of new accessible pathways between towns.
Fife Council Leader, Councillor David Ross, said: “This funding will enable Fife Council, working with partners in the Leven Programme, to make the River Leven an exemplar for a green economic recovery to meet climate and nature targets, and a just transition to net zero.
“These funds take the first steps towards a vision of connecting Loch Leven to the Firth of Forth through an active travel route along the river. The schemes will have a key role in rejuvenating Glenrothes and Leven town centres, enhancing the attractiveness of Mid Fife as a place to live, work, learn, visit and invest.”
The projects will enable delivery of key elements of the Mid Fife Action Plan, adopted by the Council in 2021, and will complement the Levenmouth Reconnected programme, supporting the return of a railway to Leven, which is currently under construction.
The improvements in Glenrothes Riverside Park include a new transport hub with electric charging, bicycle hire, information hub and enhanced accessible link to the Fife Pilgrim’s Way.
Closer to home though, the Levenmouth Connectivity improvements will see the creation of 5km of paths along the river, and 30km of new accessible pathways between towns. See visualisation below of what this could look like.
A total of 111 areas across the UK were awarded funding from the second of the government’s flagship Levelling-up Fund this week, providing greater investment in communities that will create new jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live, and spread opportunity more equally.
To find out more about the Leven Connectivity Project, as well as associated plans to create a River Leven Park and restore the River Leven itself, visit The Leven Programme website here.
