For generations, Kincardine Community Centre has brought local people together. From children’s activities and fitness classes to community events, the food hub and local history meetings, it has played an important part in the life of our village.
Housed in a former church building in Anderson Lane, the centre was managed by Kincardine Community Association for more than 30 years. The commitment of its volunteers helped make it a welcoming space for people of all ages.
That chapter was interrupted in April 2025, when the centre closed following ground movement linked to historic coal workings. The same incident affected nearby homes in Dewar Avenue and prompted extensive investigations by the Mining Remediation Authority.
Since then, ground stabilisation work has been undertaken and monitoring continues. However, the centre remains closed, with no confirmed reopening date. After around 18 months without use, damp, mould and existing maintenance issues have added to the challenges facing the building.
Kincardine Community Association has also stepped away from operating the centre. Its years of service deserve recognition, while the community now looks towards a new chapter.
Finding the right way forward
The question is now about more than repairing the damage. It is about providing Kincardine with a safe, welcoming and sustainable community centre that meets local needs for years to come.
Four options have been examined: repairing and reopening the existing building, carrying out a comprehensive refurbishment, replacing it on the same site, or building a new centre elsewhere.
The current appraisal favours a new centre on the existing site, provided the ground is suitable and sufficient funding can be secured. This could offer modern, accessible and energy-efficient facilities while retaining the familiar location and avoiding the cost of purchasing another site.
Repair and comprehensive refurbishment remains the next preferred option.
There is potential for substantial funding to support the centre’s future, but that funding is not confirmed. No final decision has been made, and any proposal will need careful investigation, realistic costs and a sustainable plan for running the facility.
A new community-led effort
Work is underway to establish Our Kincardine Trust, a proposed Scottish charity focused on securing the future of the community centre. A draft constitution has been prepared, and discussions with Fife Council have provided encouraging signs of support for working together towards a community-led solution.
Community involvement will be central to this work. The Our Kincardine website will provide updates and opportunities for residents, groups and potential users to share their views. Longer term we aim to expand it to become an online hub featuring local news, events calendar and directory of local businesses, clubs and groups.
There is still much to do, but the goal is clear: to restore a place where Kincardine can come together, support one another and build its future.