Benarty’s Five-year Community Action plan won praise for bringing local people together and clarifying the main things that need to happen to improve the area,  at its official launch in the Community Centre on 21 May.

The excellent turnout from local groups and partner organisations, included Fife Council, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, BRAG, and the Ecology Centre.

Michael O’Hare of the Benarty Community Forum summarised the depth of consultation that led to the preparation of the Community Action Plan, with nearly 300 responses from 800 houses in the survey, 20 interviews with different groups and organisations, and 300 people turning up for community event in January to vote for their priority projects.

Mike Payne, Community Learning & Development Fife Council said the Action Plan had brought groups in the community together, and had clarified the main things that need to happen.  It has given the community a clear voice and a document that will help to persuade funders to support local projects.

Pauline Grandison of the Coalfields Regeneration Trustspoke of the great support there had been in the community for the process and congratulated the Benarty Community Forum and others on the Steering Group for their enthusiasm and commitment.

STAR Development Group have worked with the Benarty Community as part of the Coalfields Community Futures programme.