MP BACKS ARTS CENTRE PLAN

DUNFERMLINE MP Willie Rennie has backed proposals to convert the town’s fire station into a contemporary arts centre.

Voluntary group Dunfermline Arts and Media (DAM) believes the Art Deco building, which will be vacated in the new year when the new fire station being built at Pitreavie Business Park is opened, would be ideal accommodation for an art gallery and studios.

And Mr Rennie agrees, saying, “It’s an excellent suggestion and I would be delighted to offer my support.

“I think the fire station would be an ideal home for an arts centre. All the elements seem right.

It’s in a prominent site close to the city centre and would help to meet an unanswered need in the area for such a facility.

“And I would not like the fire station to become another pub or nightclub ¬- and I think many people feel the same.”

DAM is trying to drum up backing for the idea from retail giants Tesco, who are to build a new superstore on the adjacent site formerly occupied by Thomson’s World of Furniture.

“It would be great if they supported us,” said DAM co-founder Ian Moir. “I’m writing to them to ask them to back us, financially if possible.”

A Tesco spokesman said the company was aware of DAM’s proposals and would be “watching developments with interest”.

However, he stopped short of announcing the firm’s support for the fire station idea.

The fire station proposal is being considered in a £6500 study being carried out for DAM by a consultant, who had been asked to consider where and how an arts centre could be set up in Dunfermline. It is understood the study is likely to conclude that the fire station would be the best venue.