The work will see the library relocating from the existing site in the High Street to the newly refurbished centre.

The upgrade includes:

• an enhanced gym space to increase capacity and provide a new, dedicated fitness/aerobic studio space for group activity,
• replacement of the sauna and steam room,
• a refurbishment of the wet side changing are to include the installation of a changing places unit,
• the replacement and repurposing of the Synthetic Turf Pitch (STP), and
• improvements to the external façade.

The Early Years provision has already been moved to its temporary location across the street next to the Maxwell Centre and will move back into the centre once the refurbishment is complete.

Cllr Alex Campbell, Cowdenbeath Area Committee convenor, has welcomed the start of the work.

He said: “This significant investment reflects Fife Council’s commitment to integrated community facilities and the ambitions of our physical activity and sports strategy 2022-25, to Invest in facilities and infrastructure for physical activity and sport.

“Having all these great facilities in one place not only strengthens the partnership we have with Fife Sport and Leisure Trust and OnFife (Fife Cultural Trust) but will also have a transformational impact on the local neighbourhood. Once work is finished, we’ll have a facility which is welcoming and inclusive to all.”

FSLT has operated Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre since 2008 and successfully developed programming, services and improved the customer experience at the centre. The centre currently is a busy facility with 176,514 (87% recovery to pre-COVID levels) visits and continues its recovery trajectory post-COVID closure.

During the closure which started in April 2024, FSLT will provide an alternative operating model utilising other facilities with the potential to accommodate current activities and programmes, the main facility of which is at Lochgelly Community Use school.

Emma Walker CEO at FSLT said: “The library move from the High Street to Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre will provide a modern, accessible space for library users. Co-location of the library, sitting alongside the EY’s provision and the wider services within the leisure centre, will provide customers with a joined up cohesive service.”

Marcus Kenyon, chief operating officer at OnFife, said: “We’re really looking forward to the move to the leisure centre in 2025 and the great opportunities it will bring to make our library services more inclusive and more accessible to more people. Until then it’s business as usual at our High Street library where our team are sharing updates on progress with customers.”

The refurbishment work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.