Burntisland Heritage (a local SCIO) had the backing of Fife Council to apply to the UK Levelling Up Fund for possible funding for the Burgh Chambers renovation project. Unfortunately, the application was unsucessful. For further details please see: http://www.burntislandburghchambers.org.uk

Burntisland Heritage is still hopeful that a renovation project may yet be possible but this will take years and considerable funding and support. Fife Historic Buildings Trust has concluded an updated feasibility study and submitted this to Fife Council. The CC has asked our local Fife Councillors to pursue this at Council level.

Meantime, there are exciting plans for the conversion of the old ground floor Council offices to be converted into a Banking Hub. Until these premises are ready, Cash Access UK has opened a Banking Hub, operated by Post Office Counters, in temporary premsises at 60 High Street (the old police station).

Burntisland Heritage awaits news of a bid to You Decide for initial funding to replace the tower and steeple.

This building complex dates from 1843 and is a B Listed building. It stands prominently as a symbol of civic pride and a well recognised landmark in our Town Centre.

The original Council Chamber on the first floor is a beautiful, historic room. Prior to the Local Government reform in 1973, this was where Burntisland Town Council met. In normal times, the Chamber is used for Burntisland Community Council meetings and events. Below it on the ground floor, where the old Town Council offices were, Burntisland Heritage Trust is housed and has annual heritage displays.

Adjacent to this building, and part of the Burgh Chambers complex, are on the first floor: the old Magistrates Room and Robing Room and these rooms are normally used for meetings and events, and on the ground floor: an office space that was previously used by Fife Council and known as 'the old local office'.

Between these, and linking them, is a magnificent tower, which was originally crowned with a steeple. The door in the base of the tower gives access to the first floor rooms via a wide and imposing staircase.

Behind the old local office and attached to it, is a derelict two storey building that was once cells where miscreants were housed (prior to the building of the cells at the old Police Station at the corner of Links Place and East Leven Street.)

Some years ago the upper tower and steeple of the Burgh Chambers was deemed unsafe and dismantled. The clock that was on the steeple was also removed. This left a 'stump' and a recording of a bell striking the hours.

Work to reinstate the tower did start in 2013. Over £60,000 was spent; the majority from the Common Good Fund. Matching sandstone was purchased, worked sandstone features ordered, and a replacement cradle for the clock bells made. Then all work stopped.

We believe that Fife Council have a duty to reinstate the tower, steeple and clock, but the Council say that they do not have the funds to do this.

Meanwhile, as the cut stone and clock are moved around storage sites, and Fife Council seem to have made no progress on restoration and repairs, frsutration grew. A group, including Burntisland Community Council members, sought advice with: a community consultation process; and architects' report on the state of the buildings and potential options for renovation plans; and an options appraisal and business plan, based on feedback, discussions and advice.

Please see the most recent copies of the architect's Condition Report & Options Appraisal and the Business Plan & Options below.

A copy of the Fife Council Condition Report from 2016 is at the bottom of the page. Fife Council also have copies of the Burgh Chambers' Group more recent Condition Report & Options Appraisal and the Business Plan & Options, so they are fully aware of the issues.

The Burgh Chambers issues go far beyond just reinstating the tower, steeple and clock. There are obvious cost implications. If nothing is done, there is a real risk that the Burgh Chambers becomes a 'Building at Risk'.

During 2015-16 the Community Council conducted a wide ranging community survey as part of the Community Development Plan. Re-instatement of the tower, steeple, and clock was, and is, a big concern to many townsfolk.

The dismantled steeple parts with replacement cut stone are in storage by the Heritage section of Fife Council Building Services. Seven large canvas bags contain worked sandstone replacements for the stonework which was beyond repair. BCC was told that the contents of each bag cost about the price of a small car. There was also a large supply of cut sandstone blocks. All of this stone was purchased locally and came from the source of the original stone.

We have concerns that the longer the stonework remains in storage the more likely it is to be lost, damaged or used for something else. The people responsible for dismantling and storage may move on, valuable knowledge will be lost. The Heritage team say that sandstone deteriorates the longer it is stored. The new stone needs to be worked soon after being taken out of the ground, the stored stone is not subjected to normal weathering and starts to dry out. This is URGENT and needs immediate action.

Also of concern are the clock workings (Bells, weights, dials and mechanism) are. The longer the situation remains in limbo, the more difficult and expensive it will be to re-erect the tower, steeple and clock.

The Community Council have asked again for the town’s clock tower to be re-built, in accordance with the legal requirement which was imposed on Fife Council at the time of take-down.

As previously reported, a feasibility study now shows that the entire complex could house heritage, business and community facilities in a way which is financially sustainable. It would respect the heritage, which is so important to many of us, and provide a new focal point at the centre of our town and its High Street.

However, the only way forward is for a new and independent Community Organisation e.g. a charitable trust, to be formed. We would like this body to have at least 20 members. It would take ownership, or have a long-term lease, on the property, and it would manage the daily operation and finances of the property. It’s likely that at least some of the trustees would be drawn from the members of the Community Council and other local organisations. However, all charity trustees are legally obliged to act independently of any other organisation to which they might belong. So there is a strong incentive for enthusiastic individuals to play a key role.

It won’t all happen at once. The next step is for a steering group to take forward the issues, refine the outline proposals, consider alternatives, and drive the fund-raising. This would be a big project. The indicative costs were about £4 million in 2019. So here is an open invitation for interested people to become involved.

How you can help

Since Fife Council closed their Local Office on the west ground floor of the complex, there are significant concerns for the fabric of the Burgh Chambers complex building and its services.

If you have any ideas or would like to offer help in campaigning to save the Burgh Chambers, please contact any member of the Community Council, or email our secretary at: burntislandcc@outlook.com