An extensive upgrade to a popular tourist location in Kinross got under way this week.
The car park situated next to the closed Boathouse Restaurant on the Loch Leven Heritage Trail will receive a new surface with line markings for spaces.
The project will also see new pedestrian routes, coach parking, benches and landscape designs as part of the revamp.
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Partner at the Green Hotel, Jamie Montgomery, gained planning permission after applying just over a year ago.
The works started this week and will take around four months to be completed, with a potential end date around the end of July.
Mr Montgomery also believes the Boathouse Restaurant that sits at the foot of the car park will “definitely be reopened” at some stage.
In a statement on social media Mr Montgomery wrote: “Some of you, although I’m sure by no means all, will be aware that we put in a planning application just over a year ago to create a proper car park down beside the Pier/Boathouse in Kinross.
“Originally, the car park was just there for anglers but has become far more popular over the last 10 years or so as one of the starting points for the Loch Leven Heritage Trail.
“However it has never been upgraded from being a basic anglers’ car park and does not create a good impression for visitors to Kinross and the loch.
“Getting planning permission was one thing but the project was only ever going to go ahead if we managed to secure funding.
“Funding has now been put in place and the project is about to get under way.
“Incidentally, enormous thanks to PKC and their Town Centre Fund without which this would quite simply not be happening.”
In order to ensure that public access is maintained throughout the project, the works will be split into two main phases.
“The first phase will be the pink shaded area furthest from the Boathouse beside the car auction fence,” he revealed.
“When that is complete, phase two will be the section closest to the Boathouse.
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“As well as addressing the car parking there, one of the key aims has been to improve both pedestrian and vehicle access from the High Street.
“The road between Sandport and the car park is going to be widened but it won’t have its final surface laid until towards the end of the project.
“However, one of the first things the contractor is going to do is to create a new path for pedestrians alongside the road to avoid them having to walk on the road itself and dodge the cars as has been the case until now.
“Once the car park is complete, it will hopefully be a facility that Kinross can be proud of and an appropriate gateway with which to impress visitors on arrival.
“And before anyone asks, yes, the Boathouse Restaurant will definitely be reopened at some stage although in precisely which form is still being actively discussed.”
