Linton Lane gets £4,000 makeover - with a little help from its friends

One of Kirkcaldy’s oldest community centres, Linton Lane, in Templehall, has undergone a transformation, thanks to the efforts of a team of volunteers from Shell U.K. Limited’s Fife NGL Plant at Mossmorran.

The 25-strong team of volunteers redecorated the main hall from floor to ceiling – a massive job, given that the hall roof soars to a height of 40 feet.

The volunteers also fitted new fire doors, upgraded electrical cabling, fitted protective cages to the lights and heaters, and supplied and fitted new basketball rings and nets. 

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, which has previously funded improvements at the 60’s built Linton Lane centre stepped in when they heard that the Centre’s Management Committee couldn’t fund the £4,000 renovation programme.

Tom McAughtrie, the Trust’s Business Relationships Manager said: “We see ourselves as more than just a funder, so we try to bring the business community and voluntary organisations, like Linton Lane, together.

“Shell has a proud record of supporting community initiatives in Fife. Last year they transformed a derelict plot of land in Halkett Crescent in Dunfermline into a ‘Secret Garden’ in just four days.

“They were happy to take on a team challenge of renovating Linton Lane, but given the size of the project it’s no surprise it took their volunteers a week to complete the work.”

Centre Supervisor Mandy Taylor said: “We can’t thank Shell and their volunteers enough. We reckoned it would have cost us £4,000 to get the work done, but thanks to Shell’s generosity it won’t cost us a penny.

“They have made a huge difference and I am convinced their efforts will give the hall a new lease of life.

“The new colour scheme makes the hall feel much warmer and cosier, and I think that will encourage local people to use it more for private functions.”

The volunteers came from the Fife NGL plant itself, Shell’s Gas Plants Rejuvenation Project Team and from the company’s main contractors, Wood Group and Cape Insulation.

Alex Baird, Plant Installation Manager at Mossmorran said: “It was a really big job, but one we were absolutely delighted to tackle.

“The hall roof is so high we had to bring in special scaffolding and platforms, and to meet health and safety requirements, we had ensure that everyone working on it was suitably qualified.

Our volunteer painters worked their socks off, and so did the teams who were replacing the doors, the fittings and generally sprucing things up.

Now there is a fantastic feel-good factor and the satisfaction of knowing that we have been able to do something that makes a difference in the local community.”

Linton Lane was opened in 1966, and caters for a huge range of community activities, from baby massage classes to mother and toddler groups, youth and senior citizens clubs, and martial arts classes.

Last weekend the centre opened its doors to the local playgroup for their car boot sale, hosted a private birthday party and acted as a base for volunteers engaged on a local clean up.