THE two men who stood up and called on Fife Council to rethink its plans for Kirkcaldy's new swimming pool have been overwhelmed by support.
In last week's Press, SNP parliamentary candidate Gavin McClement and local businessman Chic Stenhouse both called on the Council to look again at the former B&Q site at Inverteil as the site for a new retail and leisure park, including the long-awaited pool and sports centre.
And Mr Stenhouse says he is willing to carry out an independent survey to show that the majority of the public would agree.
"The support I have had for my comments has been overwhelming," he said this week.
"From my visit to the barber's shop on Saturday morning, the Raith Rovers game in the afternoon, then on to Kirkcaldy Rugby Club afterwards, one person after another came up to me and backed my comments."
And he asked: "Who exactly are the councillors getting their support from?
"I have been urged to go to the streets (High Street) with a survey to monitor true local feeling.
"This needs to be unbiased, and I will ask people how they would feel about the loss of High Street parking, and how they feel about the High Street future development in general, as part of a bigger picture, rather than just - "would you like a new swimming pool?"
Mr McClement, who went against the SNP line to speak out against Tolbooth Street, said he too had received a lot of public support.
"I had a significant response to the article and it was overwhelmingly in favour of reviewing the current situation," he said.
Several other prominent businessmen in the town have also spoken out – underlining the growing concern that Tolbooth Street is the wrong site for the pool.
Brian Wood, solicitor with Charles Wood & Sons in Kirkcaldy, wrote: "It seems tragic that Fife's councillors did not have the benefit of reading the letter from Chic Stenhouse before reaching their decision to force the new pool into Tolbooth Street site.''
He said the draft Kirkcaldy and Mid Fife local plan, published as the planning application was approved, showed that the large area of land at the south end of the Esplanade, surrounding the proposed hovercraft terminal was available for redevelopment.
More and more people believe the old B&Q site would be perfect for a pool and leisure centre
"This area could easily accommodate a swimming pool and sports centre in addition to a cinema/nightclub/hotel complex and a substantial health centre.
"I visualise this important corner of Kirkcaldy being regenerated as the leisure and entertainment centre of the town.
''I belive that it will happen without the swimming pool – but how much better it would be with a proper swimming pool and sports centre."
Bill Keddie, who owns several shop premises on Victoria Road, said: "It is essential that parking is onsite. The old B&Q site would be ideal as there is additional land to the rear if required."
Dennis Alexander, owner of the Chickenshop and Pancake Place said: "The B&Q site would be brilliant, especially if the hovercraft came to bear.
"Taking away the major open car park on Tolbooth Street will be really bad for the High Street.
''The Council hasn't thought through the car parking situation for the new pool. People in Kirkcaldy would be willing to wait if they were going to get a leisure facility that was right for them, and it would regenerate the whole seafront location."
