Following on from a meeting organised by Kirkcaldy Town Centre Management (KTCM) last week, the first steps will now be taken to set up the BID.

Sunil Varu, town centre manager, said: "Given the positive response, we will notify Fife Council of our intention to progress and seek funding from the Scottish Government.

''It will kick start the process which both speakers at last week's meeting emphasised will take at least 12 months to complete."

KTCM director Colin Brown said: "It was encouraging to see the positive response from the local business community who attended the meeting.

''The first meeting is very much the start of the process of consulting with every business in the town centre who will shortly receive a fact sheet on BIDs from KTCM.

"I would like to encourage all businesses to digest what it is about and how it could benefit them and also to get involved – future meetings will be organised where I and the other directors would be happy to answer questions on the concept and discuss what the BID would do.

"It will only happen if the businesses of Kirkcaldy want it to happen and I look forward to working with local companies as we continue in our efforts to make Kirkcaldy better."

David Chalmers, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (Fife), said: "The meeting was very interesting, and those people attending were supportive of the proposals.

''I think there is a growing realisation that, unless action is taken now or in the very near future, town centres everywhere will go into terminal decline.

''KTCM can certainly count on FSB Fife's support."