New shops bring positive buzz back to Kirkcaldy's High Street

Life after lockdown is looking good for Kirkcaldy’s town centre.

As restrictions ease and more shops re-open, the High Street appears to be busier.

Anecdotally, the evidence suggests more people are visiting the town centre – and more often too.

Almost four months of lockdown gave us little option but to stay local.

And that may have changed people’s priorities and attitudes.

It is early days, but there is a sense that more people are re-connecting where they live with where they can shop.

While online remains a huge – and growing –market the High Street has made positive steps out of lockdown.

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There are around half a dozen shops currently under refurbishment.

A new convenience store is set to open, bringing back into use a building which has sat empty for 15 years or more.

From the east end to Port Brae there is activity in other empty units to get them ready for new businesses, or to put them back on the market, many after a number of years boarded up.

That spells good news for a town centre which has sustained more losses than any other in Fife in recent years.

But, it isn’t just retail which is making positive steps back into the town centre - residents will soon be following.

That mix, says Councillor Alistair Cameron, is key to its future path.

Work is also underway to tackle the long-standing issues over parking - in particular who has access, and when, to the pedestrianised zone - while the crumbling steps leading to The Postings have been replaced.

Putting that infrastructure in place is another key part of the bigger picture.

And, just weeks after lockdown restrictions eased, Councillor Cameron believes the positivity can only help.

“The town centre is in a far better place than it wa sa few months ago,” he said. “The traders I have spoken to are doing reasonably well. Some are even up on last year.

“It is very evident that, post lockdown, people are willing to shop locally. A lot more are doing that, and that is a key message we have to keep driving.”

All the new arrivals also have one key common factor - they are independents rather than national chains.

“The chances of getting a national store to town right now are fairly slim, so we have to support our independent sector, and they in turn, have to give the best possible service - and they are doing that”

The weekly artisan market has also changed the feel on Fridays, while Cupcake Coffee Box’s imaginative use of its outdoor seating has transformed the atmosphere.

And they, in turn, are giving people reasons to return.

“We do need to sort out, once and for, who has access to the pedestrianised zone,” said Cllr Cameron, “and that work is ongoing.“We know people want to, or need to drive, so we have to find ways of accommodating them and making the area as safe as possible.”

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Other positives include BSW Building Systems moving into the former ACA Sports shop in the east end, bringing around a dozen workers into the town centre, while the Esplanade dual carriageway is taking shape.

“From a lot of negative comments at the start, people can see it taking shape and are having a more positive view now they can see what we are trying to achieve.”

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