CuparNow: Digital Improvement District hailed after first year

Cupar town centre has reportedly been reaping the rewards.

CuparNow was formally established in December 2019 as an online platform to improve digital infrastructure in the Fife town and to use the internet as a means to promote businesses and community groups in the local area.

It lists upcoming events, recommends places to eat and drink and offers details of services from pharmacies to car garages. The service also maintains Cupar’s public wi-fi network and is working to bring faster broadband to residents, some of whom remain on older, slower connections.

Businesses pay an annual levy towards the upkeep of the service, which currently assists over 350 businesses and has a quarter of the town’s population signed up to its Facebook page.

Simon Baldwin, of partner firm Destination Digital, said the initiative had found its stride serving as an information point for the entire Cupar community during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “A lot of improvement districts deliver to bits of towns – the St Andrews BID (business improvement district) doesn’t include the whole of St Andrews.

“We’re taking a whole-town approach. Cupar is an anchor and supports a large rural locality.”

Councillors on Fife’s North East Area Committee heard that in its first full year of operation 6,300 people have used the Wi-Fi network and 3,700 people have accessed CuparNow’s Covid-19 directory with links to services and advice. The DID suspended taking levies from local businesses for six months after lockdown to support local businesses.

Mr Baldwin added: “We’ve been running Shop Local and Support Local campaigns and working with Fife Council, Kingdom Housing and private landlords to make Cupar an attractive place for people to move or relocate to.”

Local councillors were quick to sing the praises of the scheme, which Fife Council also contributes a levy towards alongside local businesses.

Independent councillor Linda Holt said she had been “blown away” and “green with envy” at the scheme’s success, noting that she would like to see a similar idea considered for the East Neuk.

Lib Dem elected member Margaret Kennedy added: “Whilst I don’t believe any business has found it easy or comfortable to get through 2020, having access to this will have saved many of them from going under during that time.”