Fears road changes could be an ‘economic disaster’ for Fife town

Fife Council was awarded £2.42m from the Scottish government’s new ‘Spaces for People’ fund, which aims to make essential travel and exercise safer during Covid-19.

The programme is for temporary infrastructure to make it safer for people to walk, cycle or wheel for essential trips and exercise during Covid-19.

Included in the proposals were suggestions that could see a road closure on West Port, barriers put in place and parking removed on Bell Street and Church Street, and Market Street closed to vehicles.

Eric Milne, co-director at Fisher and Donaldson bakery, which has a store on Church Street, said the changes would discourage customers from going to the shops, at a time when businesses are trying to bring customers back.

“Help the businesses drum up custom for the town,” he said. “Do not put up a sign saying ‘town centre closed to traffic’, when there is no suitable close parking alternatives. All you will do is force the few remaining shoppers out to the edge of town retailers and farm shops.”

Penny Uprichard, chair of the town’s community council planning committee, said the proposals have the “potential to be an economic disaster for the town”.

She added: “Visitors are hardly likely to come if they cannot get near the shops, park and take their purchases back by car.

“I hope that everybody who has problems with the proposals will send in a comment or objection to Fife Council.”

Fife Council service manager John Mitchell said: “The detail of the proposals are under development and will be shared more widely prior to installation. The council is keen to hear from communities regarding the use of its public spaces.”

Short term measures are expected to be implemented by the end of July. Measures which require more involved designs and liaison are scheduled for implementation by August/early September.