Fife town centre businesses hope new retail park does not harm local trade

Work has now started on the new retail park on South Road in Cupar. The site will host B&M, Indigo Sun, Burger King and Costa Coffee, with the four other units still available to rent.

The Association of Businesses in Cupar & District (ABCD) chair Alison Strachan has already voiced concerns that smaller units at the retail park might end up being filled by businesses that duplicate the town centre offering.

She added: "There continues to be calls to make sure that signage makes it clear to visitors to the town that the retail park is not all that is on offer, and that routes into town and the availability of free parking at Fluthers car park, for instance, is made more obvious.

"On the other hand, it is positive to see work getting started and there is a hope that businesses there will bring jobs and customers to the town. We just hope not to the detriment of existing businesses who have done so much to adapt and to support people who live in Cupar throughout recent months with services and deliveries specially designed to meet people's needs."

The retail park will create 120 to 140 long-term retail jobs as well as 40 construction jobs during the build and fit-out phases. Muir Construction is currently progressing the groundworks and the build is expected to be completed in November.