Chamber backs Morrisons’ store

The influential business group offered its ‘‘wholehearted support’’ to the development which has been the subject of huge debate in town for over 12 months.

The Chamber’s stance comes just weeks before councillors finally decide on the application at the same time as they also get their first chance to consider the Mercat’s massive expansion project.

Both developments are expected to come before Kirkcaldy Area Committee on March 30.

Community boost

Last week, members of the Chamber’s development panel met with representatives of Macdonald Estates to get an update on its proposals to invest in a new supermarket development at Invertiel, as part of a joint venture with Morrisons.

They were able to question the developers on the benefits to the local community and the economic values the project could have in boosting renegeration across the rest of Kirkcaldy.

Alan Russell, chief executive, said: “The board wholeheartedly supports Macdonald Estates’ proposal based on the creation of 300 full time jobs, the massive boost this project will deliver in terms of long overdue regeneration of the Invertiel area, the short timescale in which the proposed development can be completed by 2012 once planning consent is given.

’’The much needed £30million of investment which we hope will encourage further developments and investors to re-evaluate Kirkcaldy, and Fife as a whole, as the first choice for business investment and development.”