Cupar goes digital inbid to attract visitors
An online facility called ‘Digital Cupar’ is at the heart of an ambitious plan to revitalise the town and turn it into a visitor destination in its own right.
And the group behind the project, Cupar Development Trust, believe they have a good chance of securing funding under the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Great Place scheme, currently being piloted in Scotland.
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Hide AdOnly a handful of projects – between five and 10 –will be successful, but if the Cupar plan is one of them, it will receive £600,000 worth of funding over three years.
The idea is to build on the town’s considerable history and heritage to promote it as a vibrant and distinctive market town that visitors will want to explore rather than passing through en route to St Andrews.
Already the Trust, in conjunction with Cupar Heritage, has produced a heritage trail map of the town and, thanks to an Activating Ideas grant from the Scottish Government, has commissioned a firm of heritage consultants to come up with ideas.
As well as using Cupar’s historic landmarks as the basis of the plan, the consultants – Edinburgh-based CMC Associates – are looking at ways of optimising the town’s cultural activities.
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Hide Ad“We want to re-brand Cupar as a 21st century market town with busy shops, a buzzing town centre and a lively arts scene,” said Trust chairman David Kirk.
“However it is all very well making Cupar more attractive, but if no-one knows about it you’re not going to attract visitors.
“That’s why the creation of Digital Cupar is central to our plans.
“It will be a community-based online facility linked to interpretation panels and signage that will give Cupar a recognisable identity.
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Hide Ad“We believe we have a good case to put to the Heritage Lottery Fund,” he continued.
“We don’t have a plan B, but I think we stand a very good chance.
“Cupar has a significant history and a unique townscape with important heritage assets.
“There are many organisations in Cupar doing great things and by working together we can turn the town into a rewarding visitor destination and a great place to live and work.”
The Trust should know by the end of December whether its application is successful.