Column: We have great ideas -so let's talk up Kirkcaldy

Some of you may know the Danish word hygge – pronounced hue-guh, that encapsulates the contentment felt on a cosy night in, as the rain patters against the window.

Well, in Sweden they use a less familiar, and seemingly gloomier concept – hemmablind. Literally translated, it means home blind, and is commonly used to describe the way people can become oblivious, or blind to the flaws of their home.

Folk in Kirkcaldy could hardly be accused of being blind to the challenges that the town faces: after all, we have collectively been discussing the regeneration of Kirkcaldy for a considerable time.

But focussing on the challenges can often blind us to our strengths.

Strengths like Kirkcaldy’s cultural quarter, housing Kirkcaldy Galleries – the fourth-most visited attraction in Fife with more than double the annual visitors of Falkland Palace; the Adam Smith Theatre with its impressive traditional architecture; the outstanding, tranquil and mature parklands of Beveridge and Ravenscraig; and of course the town’s stunning geographic location, with breath-taking views across the Forth to Lothian and Scotland’s capital.

Civic Conversation: Why Fife town needs to target the 'staycationers'...

So, taking a moment to consider Kirkcaldy’s challenges and strengths, we can look at the town with fresh eyes and consider how we move our community forward as we begin to emerge from the coronavirus lockdown.

For most of us, the heart of Kirkcaldy is the town centre so this must remain a key priority.

A thriving town centre is the very engine that powers any town and draws visitors in from near and far.

While there has been study after study into the issues facing Kirkcaldy town centre, what action we’ve seen has unfortunately had little impact as new challenges, particularly in retail, have repeatedly undermined valiant efforts from Kirkcaldy4All, Fife Council and the Fife Free Press.

We don’t need more studies telling us what we already know – big chains are pulling out, the High Street needs investment and refurbishment, and there is no single solution to creating a vibrant town centre.

What we need is a joined-up and meaningful intervention to breathe new life into the town centre and set it on the path to recovery.

Column: Let's start a civic conversation on Kirkcaldy town centre...

But what kind of intervention? Well, we may find helpful clues by looking elsewhere.

The town of Roubaix, near Lille in northern France, has been on a similar journey of urban regeneration.

There are many parallels between Kirkcaldy and Roubaix.

Both are mid-sized urban centres in their respective regions, are situated near the regional or national capital, and have suffered decline and deprivation following the collapse of their major industries.

And both have – or in Roubaix’s case, had – town centres in need of regeneration.

Roubaix town centre was regenerated by focusing on the town’s existing strengths, implementing policies that encouraged clusters of independent shops, investing in the condition of the high street with respect paid to the traditional architecture, and improving access through public transport and parking.

The vision, aims and objectives in Roubaix were carried out in parallel and it was the synergy between these strands that were key to Roubaix’s success.

While many obstacles remain, Kirkcaldy could chart a similar path to success.

First off, our town centre regeneration could draw on the strengths of Kirkcaldy’s cultural offering, and like France, the Scottish Government could give councils the financial support and power to design local tax regimes based on local circumstances and the particular needs of local businesses and communities.

Giving Fife Council the tools to create a low-rate enterprise zone in Kirkcaldy town centre would act as a further draw for independent shops and reduce the risk to folk thinking about opening their own business.

Just like Roubaix, the main barrier to refreshing the High Street is a financial one. Once funding is in place, it would be straightforward to update tired facades and emphasise the traditional architecture.

Whilst this would also deliver jobs, there is an obvious need to ensure folk have spare cash in their pocket to support every emerging new business.

The UK Government’s hastily cobbled-together coronavirus schemes may have helped many, but others fell through the gaps, and as these schemes cease, we need a realistic and fair plan for future support. Fife Council and the Scottish Government are perfectly placed to run a Universal Basic Income pilot, yet the Westminster Tories continue to ignore the real hardship many will inevitably face.

It is deeply frustrating that Kirkcaldy’s regeneration will be undermined by the Tories’ ideological opposition to providing people with state support.

Improved access to the town centre may require the permanent removal of parking charges beyond the current Covid-19 period.

We also need to explore every option to increase the resident town centre population: providing much-needed affordable housing and delivering a permanent footfall for businesses is essential for any vibrant centre.

We don’t even need to look as far afield as France for inspiration.

Just down the road in Burntisland is a booming high street filled with independent shops.

Business owners who chose Burntisland over Kirkcaldy point to the high business rates and lack of parking for looking beyond the Lang Toun.

So, there are clear interventions that can be made to put Kirkcaldy town centre on the right path, allowing us to build on the strengths that already exist.

But the most meaningful intervention we could make is a change in attitude.

With a clear strategic plan, enthusiasm, and the co-operation of people from all sections of our community, we could see a rise in confidence in the town centre spread through the town more generally.

I am more than up for the challenge, and I know there are great people in Kirkcaldy who are passionate about building a brighter and fairer future.

To Swedes, hemmablind is not actually a negative concept. They believe there is something endearing about being blind to the not-so-good parts of your home – nothing and no place will ever be perfect.

Let’s talk up our town, be proud of what it was, is, and can be.

Let’s embrace that very Swedish concept and become a little more hemmablind.

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers - the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen and East Fife Mail.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press