The decline in Kirkcaldy town centre has been an issue for years.

Almost everyone locally feels that the ugly sister car parks, derelict old swimming pool and Postings sites and empty retail units are a sad reminder of the past, when what we deserve is a positive future. When I was elected as our MP last year, I wasn’t sure if I could deliver change, but I was determined to try.

I set about raising the issue frequently in the House of Commons; banging on the doors of Ministers and writing letters to them to make our case.

In June I was thrilled when Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP announced that Kirkcaldy would benefit from funding from a new Growth Mission Fund, just one of three places across the entire UK to be prioritised.

Melanie Ward and supporters mark the £20m funding at the town's red heart (Pic: Submitted)

placeholder image — Melanie Ward and supporters mark the £20m funding at the town's red heart (Pic: Submitted)

I learned that the potential allocation each place could receive ranged from £5m to £20m. I was told that we would likely get between £10m and £15m but I knew that we deserved the maximum £20m and worked my socks off to make it so.

I gathered evidence to help push harder for the top prize of £20m. Over the summer almost 700 residents completed my town centre survey to set out the kind of changes we want to see.

The sentiment was clear: we are proud of our community spirit, our heritage and our seafront but do not make the most of them. 65% wanted a more attractive waterfront; 53% to make the town centre more welcoming to visitors; and 52% to demolish derelict buildings and build new ones. I backed up the survey with business engagement and organised a visit to Dumfries, which is further down its journey of regeneration, sharing the findings with UK Government Ministers.

We succeeded. In the Budget it was announced that Kirkcaldy will receive £20m. This is a vindication of hard work and Labour politics, after almost two decades of SNP inaction and 14 years of Tory disinterest.

Fife Council will be responsible for spending this investment. I have shared all my survey findings with them and pushed for the money to be spent on a package of changes that respond to local views. I have called for the establishment of a Town Board or Steering Group to feed into Fife Council’s regeneration ‘masterplan’, so that key groups continue to be heard.

This funding will not fix everything. But it is a massive step forward and a victory for everyone who took the time to raise their voice. Thank you.