Kirkcaldy £20million: council pledge on clearer info as petition brands projects ‘nonsense’

It will give more detail on what is proposed, what is fixed, and what can still be shaped after two well attended drop-in sessions to view the plans sparked a huge response in an online debate.

It comes as a petition was launched calling for a re-think on the priorities outlined in the blueprint.

It came from Amby Stanyer-Hunter who has run numerous events in the town as well as his own dance academy in the Olympia Arcade - and it has attracted almost 500 signatures.

He described the key proposals for a new ‘Adam Smith Growth hub’ and the demolition of as yet unspecified buildings as “ a pile of nonsense” and said: “This once in a lifetime investment in our town needs to be used for more than is currently being offered.”

Writing on his petition, he said: “The £20 million spending proposal for Kirkcaldy's High Street is not what the townspeople desire.

“As a resident deeply invested in the welfare and future of Kirkcaldy, it is disheartening to see such significant funds being allocated towards a plan that does not align with the needs or aspirations of our community.

“This is a golden opportunity for Kirkcaldy to truly transform its High Street into something vibrant and beneficial for all. However, as it stands, the current proposal lacks vision and does not reflect the desires of those who call this town home.”

In its post drop-in session update, the council said it would improve how people can take part, widen participation, including wider promotion and clearer materials, and continue to gather and analyse the feedback before finalising the business case submission.

It also thanked everyone who attended - the numbers through the doors were more than anticipated, and the turnout delighted the event’s hosts.

Councillor David Ross, leader of Fife Council, said: “I was very encouraged by the number of people who attended. It confirms the interest local people have in their town centre and waterfront and that there is a real appetite for change.

“Residents obviously have a lot of questions, and this is still early days in the development of these regeneration proposals.

“The town centre and waterfront proposals are only one part of ongoing, long-term work to transform Kirkcaldy.

“The funding from the UK Government’s Growth Mission Fund has to be directed at specific projects to support economic growth but we hope that this will help stimulate and attract the commercial investment necessary to deliver some of the wider projects and regeneration people want to see that are beyond the scope of what the council can do.

“The feedback from these drop-in sessions and from other consultation that has taken place will help shape not only the Growth Mission projects but also the longer-term transformation of the town centre and esplanade that we all want to see.”

He added:”Regeneration must be something people can see, feel and be proud of and we’re determined to do that.”

The proposed hub for enterprise, business and community, sparked most debate.

It is earmarked for the site which will be created by the demolition of the town’s multi-storey carparks - work which is now well underway, with the workforce from BAM due to start taking down the Esplanade facility next week.

Ken Gourlay, chief executive of Fife Council, said: “To be clear, the proposals illustrate a multi-use building. This is not a single purpose training or office building. Multi-use means it must support activity, footfall and everyday public use, alongside economic and skills activity.That could include space for things like popup retail, a café, exhibitions, community events, creative activities, entertainment, rehearsals and opportunities for people to try out new ideas – alongside other uses that bring people into the town centre and waterfront.

> The council has put together a set of Frequently Asked Questions at our.fife.scot/transformingkirkcaldy