Kirkcaldy town centre: blueprint for change set for public scrutiny at drop-in session

The second of Fife Council’s three drop-in sessions takes place in The Mercat Shopping Centre on Tuesday, June 23, running from 2:00pm to 8:00pm.

It follows public sessions in the Old Kirk and Town House which drew hundreds of people keen to see the plans on how to spend the £20million from the UK Government are shaping up.

The Growth Mission Fund investment is subject to Fife Council’s business case being approved by Ministers, and what drop-in sessions aim to do is to gather feedback and deliver a plan that has the stamp of approval from the town. That decision is expected from Ministers in the autumn,

The £20million also forms part of a much wider framework which aims to bring transformative change across our town centre.

Plans for a major new community hub - one of its projects - are expected to be submitted this summer.

The tight timescale is to meet the funding timescales, and, if approved, work would need to begin later this year to allow the money to be used by the end of 2029.

The proposal got off to a rocky start with widespread criticism over its billing as a business/investment hub. That has since been changed to a community space.

The hub - originally billed as the Adam Smith Growth Hub - is seen as one part of the long-term regeneration plan and would provide flexible space for events, activities and community use, as well as a café and exhibition space, but the detail of how it will operate - and who will be at the helm - has yet to be revealed.

Despite the criticism, the council sees the building as key to bringing in new developers and investors by creating something new on land which has been under-used as a service bay behind the now demolished Thistle Street and Esplanade multi-storey car parks.

The drop-in session at the Mercat will update the work being done by Collective Architecture, which is working with the council to develop a long-term plan for the town centre and waterfront - including ideas for the Mercat Centre.

At the event, people will be able to see what’s been shared so far, look at early ideas for the future, find out what might help or limit change, and share their own thoughts and suggestions

This session is a chance for people to have their say before a draft plan is brought forward in September.

Councillor Ian Cameron, convener of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee, said: “We had a great response to the first drop-in, with lots of ideas and constructive feedback from local people.

“We’ve used that to help shape where things are at the minute, and this event is another chance for people to come along, see how things are developing and tell us what they think.

“We’re still at an early stage, so it’s really important that as many people as possible take part and help shape the long-term plan for Kirkcaldy.”

A third and final drop-in session is planned for August, and a draft plan will then be presented in September.

People can also share their views in a short survey which will be available online at our.fife.scot/transformingkirkcaldy from June 23 until July 6. Paper copies will be available at the Town House.