Kirkcaldy’s £20million: masterplan ‘is not what people want’ MP tells council

Melanie Ward MP and David Torrance MSP both raised concerns over the priorities in the blueprint which was unveiled last month, and is key to where the UK Government Growth Mission Fund cash will be spent.

It comes after some backlash over the priorities unveiled at the first drop-in sessions.

A proposed new building, the Adam Smith Growth Works, which envisaged for the site of the town’s multi-storey carparks currently being demolished, has come under close scrutiny with many arguing it isn’t what the town asked for, or needs.

Fife Council said it is still processing the feedback to shape its next steps, but it is coming under pressure to re-think.

Ms Ward met with Ken Gourlay, chief executive, of the local authority, last week to discuss the issue after expressing her “surprise” at the initial plans shown to the public. She also moved to dispel the myth that the UK Government has put any barriers on what the funding should be spent on.

She said: “I am glad that the debate we are now having in Kirkcaldy is over how the town should change, rather than whether change will ever be possible. This is positive.

“I was surprised to see Fife Council’s initial public plans for use of the £20million for Kirkcaldy’s redevelopment that I secured from the UK Government. The public was very clear in the survey I conducted that a ‘more attractive waterfront with business outlets’ was its top priority. What has been shared does not yet meet this.” The Labour MP said she had put those views to the council “in very clear terms” and encouraged it to adjust its plans.

Mr Gourlay said the council was “really pleased” with the level of engagement and added: “We’re still working through the comments to help shape the next steps of both the Growth Mission Fund project and the wider Kirkcaldy regeneration programme.” Further criticism came this week from Mr Torrance, SNP MSP for the Lang Toun who accused the council of “not listening.”

“Any investment in Kirkcaldy should be positive, yet somehow Fife Council has managed to turn even this Growth Fund opportunity into a source of frustration,” he said in his column in the Fife Free Press. “Many residents feel the plans unveiled so far fall short of what the town actually needs, and I can understand why

“Public consultations are held but appear not to be heard. When the same concerns are raised repeatedly and then quietly brushed aside, trust erodes and confidence in the process disappears.

The fact that the town’s own Labour MP has publicly criticised the Labour led council’s proposals should prompt serious reflection within Fife Council.

It’s clear this money could be used far more wisely, with genuine community involvement, to deliver projects that create jobs and restore pride in our town. If this funding is to mean anything, Fife Council must start listening.”

The initial plans for the £20million pot also envisage the demolition of some buildings and greater connectivity from the High Street to the waterfront, with further plans for more work on the Esplanade.

Amid the debate, a petition calling for a re-think was launched by businessman Amby Stanyer-Hunter - who has staged many events in town centre - who branded the blueprint a “pile of nonsense.”