New four-hour free parking pilot set to launch in Kirkcaldy
A new free parking initiative launches next month in a bid to encourage more people into Kirkcaldy town centre.
From August 1, visitors to the Lang Toun, and customers of Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre will be able to enjoy up to four hours of free parking at Esplanade Car Parks A and B. The project runs until March 31, 2027.
It follows on from a month-long free parking trial in March. While feedback was positive, it didn't provide enough information to fully assess the impact on visitor numbers, parking usage and travel patterns. The longer trial will help gather more meaningful data over a wider range of seasons and visitor activity.
The initiative is being funded with £12,000 from Kirkcaldy Area Committee's devolved parking allocation, together with £5,000 from Fife Sports and Leisure Trust.
The extended free parking trial aims to support town centre shoppers, visitors, leisure centre users and local businesses while providing more robust information on how parking arrangements influence how people travel to or visit the area.
The offer applies at both car parks, with standard charges resuming after the initial four hours. Updated tariffs and ticket machines will reflect the temporary change. All users will still be required to obtain a ticket from the machine to qualify for the free parking period.
As part of the initiative, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust will continue to engage with residents and visitors about access to Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre and what improvements could encourage more frequent visits.
Councillor Ian Cameron, convener of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, said: “Making it easier and more affordable for people to visit Kirkcaldy town centre is really important and is something we, as local councillors, are asked about a lot.
“This trial, supported by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, will now offer up to four hours of free parking, giving people more time to enjoy everything the town centre and leisure facilities have to offer.
“It will run through to the end of the financial year, allowing us to gather more detailed insight into how free parking can support local services, businesses and residents. It’s about testing options so we can make the right long-term decisions.”
The initiative was also welcomed by Emma Walker, chief executive of Fife Sport and Leisure Trust, who said: "Making physical activity accessible is an important part of improving community health and wellbeing, and this trial will help us better understand the role parking can play in supporting visits to local facilities and encouraging people to be more active.”