The ambition for Kirkcaldy's town centre is for it to be distinctive, vibrant and thriving. To thrive, Kirkcaldy needs to offer something for everyone, from dawn to dusk, cradle to grave.
Residents, businesses and visitors are invited to share their vision for the future of Kirkcaldy by taking part in the council's 'How good is our place? Kirkcaldy Town Centre' online survey.
The survey results will be used to help inform plans for the ongoing development of Kirkcaldy's town centre.
Cllr Neil Crooks, Convener - Kirkcaldy Area Committee & Planning Committee, said: "We're urging everyone to have their say in the future of Kirkcaldy by taking part in the short survey that asks questions about the things that affect people the most – from public transport, to natural space and from housing and community, to jobs. The project aims to create a shared vision for Kirkcaldy that people across the community can buy into, so that as many people as possible can make their voice heard in how the town continues to develop.
"This project is economic regeneration focused and identifies opportunities to further improve the attractiveness of Kirkcaldy as a place to live, work and invest.
"We want everyone who lives, visits or does business in Kirkcaldy to take part in the survey. We have had great engagement so far, with people investing time to use the online ‘place standard tool' to rate different elements of the town. We will also work directly with schools and community organisations to get feeback."
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Amy Harper, Harper Bell & Partners Dental Practice, said: "Our business has been in the town centre for more than half a century and over that time we have all seen some changes. We are proud to remain as an independent business in Kirkcaldy and recognise that we must adapt with the times. The only constant is change, no one organisation, body or person can change the fortunes of our town - we need to do it together, that's why I am passionate about encouraging everyone to spend a bit of time to take part in the place-standard assessment for Kirkcaldy Town Centre – together we can shape our town's future."
Glen McGill, active community and voluntary group member who is fourth generation Kirkcaldy born, said: "I have completed the Kirkcaldy Town Centre place-standard assessment. This is really important, as it enables the people who live and work here to show how we feel about our town, what we need to celebrate, and what we need to address.
"As a proud lifelong Kirkcaldy resident, I encourage everyone to get behind all that is good about our town and those making an effort to establish a business, or create an event to make the town better for everyone."
Cllr Neil Crooks added: "We know that to be successful, town centres need to offer more than retail. The town still has a number of significant national chains and, crucially, also a high number of good quality, long standing, award winning independent businesses. This, alongside assets such as the waterfront, museum, theatre, leisure centre, college and distinctive historic buildings and heritage, can be built upon to help the town centre become the resilient, vibrant, thriving destination that it can be.
"The spirit of the "lang toun" and town's distinctive assets can help the town centre not only survive, but thrive – if we all work together to celebrate and promote what we have, building a positive Kirkcaldy brand to attract visitors and investors, new residents and businesses."
Fife Council is committed to developing and improving Kirkcaldy town centre, and an action plan is in place.The Plan 4 Kirkcaldyarea, the local community plan has been co-produced by a range of community planning partners.
The dedicated Kirkcaldy Town Centre Design and Development Framework was produced in conjunction with the businesses and the wider community in 2015. The Framework splits the town centre into 4 quarters:
• The Waterfront
• Merchants Quarter
• Social Quarter
• Cultural and Civic Quarter.
Each Quarter has an outline vision and highlights the strengths, weakness and a proposed action plan. The partners of the Kirkcaldy Ambitions Group including Fife Council, Kirkcaldy 4 All, Fife Cultural Trust, Fife College, and social enterprises Adam Smith Global Foundation and Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd have been working over a sustained period to attract investment to deliver these actions.
