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Let's put Kirkcaldy town centre jigsaw together piece by Piece

Joined up thinking needed for town centre plans...from the Fife Free Press

By Debbie Clarke
News Desk

CONCERNS have been expressed that a lack of Council resources may prevent ambitious town developments from going ahead.
Last week plans for a massive expansion of Kirkcaldy's main shopping complex were welcomed by councillors.

But one local Labour member has raised fears that a lack of staff in Fife Council's development services to work on the plans for that and other town proposals, may stop them from coming to fruition.

Councillor Neil Crooks hgas already called for a ''Development Tsar'' to co-ordinate the different projects planned for the town centre – including the new pool, the Mercat expansion, a possible cinema, the hovercraft service to Edinburgh and proposals to breathe new life into Invertiel following B & Q's move to the retail park.

He wants someone in place to ensure the pieces of the jigsaw come together to form a complete picture for the town centre after previous blueprints have failed to get off the ground.

Councillor Crooks has now written to Keith Winter, head of development services, to set up a meeting which will aim to bring all the major projects together.

He told The Press: "There are a number of exciting developments going on in Kirkcaldy such as masterplans for Inverteil, Kirkcaldy town centre and the swimming pool.

"But I am concerned that development services won't have the resources to carry them all out.

''If that is the case, we need to know more detail so we can introduce investment in the budget process.

"The town centre and waterfront masterplan is a work in progress and has been for ages and the Invertiel masterplan appears to be a good idea but isn't moving very fast. I think these are influenced by a lack of staff to deliver."

Mr Winter said he was confident his team would be able to deliver the projects which hold the key to the town centre's redevelopment. Plans are in hand to meet with Cllr Crooks to look at the issues of concern.

He added: ''We are working closely with services across the Council to bring new and exciting developments and opportunities to Fife. We are confident in our ability to bring these into being.''

The Mercat proposal was discussed at Thursday's policy, finance and asset management committee in Glenrothes.

At the meeting, councillors agreed a 20-month 'lock-out' deal with the owners of the shopping centre which would bar other parties from moving in with alternative plans.

It paves the way for a massive redevelopment of the town centre which could see a cinema, supermarket and shops brought to the town.

It has been earmarked for land which is currently occupied by the swimming pool, multi-storey car park and Harlem nightclub.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor David Ross said: "I would welcome a development like this for Kirkcaldy town centre, especially given the number of false starts we have had over the years.

''We really want to turn the town around and face the sea rather than having its back to it."

Councillor Alice Soper added: "There are a lot of development proposals going on which is terrific for Kirkcaldy but it is important we have a tsar in development services who can co-ordinate all of them."