By Craig Smith

AMBITIOUS PLANS to transform Kirkcaldy town centre and waterfront into a riviera-style destination have been unveiled.

While the consultation on the Kirkcaldy and Mid-Fife Local Plan gets under way, businesses, residents and visitors are now also being asked for their views on the Kirkcaldy town centre and waterfront masterplan.

The blueprint identifies 30 potential developments—both commercial and public works projects—as well as looking at creating public spaces, traffic flows, parking and links within, to and from the town.

Among the ideas in the plan is refurbishing the Esplanade and the sea wall, creating two piers and a beach area in the centre of the town integrated into the coastal defences.

At street level, new restaurants and bars will mean the town remains a lively night-time destination and an extension to the shopping centre will create more modern, flexible facilities.

A “substantial” number of homes, the majority of them flats, are proposed for the town centre, with a proportion expected to provide affordable housing.

With the town’s vision now outlined in black and white, Councillor Alice Soper, Kirkcaldy area committee chairman, encouraged as many people as possible to air their views during the public consultation.

She said, “The area committee will discuss the plan formally at its second meeting in September and a leaflet will be distributed to people who live in Kirkcaldy to seek their views, too.

“High-quality development is vitally important to resurrect Kirkcaldy’s status in Fife.

“I hope as many people as possible will take part in the consultations and submit their views.”

Other proposals look at strengthening links between the station, High Street and the waterfront by reopening Charlotte Street as a through route to the Esplanade, giving priority to pedestrians and including landscaping.

It is also suggested that the multi-storey car parks in Thistle Street will be refurbished or replaced to provide modern, secure parking.

The masterplan also contains an urban design strategy that aims to use design best practice from across the UK and other northern European towns to create a pleasant and exciting urban environment based on the town’s historic character.

Peter Kearns, chairman of the Kirkcaldy Renaissance Partnership, a group made up of representatives from the public and private sectors to assist delivery of the proposals, said, “It’s an ambitious programme but we’ll do all we can to encourage the regeneration of the town and the development of modern, high-quality, well-designed buildings and spaces that make Kirkcaldy an attractive place to live, work and play.

“The views of those who live, work and visit the town are an important part of this process and I’d encourage people to get involved.”

Funding will be primarily from the private sector but there will also be an element of European, national and local public sector support.