Plans for a cinema in the heart of Kirkcaldy have moved on, with a possible site identified.
Councillor Neil Crooks, who chairs Fife Council’s Kirkcaldy area committee, believes the seafront would be an ideal location for a picture house and has invited interested parties to consider investing there.
A cinema is seen as a key driver in the regeneration of the town, providing a boon to the night time economy in particular. Kirkcaldy has been without a full-time filmhouse since the old ABC in the High Street closed more than a decade ago.
Talks are said to have started between the council and a leisure company interested in the Lang Toun, but they are believed to be at an early stage with no concrete proposals in place.
However, Mr Crooks told The Courier his vision would be to see a cinema, bowling alley and other leisure facilities on The Esplanade.
“There is an opportunity there to develop the seafront from the Jackie O’ site along to the old swimming pool,” he said.
“If we think about demolishing the swimming pool and the multi-storey car park, it’s an ideal site for a cinema, bowling alley etc.
“Bringing to life a part of the waterfront facing the sea is what we have all talked about but never managed to achieve. If there is a developer out there with these aspirations, please get in touch.”
A cinema is just one idea mooted for The Esplanade, where ugly concrete buildings with their backs to the water have been seen as a barrier to attracting visitors.
With £9 million being spent on an enhanced sea wall to prevent flooding, a new leisure centre set to open and plans approved for a hotel, long term proposals include realigning the road to form a single carriageway and creating on-street parking.
“We want to enhance people’s opportunity to make the waterfront a destination rather than some place to pass through,” said Mr Crooks.
Enhancing Kirkcaldy’s waterfront forms part of an aspirational report by the Kirkcaldy Ambitions group, entitled Time For Action.
Mr Crooks acknowledged many promises had been made but not delivered over the past 20 years but stressed his intention was to work with the people Kirkcaldy rather than for them.
“It’s not just about councillors,” he said. “There are a lot of people in the Kirkcaldy area who can exert a lot of influence over what happens with public money.
“People have lost faith in the establishment and I’m trying to re-establish some confidence by pulling together all these ideas and desires.”