The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Town looks to £3m funding for heritage project
Residents asked to give feedback on regeneration plans
People in Inverkeithing are being urged to help safeguard the future of their heritage in a £3 million project.
A drop-in event is taking place between 3 and 7.30pm today at the Friary in Queen Street to help shape how a major funding package could be used to regenerate the town centre.
It will be a chance to comment on options for future development of the Friary and the Town House.
The project team will also be on hand to discuss the proposals and answer questions.
Fife Council has applied to Historic Environment Scotland’s Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) and the Heritage Lottery Fund Townscape Heritage (TH).
The decision should be known early in the new year and, if successful, could provide up to £3 million to deliver a varied five-year programme of town centre regeneration.
This could include repairing and improving the key civic buildings, operating a small repair grants scheme to help owners improve traditional buildings in the town centre and delivering education and training activities such as traditional building skills workshops.
There may also be investment visitor trails and area promotion.
If successful, the Inverkeithing in heritage programme would be delivered by Fife Council and Fife Historic Buildings Trust working with a range of local partner organisations.
Other agencies, such as local colleges and training providers may be involved in specific projects.
Fife Council depute leader Lesley Laird said: “The feedback from the drop-in will build on earlier consultations and help decide which options to develop for the Friary and Town House, as well as the content of the wider regeneration programme for the town centre.
“Local people have been very supportive of the CARS and TH bids with over 100 people responding to the online survey during the summer, and over 90% of respondents backing the bids.
“It’s really important that we continue to engage and work with people in the community, so that we reflect the vision and ambition for the future that the local community want to see happen for Inverkeithing.
“It also complements the wider work and ongoing programme that is reviewing the use of Fife Council’s community facilities in the area and how we can enhance the use of these buildings, increase community involvement and also improve booking procedures across the various facilities.”