Community rallies to improve access to town’s war memorial

Project: Handrails have been installed after campaign raises £3,500 to make improvements

An iconic Fife war memorial is now easier to access for elderly veterans remembering fallen comrades, thanks to a community campaign.

Even after extensive refurbishment three years ago, Cupar War Memorial remained difficult to reach for less mobile people.

New handrails have been installed to make it more accessible for those wishing to pay their respects to townspeople who gave their lives for the country.

Former Cupar Community Council chairman Dave Carstairs led the drive to raise £3,500 for the improvement.

He said: “It was great to have the memorial restored to its former glory but I realised that we had not taken account of how we could accommodate people with mobility issues.

“Taking part in Remembrance and wreath-laying ceremonies I had some personal experience of people having difficulty with the steps and started to think about how we could get handrails installed.”

He approached the community council and local MP Stephen Gethins for help, and support came from several local businesses and organisations, Kingdom Housing Association and Fife Council.

Mr Gethins said: “I am very pleased to have been able to help ensure this very important project went ahead and very grateful to local firms including Thorntons and Kingdom Housing Association, as well as Caring for Cupar and the administrators of the Bruce Charitable Trust, for their financial support.

“I know that Mr Carstairs has worked really hard on ensuring the war memorial is fit for generations to come and I congratulate him on his persistence with this project.”

Bill Banks, Kingdom Housing Association chief executive, said: “Everyone involved with the war memorial project should be congratulated.

“It demonstrates the positive outcomes can that can be delivered through communities working together.”

In 2014 the bronze and landmark memorial, which is topped with an angel sculpture, was restored and decades of dirt and staining removed.

I had some personal experience of people having difficulty with the steps and started to think about how we could get handrails installed. DAVE CARSTAIRS

Picture: Kris Miller. Dave Carstairs, MP Stephen Gethins and Cupar Community Council chairwoman Gina Logan at the Cupar memorial.