Esplanade revamp plan to reconnect town with coast

Ambitious project to improve the town’s waterfront asks for residents’ views

The public can have its say on Kirkcaldy’s £1.4 million regeneration plans.

The scheme hopes to capitalise on one of the town’s greatest assets – the views it offers over the Forth.

Work is under way to deliver a council-funded regeneration project with construction due to start in spring 2019.

The local authority has developed a proposal with Kirkcaldy Waterfront group, the Kirkcaldy’s Ambitions Partnership and Kirkcaldy 4 All to better connect the waterfront to the town centre.

Feedback from residents and businesses will help to shape the planning application which will be submitted later this year.

Over time, Kirkcaldy town centre has been deemed to have “turned its back” on the coastline, so the regeneration project aims to improve connections between the High Street and the waterfront by changing the four-lane dual carriageway to a standard two-lane road.

There will also be improvements to pedestrian crossings, more on-street parking near the leisure centre and extra features to the spaces around the buildings and waterfront to encourage more use of the outdoor space.

Kirkcaldy Labour councillor Neil Crooks, said: “This means that the waterfront would be able to offer outdoor seated areas, be available for pop-up businesses and spill-out areas for larger venues such as the YW or the Kings Theatre.

“Multi-purpose viewing platforms will allow people to safely enjoy the views of the waterfront and provide easier access for disabled users, prams and bicycles over the secondary sea wall.

“The platform areas will also be ideal for pop-up attractions such as coffee kiosks.”

The environment would also be improved with natural stone finishes used to match existing areas in Redburn Wynd, the leisure centre and Tolbooth Street.

There would be more street furniture, plants and better signage to make the area more attractive.

Fife Council is welcoming feedback on these proposals, which will be available to view online, or in the Mercat shopping centre.

The online consultation and Mercat display will run from Monday to October 8.

Project staff will be on-hand in Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre from 2- 5pm on Wednesday October 3 and from 4-7pm the following day for those who would like to view the design proposals and discuss them in more detail.

“Multipurpose viewing platforms will allow people to safely enjoy the views of the waterfront

An artist’s impression of the waterfront project which aims to reconnect Kirkcaldy with the coast.