‘We can’t turn the clocks back’

MP says people must stop thinking of the shops of old and start planning the next phase of the ongoing evolution of the town’s High Street

We must stop thinking of ways to “bring back” the shops of old, and start planning the next step in the evolution of our high streets, according to local MP Lesley Laird.

She said losing M&S was a significant blow to Kirkcaldy High Street, adding: “However, losing a shop with this heritage leaves no doubt that retailers everywhere are struggling.

“We’re not unique – across the country high streets are no longer the vibrant places they once were.”

Kirkcaldy has lost several large retailers in recent years.

Mrs Laird said: “Kirkcaldy put up a good fight, especially Gordon Brown in the case of Tesco, but ultimately it’s not in our power to order stores to stay – we can only seek to persuade them.

“BHS didn’t just leave Kirkcaldy, the whole firm collapsed as a result of woeful mismanagement.”

She added M&S had been “brutally honest” about the challenges facing the retail sector.

But as to the future of a thriving high street, she said the biggest obstacle is “us – and our shopping habits”.

“We can’t bemoan the loss of high street shops if we rarely shop in them,” she said.

“We can’t turn the clocks back, and we now need to plan the next step in the evolution of the town centre – that includes a mix of options from housing and entertainment to retail and heritage to boost day and night economies.”

She said the current business rates system must also be revised along with a planning reform.

Mrs Laird felt a partnership approach was now needed to unlock opportunities.

While the downturn was a national trend, she felt Kirkcaldy should capitalise on its assets which includes the size of its population, heritage and regeneration of the waterfront.

But she warned she believed 2019 would be another testing year for retail and further closures should be expected.

She added: “Our focus now must be to look forward – how people can get involved and play their part in shaping what next for Kirkcaldy.”

The Labour MP has sought out key stakeholders and been in regular contact with the Mercat Centre managers in a bid to push for a cinema.

She’s also been in touch with USDAW about its town centre campaign.

“Fife Council and Kirkcaldy 4 All held a summit recently, using a place-based approach to bring stakeholders together to work collectively to make changes in a cohesive fashion, rather than each party simply focusing on one issue, for example, parking,” she said.

“It is so important right now to keep an open dialogue with stores in a bid to ensure that regeneration in Kirkcaldy doesn’t progress in a piecemeal, disjointed way and that – as new opportunities emerge – we move forward together to secure a positive outcome for Kirkcaldy.”

We can’t bemoan the loss of high street shops if we rarely shop in them. LESLEY LAIRD MP

Picture: Steven Brown. Kirkcaldy High Street.