‘Radical rethink’ is what’s needed’, say councillors

A “radical rethink is what’s needed” to help the High Street, according to Conservative councillors Kathleen Leslie and Richard Watt.

With Tesco and BHS already gone, and now M&S, they felt little if anything was done.

“It is quite astounding to think that – given the signs were there when Tesco closed its doors in 2015, coupled with the continued growth of online retailers, high business rates, and the development of the out-of-town retail park – that nothing was done to effectively address this,” said the pair.

They said the biggest obstacle to seeing a thriving High Street was changing consumer patterns.

Parking charges were top of the problem pile.

They added: “Parking charges have brought in around £3 million last year across Fife – but the operating costs account for around £2.6m – this demonstrates very little return in revenue for the council.”

While ailing town centres was a national issue, in Kirkcaldy parking fees were a particular concern.

They said the previous Labour administration decided to introduce Sunday parking charges in Fife “which has undoubtedly kept shoppers away from the town centre”.

“Other local authorities, notably, Perth, Stirling and East Lothian have no Sunday parking charges, while Falkirk does not charge for its council car parks after 3pm,” they added.

“Clearly basic supply and demand theory eludes some Labour councillors who believe that as more shops close down, there will be an increase in shoppers willing to pay to park in the town centre.

“The Labour administration was guilty of letting it slide and doing little if anything to help.

“When the first of the bigger stores left they did nothing.”

Ms Leslie and Mr Watt, who represent Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy and Kirkcaldy East respectively, added: “We need to also ask – what is a high street?

“We have to be more pragmatic and move with the times.

“Perhaps that could see a return to some residential areas in the town centre.”

They added: “Café culture – albeit one which doesn’t saturate the market – would be good.

“The monthly farmers’ market in the town square should be on the High Street.”

They also wanted to see plans for the waterfront scrapped and were not in support of proposals to make the esplanade single carriageway.

They said: “The Scottish Government should be lobbied about business rates, and plans to de-pedestrianise the High Street should also be looked at.

The councillors believe the people of the town should be involved in helping as well as the council.

We have to be more pragmatic and move with the times. COUNCILLORS KATHLEEN LESLIE AND RICHARD WATT