Dunfermline dealt blow by traders

Work of business improvement group halted

Major events drawing thousands into Dunfermline town centre will stop with the shock news the local BIDs company has lost a renewal ballot.

That heralds the end of Dunfermline Delivers, and the hugely popular bonfire night fireworks display and Christmas lights switch on it organises.

Fife Council has stepped in to ensure this September’s Outwith cultural festival will go ahead as planned.

The business improvement district, one of the first in Scotland, had gone out to members seeking a mandate for a new five-year term to forge ahead to ensure Dunfermline was firmly on the map.

But while it won the backing of the majority of town centre traders’ votes, there was a majority no vote in terms of businesses’ rateable values.

A shocked City of Dunfermline committee convener, Labour councillor Helen Law, pledged the council would do its utmost to build on its “excellent work” so that Dunfermline could continue to flourish.

And local SNP MP Douglas Chapman added that letting go of a “force for good” was not the way to help regenerate the town.

Dunfermline’s regeneration has been dealt a devastating blow with news that Dunfermline Delivers will fold.

The business improvement district organisation lost a renewal ballot.

And this means its fireworks display and Christmas lights switch-on, which draw thousands of people into the town, have been scrapped.

The news, which brings three job losses, has come as a hammer blow to those looking to reverse the fortunes of a town centre.

Local SNP MP Douglas Chapman said: “There are many things we can do to improve our town centre but letting go of a force for good is not the way forward.”

What is even more disappointing for the team is the way it lost the vote. It had to poll a simple majority in both the number of votes cast and the rateable value of votes cast.

There were 99 votes to renew the project for a further five-year term, and 51 votes against – an improvement on the 2014 result.

But there was a majority no vote by £4,159,250 in terms of rateable value compared with £3,632,725 yes vote.

That means the Bid scheme, which was one of the first in Scotland when it launched in 2009, won’t be renewed.

Mr Chapman added: “I fear that town centre businesses may regret their decision to have Dunfermline Delivers wound up.”

Dunfermline Delivers chairman Lloyd Pitcairn said the team took huge comfort from the fact that it was a resounding yes in terms of numbers.

“Unfortunately, the vote in terms of rateable value means that we can no longer continue our work.”

Manager Lisa Edwards added: “Compared to comparable towns Dunfermline has been bucking the trend.”

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I fear that town centre businesses may regret their decision to have Dunfermline Delivers wound up. DOUGLAS CHAPMAN

Christmas lights switch-on is over.