Call for HALO project to celebrate Carnegie
MP aiming to make the most of Dunfermline’s city status
AN MP HAS called for Dunfermline to celebrate the spirit of Andrew Carnegie by opening a HALO project in the city.
Douglas Chapman is calling on Scotland’s newest city to open a project much like the one on the site of the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock in order to boost economic growth, job opportunities and skill development in Dunfermline.
He said: “I’ve been investigating a range of ideas to make the most of our new City Status in order to maximise economic growth, job opportunities and skills development based on some great international examples and those working well closer to home.
“When I visited the Kilmarnock HALO last week along with former Scottish Government minister, Alex Neil, the place was in full flow.
“With a range of new businesses from innovative start-ups to hardworking scale-ups, the sense of Andrew Carnegie’s entrepreneurial spirit was clear to see.
“This is more than just office space; it has an exciting feel to it where entrepreneurs can thrive and grow as part of an innovative digital and cyber community.”
Mr Chapman feels that with the opening of the new Dunfermline Learning Campus, it is the perfect opportunity to create new jobs and exciting social spaces that would bring businesses and residents together.
He continued: “A factor that we need to address is that we don’t have a university based here, which is often seen as a driver for new hightech opportunities and city-wide development.
“With a new Fife College Campus due to open next year and a planned University Hub on site, the College would be at an ideal stage to build some strategic alliances with the seven universities that are within a fairly convenient journey from Dunfermline.
“A HALO project could help pull some of these partnerships together and stimulate that level of connectivity in the heart of our city.”
But the hub wouldn’t just focus on business and education, as Mr Chapman feels that it would become a real commercial hub with spaces for living, work, learning and play.
He feels that the hub could prove a place for community meet-ups, leisure opportunities and cultural events, with ideas for a family-sized city centre cinema.
Importantly, the HALO project has net zero carbon credentials with rooftop solar panels and a battery storage unit, a park fully fuelled by renewable energy, EV chargers, a solar carport and e-bikes available for community use.
He added: “The HALO project is just one idea that we think Fife Council could include in their City Plan as part of their search for a ‘lighthouse’ project, or a transformative, multi-stakeholder collaboration with community engagement and opportunity at its heart.
“The vision encapsulated in the HALO park could make a real difference to our prosperity and wellbeing in the here and now, as well as providing future opportunities for our young people.
“Community, sustainability and opportunity working hand in hand for the prosperity and well-being of the citizens of Dunfermline I think Andrew Carnegie would approve.”