Chance to see how Inverkeithing plans are shaping up

Funding bids under way for five-year town programme

Locals can see how multi-million-pound plans to preserve Inverkeithing’s heritage are shaping up later this month.

They are being invited to a drop-in event at the Civic Centre to find out the latest on the bid for funding from Historic Environment Scotland conservation area regeneration scheme and Heritage Lottery Fund townscape heritage.

Applications made last year to funding bodies to revamp the town centre were unsuccessful. But encouraged by feedback and public consultation, Fife Council is working on new bids which could bring more than £3 million to the area.

If the new bids are successful, a fiveyear built heritage programme for the town centre would start in April 2019.

The programme would see investment in the key civic assets like the town house, Friary hospitium and its gardens.

It could also operate a small repair grants scheme to help owners improve traditional buildings in the town centre, and deliver education and training activities such as traditional building skills workshops and archaeological digs.

Fife Council’s South and West Fife area committee agreed a £430,000 contribution last September to increase the scope of the work as part of the package of improvements.

Committee convener Alice McGarry urged people to go along to the Civic Centre on Thursday to see how the plans for the town are progressing.

“Your input will help the project team to complete the proposals in the bid for heritage funding. This will kick-start improvement and investment in the town.

“It’s really important that we get feedback from the local community because we need to show potential funders that local people are supportive.”

The SNP councillor added that needs to continue over the coming months and years to develop and implement the plans and the information session will be an opportunity for people to help shape what happens in their local area.

Anyone interested can call in anytime between 2.30pm and 8pm where the project team will be on hand to explain the plans on display and consider comments and suggestions.

Your input will help the project team to complete the proposals in the bid for heritage funding. COMMITTEE CONVENER ALICE MCGARRY