By SCOTT MILNE and ANDY BYER (OR)

 

Fife Council have staged a four-day open forum looking for ideas and suggestions for using the space in and around the Victoria Road corridor in Kirkcaldy.

 

After successfully being awarded a grant by the Scottish Government, the council hired Ironside Farrar, an urban planning and architecture company, to organise the charrette event. Hosted at Pathhead Hall, on Commercial Street, the centre was specifically reopened for the occasion, from Wednesday 26th February to Saturday 1st March.

 

As well as information on the prospective developments for the area, the event was also decked out in designs from children from the local primary schools, such as new play parks and gardens, and a computer station for feedback.

 

Planner Benjamin Ellis, who works at the Fife Council’s planning department, said the area has potential: ‘We saw that there was a lot of space that can be better used. We are looking for ideas from the public, as well as local businesses, and advice from professional experts.

 

"We are looking specifically at developing on an area which has a great view over the Firth of Forth as well."

 

Urban design specialist Ben Hamilton-Baillie said that the area was ‘bleak and featureless’ as part of the workshop. He also tweeted that there is ‘a lot needed to turn this town around. Great location, but so many barriers’.

 

It was also revealed that property developers Miller Developments has acquired the nearby vacant land adjacent the Victoria Hospital.

 

A report detailing the findings and proposals will be published ‘by the end of March’. Then the council’s planning committee will look at what ideas are appropriate with the available funding. The area has recently seen drastic changes after the linoleum factory on Victoria Road was demolished which was, until then, the world’s oldest linoleum factory.