A “historic window of opportunity” exists to redevelop Glenrothes town centre, according to a local councillor.
Ross Vettraino has called on politicians and community groups to unite and discuss plans to transform the heart of the town.
Mr Vettraino says now is the time for such a forum to be created as uncertainty over the future direction of the area continues.
He is adamant a coordinated approach is necessary as the town waits to hear whether or not Tesco will be given permission to build a supermarket in the town centre.
“Something has to be done and done quickly,” he said.
“With the early stages of the local plan currently under consultation and the town centre action plan due for consultation, we have a sound window of opportunity to bring all the interested parties around the table and drive forward the regeneration of the town centre.”
Summits between leading community bodies have taken place in other Fife towns, notably Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy.
However, Glenrothes is different in that it has no traditional High Street and that its main shopping precinct is privately-owned.
Despite this, it is hoped any summit would look at ways of attracting more shoppers to the area, as well as addressing the lack of a night-time economy.
Mr Vettraino’s call comes a month after a meeting of the Glenrothes area committee in which Labour members voted against an SNP motion to request Glenrothes be given similar levels of regeneration funding to Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy.
Administration and Fife Labour leader Alex Rowley hit back at the SNP, saying that he was “disappointed” by their actions.
Mr Vettraino added: “Months ago the Labour administration held ‘town summits’ in Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline, and it’s just not good enough that Glenrothes is being left behind.
“I will be raising the matter with the leader of the council. I will also be raising with him the fact that Labour candidates before the election last May were saying that Glenrothes was suffering from ‘creeping neglect’, but have done nothing to deliver on promises to look at the regeneration potential, not just for the town centre, but for all of the neighbourhood centres as well.
“We have a historic window of opportunity do develop a real town centre with a proper night-time economy and I will be working to make sure the council does not let this opportunity slip.”
Labour councillor Ian Sloan, deputy chairman of the Glenrothes area committee, said: “The town centre is the top priority of the Glenrothes area committee since we took over the administration last May.
“If there was an easy answer then things would have been done five years ago.”
He continued: “We hope to have a meeting about mid-March, and, while it will not be as big as that in Dunfermline or Kirkcaldy, we think it will be a positive step.”
Last month Tesco said it was determined to open an outlet in Glenrothes, with a planning application set to go before councillors next month. The store has been earmarked for construction on the site of New Glenrothes House, and could create as many as 400 jobs.
jowatson@thecourier.co.uk