Leslie’s looking lovely, thanks to a little facelift.
The community of the Fife town voted for High Street improvement projects last year as part of the participatory budgeting scheme.
This sees money made available through the Fife taskforce set up in the wake of the closures of Tullis Russell and Tesco’s Kirkcaldy store.
Grants are awarded for up to 80% of the cost of work, up to a maximum of £1,000.
One of the projects people voted for was a bespoke memorial bench to commemorate the First World War.
Located outside Leslie library the design was created by local crafts business Iron Design by Rory, based at Strathenry Mills.
The shop front improvement scheme has enabled local businesses to brighten up the High Street through colourful designs and signs on two local shops.
Devine Cakes has eyecatching shutters for its tearoom designed by Kerry Wilson of Kerry Wilson Art and hairdressing salon Something Different has had its signage restyled.
Margaret Devine of Devine Cakes said: “It’s great that local people voted to help local businesses.
“Being able to access to this funding allowed me to bring in Kerry to create a stunning piece of art for Leslie and anything that benefits Leslie is brilliant.”
Glenrothes area convener, SNP councillor Fiona Grant, said: “After going through the participatory budgeting process and collectively agreeing on the projects, it is now great to see the results.
“Local people have had the opportunity to come up with creative as well as pragmatic ideas to make improvements in their own community.
“I’m sure these visually enhancing projects will help make Leslie High Street an appealing place to shop and encourage more people to the area.”
Deputy convener, Labour councillor Jan Wincott, added that the bench was a “beautiful and functional” piece of art for the town.
“It feels so right having the memorial bench at one end of the High Street, and the war memorial at the other.”
“It’s great to see local businesses benefiting from participatory budgeting.
“Getting funds back into the community, for what the community decides it needs, is what it’s all about.”
