The strength of desire to rejuvenate the heart of Glenrothes was displayed at a landmark event in the town.
Around 80 residents, local politicians and community representatives gathered at the Rothes Halls as part of an open forum to discuss the future of the town centre.
Although it was not the question and answer session that some had hoped for, local Labour councillor Ian Sloan, who opened the gathering, said he hoped some suggestions could be incorporated as a means of regenerating the town centre area.
He said: “To see so many people dedicated enough to give up their evening and participate in this is very encouraging.
“We have to work with the existing partners like CIS, the town centre owners, but I am hopeful that we can take some small steps.
“There is only so much that the council can do, but we are hoping that members of the community can come up with some ideas that we can take forward.”
Although not the first attempt at canvassing the local population to help improve the town, last night’s event is the clearest sign yet that there is a desire to breathe new life into the town centre area.
Using suggestion boards around the room, ideas to utilise green space, such as Riverside Park, and establish a night time economy were all up for discussion, as well as improving transport links and other logistical matters.
However, there was disappointment that no representatives of CIS/AXA attended, with the insurance giants’ ownership of the Kingdom Centre meaning they would play a key role in driving change in the area.
SNP councillor Ross Vettraino, who had led calls for a summit on the future of the town centre, said that while the event would be useful, a sense of reality had to be maintained.
“We have 51,000 people in the town, so we could have had more along here tonight, but the important thing is that those that are here get their voices heard.
“It is a great opportunity for the people to take.
“I believe that CIS/AXA have done everything that they can to entice major retailers here, but if you look at places like St Andrews and Anstruther, they don’t have that and yet they appear to be doing well.
“Glenrothes used to have facilities like the bowling alley and yet none of them attracted people into the town.
“We have to ask whether there are solutions out there?
”Meanwhile, there remained no further news on Tesco’s planned store in the town.
A planning application had been expected to be put before members of the Glenrothes area committee at their meeting on Wednesday.
However, The Courier understands this is now likely to be April at the earliest.