THE new chairman of Dunfermline Delivers insists it’s the “end of the road for the High Street” as we know it.

Bill Fletcher also says there are too many shops and not enough people living in the city centre.

He conceded some of the criticism levelled at the old Dunfermline Delivers was “rightly deserved” but the blame game wouldn’t bring a reversal of fortunes.

Mr Fletcher told the Press, “It’s the end of the road for the High Street as we all fondly remember it.

“The task of saving the High Street is challenging to say the least.

“No amount of blaming Fife Council, supermarkets, out-of-town shopping centres or the rise of the internet is going to reverse the long-term trend away from the High Street.” Mr Fletcher said a “predominantly new board” wanted to move forward and bring positive change to Dunfermline, with the company also on the move to the ‘community hub’ at 82 High Street.

He said, “We want to draw a line in the sand. OK, lots of things have gone wrong with the town centre but it would have been a miracle if the previous incarnation had been able to adapt to all those changes and the pace at which they took place.

“We’ve managed to get a vote for another five-year term, that’s a challenge but it’s also an opportunity.

“It will be a more proactive board, lots of different events and a real spirit of entrepreneurship so judge us in a year’s time.” The board said a new vision for the High Street could encompass a “retailing centre that serves the needs of the local community”, the reintroduction of people living in the city centre, leisure, entertainment and cultural facilities, public and private sector services, an employment and business sector, better accessibility and “sense of place” in the community.

Mr Fletcher said, “It is now a fact that Dunfermline has too many retail units.

“We will work with property owners and local authorities to find alternative uses for redundant retail shops and storage areas above shops.” He continued, “I want to change people’s perceptions and tell them ‘the High Street is never going to be how it was in your mum’s day’. It’s gone and it’s never coming back.

“People are the heart and soul of a town so we want to build it on community, a place where people come to meet, socialise, eat and drink.

“There are no quick fixes but if everyone believes in their town and does everything a bit better, we’ll get there.” Mr Fletcher said Dunfermline Delivers, re-elected as the BID company in July, will form a partnership with the Dunfermline First events group.

Responsibility for delivering the existing events – such as the Bruce Festival, Christmas lights switch-on and fireworks – will switch to Dunfermline First.

These will be added to a new programme of events to be developed by a new full-time post of events officer/fund-raiser which will be jointly-funded by both companies.

The current funding received from Fife Council to the BIDs company is to be used for the calendar of events.

He said the “sharing of resources” would allow the new Dunfermline Delivers board to concentrate entirely on a new set of initiatives to support the 432 BID levy-payers.

Mr Fletcher stated they had already made great progress with the transformation of 82 High Street – due to open in around six weeks – and the Venture Street entrepreneurial initiative, due in the run-up to Christmas.

“We have a limited budget but we’ve shown we’ve used the money very well,” he said.