INVERKEITHING families will get their say on £35,000 funding for a town masterplan.

The project aims to involve all generations of the community in a bid to help identifying and regenerate areas of the town they feel need action.

External consultants will be used to produce a draft masterplan for the whole town with residents fully involved in talks taking the move forward.

Fife Council are contributing £20,000 to the project, with the Scottish Government adding £15,000 from the Making Places Fund.

Alice McGarry, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor, has backed the move and is hoping it brings the community together.

She told the Press: “There’s a lot of individuals doing good work right now but there’s a lack of cohesion and sense of community. Work is being done in isolation right now.

“This project will show what the people want to see Inverkeithing become in the next 10 years and highlight what they feel is important.

“I’m delighted this is going to take place and for a vision to emerge.”

Fife Council agreed that £10,000 will come from both the Community Planning Budget and the Economy, Planning and Employability Service.

A Community Chest Fund will also be established from the £35,000 which will allow local people and community groups access to funding of small scale grants up to £250.

Public events are going to be held to encourage debate and input, with local people set to be recruited to become ‘Community Connectors’.

They will be given the job of working within the community to raise awareness of local events and to inspire isolated people to reconnect with their town.

Cllr McGarry is eager for residents to let their voices be heard as she also warned that Inverkeithing could not become “another commuter town”.

“We should all want the whole town to develop,” she added.

“It could be the development of the harbour, the town square or paths throughout the town.

“There’s lots of work needing done, and it’s thanks to this masterplan that we will see what areas are most important to the people living here.

“Inverkeithing is a wonderful, historic town with great people.

“It’s got a lot going for it.

“I hope everyone gets together and focuses on the future ahead.

“With the new housing development, the last thing we need is for this to become another commuter town.

“We want the new homeowners to buy-in and invest in their new community.

“We want them to feel a part of Inverkeithing.”