Dunfermline Delivers chief quits for Aberdeen

Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 3 Feb 2012 08:30 25 Comments

Share this

DUNFERMLINE Delivers chief executive Susan Hughes is leaving her job to take up a similar post in Aberdeen.

Chairman Michael Maloco paid tribute to the work done by the chief executive of the Business Improvement District (BID) company.

Ms Hughes (pictured) is to become the new executive director of Aberdeen's Business Improvement District, one of Scotland's newest BID companies, formed in November.

Dunfermline Delivers chairman Michael Maloco said, "Susan has been a great asset for the BID company and we're sorry to be losing her.

"She can reflect on many significant achievements during her time here which have helped shape a bright and positive future for Dunfermline.

"Under her leadership Dunfermline Delivers has become recognised as one of the most successful BID companies in Scotland with our track record in evening safety, visitor events and attracting new funding setting the standards that others aspire to.

"On behalf of the board I'd like to thank Susan for her ceaseless hard work and commitment and we wish her every success in her new role".

Ms Hughes will leave Dunfermline Delivers at the end of February and the recruitment process for a new chief is already under way.

"We're half way through the BID's initial five-year term and it's essential that we find the right person to drive the city forward and take us through another successful ballot," continued Mr Maloco.

"Along with my colleagues on the board, we'll be working with Susan to ensure a smooth transition and to make sure that we appoint someone with the vision and experience to help continue Dunfermline's resurgence as one of Scotland's most vibrant and forward-thinking cities."

Susan Hughes said, "I am sad to be leaving Dunfermline Delivers but the challenge of this new role in Aberdeen is an excellent opportunity.

"I'd like to thank Michael and the Dunfermline Delivers team for all their support and I believe that the city has every reason to look forward to a successful future.

"A lot of people have worked extremely hard to deliver the commitments that were set out in our business plan and it's pleasing that we're right on track with the projects that we set out to achieve."

However, others said the departure offered a good opportunity to make a fresh start.

The Press reported last year that a number of levy-payers were unhappy about what they saw as a lack of progress made by Dunfermline Delivers.

Neil Mackie, manager of the Kingsgate Centre, said, "The important thing for Dunfermline Delivers is the integration of the stakeholders. Dunfermline Delivers has to re-engage with the levy-payers because that's what's been lacking.

"This is a great chance to wipe the slate clean and make a new start."

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

itsallwentpetetong2012
145 posts
Feb 3, 10:51
Report comment

What has Dunfermline Delivers actually done, to improve Dunfermline ,nothing would be the answer, the High Street still a mess and no sign of improvement SOHS is needed more shops with more jobs and investment , we need action and action now.The only place that seems to deliver in Dunfermline is the Alhambra with forward thinking.

Recommend? Yes 55 No 4
Blackadder
259 posts
Feb 3, 13:53
Report comment

I agree. This is Dunfermline's gain and Aberdeen's loss. Let's hope for Aberdeen's sake she doesn't apply Dunfermline Delivers policies on this city which is currently ranking 3rd in Scotland for shopping.

Recommend? Yes 72 No 4
SmarmyGit
319 posts
Feb 4, 12:32
Report comment

Good grief, so much negativity.

At lease there are moves afoot to TRY and improve things, It wouldn't matter what was done, some folk would still moan.

Recommend? Yes 12 No 68
shopaholic
25 posts
Feb 4, 16:15
Report comment

So Blackadder and itsallwentpetetong will be applying for the job then ? Or are they just going to sit back and moan no matter what is done. Come on if you are going to criticise at least be constructive. You want more shops and jobs so where in this recession are they coming from ? Nationals are closing stores not opening them. Do you support your local shops and, if not, can you be surprised if they close.

What about the speciality shops in the Maygate - 2 lovely dress boutiques, childrenswear shop and the new cake shop, new jewellers and Wine store in New Row, newsagents in Douglas St, some great wee stalls in the Kingsgate - are you supporting any of them ?

Is the Alhambra forward thinking ? They are putting on good shows and plastering posters everywhere - what else are they doing to work with local business ? (thats not sarcasm I genuinely don't know)

Recommend? Yes 6 No 75
Blackadder
259 posts
Feb 4, 17:12
Report comment

No I think not, I don't profess to be qualified to do whatever it is Dunfermline Delivers is aiming to achieve. However I do feel qualified as a shopper to hold the opinion that they are not succeeding. This week another High Street, not cheap end of the market either, store has pulled out of Dunfermline, namely Monsoon. I do shop and use amenities in Dunfermline on a regular basis, but there is less and less attraction to do so as the years go by. I agree the Alhambra is a fantastic asset to Dunfermline, can't say the same about another Tesco store arriving though.

And shopaholic, I think you need to get out more if you think dyed fake flower arrangements, mobile phone covers and belly button stud stalls can be described as "great".

Recommend? Yes 92 No 1
shopaholic
25 posts
Feb 5, 00:19
Report comment

OK some of the stalls may not be high end but if they weren't making money they wouldn't still be trading. Someone must be buying from them. Each to their own.

Primark have been a great boost to the town bringing lots of shoppers here and they are not exactly high or even middle end !

As for Monsoon, it is sad to see them go but what could have been done to prevent that ? The company is closing stores all over.

Yes, there is less variety of stores in the High Street but that is true of most towns in the country. What shops do you want to see and how do you think they could be attracted here ?

Recommend? Yes 2 No 73
Blackadder
259 posts
Feb 5, 11:10
Report comment

Monsoon along with other mid-range household stores such as Thorntons, HMV and Motherecare are reducing their store numbers nationwide. This is where Dunfermlinre Deli ers should be, ensuring that in the consultation process of where they close, that it isn't Dunfermline. Peacocks, D2 potentially next, both these stores have called in the administrators. Both Comet and Officer's Club are on shaky ground. This is a nationwide problem and the weakest will be culled. Which stores I would like to see here, (btw some were already here) and which Dunfermline Delivers can even retain let alone introduce are poles apart I'm afraid.

Has Primark raised the footfall in Dunfermline or has it exacerbated the problem by reducing the number of shoppers in mid-range stores? It is consumer choice though.

Recommend? Yes 85 No 55
GoWest
50 posts
Feb 5, 11:53
Report comment

I couldn't disagree more with Blackadders comments. Over the last five years I have seen Dunfermline's town centre improve significantly. There are some really nice new independent outlets recently opened in New Row, champagne/cocktail bars have opened, alot of the buildings on the high street have been refurbished, a new museum will soon be built, the refurbished Leisure centre looks great, the centre has seen major expansion that has now made it, by far, the best town centre in Fife that offers the best range of shops in the region. To put it down is nothing short of shameful.

The BID company and the Council can only do so much to attract new shops, they cannot force retailers to move into Dunfermline, the market and private landlords who own the buildings in the town centre are the ones that decide that. The retail sector is in freefall Nationally, even online retailers like Amazon have seen their profits shrink. Traditional town centres are having to compete with other retail centres like Livingston- which is now outperforming Dundee as a shopping destination, and retail parks or out of town malls like the Gyle and Straiton. Add online retailing and its no wonder traditional town centres have a hard time attracting trade. Especially when people don't support their town centre, then complain when its failing or declining.

Any inward investment or development in town centre's like Dunfermline's can only bring positive benefits, as people are encouraged to shop in town as opposed to out of town. There is a need to generate a critical mass of new retail space in the centre to encourage more retailers to move in and more people to shop there.

Recommend? Yes 76 No 89
shopaholic
25 posts
Feb 5, 14:58
Report comment

"This is where Dunfermlinre Deli ers should be, ensuring that in the consultation process of where they close, that it isn't Dunfermline"

I would expect that most businesses are going to make their decisions based on their own accounts and whether or not a branch is profitable enough.

"This is a nationwide problem and the weakest will be culled."

Exactly

"Which stores I would like to see here, (btw some were already here) and which Dunfermline Delivers can even retain let alone introduce are poles apart I'm afraid."

Well I don't know what you want or what you think could be retained or introduced so can't judge on that.

Recommend? Yes 14 No 76
Blackadder
259 posts
Feb 5, 17:14
Report comment

Did you have a point there shopaholic?

What do you disagree with GoWest, the economic state of the aforementioned stores? Or the fact that I don't think that Dunfermline Delivers have delivered? I wasn't aware that I was putting Dunfermline down and have already stated that I do use the amenities and shop there on a regular basis. However, define region, because it does not offer the best range of shops in my region. Yes we have a lovely refurbished SPORTS centre, but it is not the only one in the region, and it has reopened to coincide with a huge loss of parking area and major road reconstructing work taking place outside.

" There is a need to generate a critical mass of new retail space in the centre to encourage more retailers to move in and more people to shop there." I fail to see how this will help when the Kingsgate centre and Fife retail park are both seriously underoccupied.

I personally choose town centres over out of town retail parks every time as a consumer, and although I will continue to use Dunfermline, declining choice there means that I now travel elsewhere more than I used to do.

Recommend? Yes 91 No 57
GoWest
50 posts
Feb 5, 18:43
Report comment

I disagree with the negative attitude Blackadder and the perception that the centre is getting worse. If anything the centre HAS improved over the last 10 years despite some shops closing. I would guess Dunfermline Delivers has had some input to that. Next have doubled the size of their High Street store, new independent retailers have started setting up shop and new bars and restaurants have been opening in and around the centre. This shows market confidence in Dunfermline. The region I am referring to is Fife. Dunfermline town centre has the best range of shops in Fife.

Im not sure I see your point about it not being the only sports centre in the region?

The Kingsgate Centre is around 90% occupied? Compare that with the Mercat Centre in Kirkcaldy, or Kingdom Centre in Glenrothes, both of which are currently almost a third empty. I don't see that the Kingsgate Centre or Fife retail park (which is in Kirkcaldy btw) is seriously under occupied?

Im glad to hear you choose town centres over out of town. That comment was not specifically directed at you. More a general statement.

The point I made on critical mass of new retail space is that most of the vacant shop units in Dunfermline are either too small, or are not suitable for modern retailer needs. Developing new, larger, more modern and flexible units in and around the town centre demonstrates market/developer confidence and would help to attract more retailers to set up. This is what has happened for example in Livingston. Tesco will become a new anchor store on the edge of the town centre which should draw more footfall/ pedestrian movement around the northwestern end of the centre. The fact its on the edge of the town centre gives better opportunity for joint shopping trips, people doing both their food and non-food shopping in the town centre, than is currently the case, as people currently have to travel to Duloch Park or Halbeath to do most of their food shopping. The proposed refurbishment of the former Pilmuir Works already demonstrates market confidence in Dunfermline.

Recommend? Yes 69 No 89
Blackadder
259 posts
Feb 6, 16:58
Report comment

It's not just that shops are closing, it's the nature of the shops which are being attracted. There was a report in the press a few months ago stating that Dunfermline has more charity shops than anywhere else. Another cheap card shop in the Kingsgate centre appeared before Xmas. The size of the units certainly suit some retailers. There are a variety of different size units in the Kingsgate centre which is very empty on the first floor, empty properties in the high street and large ones at Carnegie Drive retail park (I stand corrected there, it's not called Fife retail park), how much more choice is required.

My point about the leisure centre is, lovely and new as it is, it is not unique. I would not rely on it to draw people into the high street. The same goes for the new Tesco's, again as was reported in the press last year, high street retailers do not share your optimism of increased high street footfall, infact the opposite is feared. Not everyone has to schlep up to Halbeath or Dulloch to do their food shopping. Especially the 1000's of people who reside there.

I agree that Dunfermline has got the best range of shops out of town centres in Fife, however it does not have the best range of shops in a town centre within easy access of most Dunfermline residents. Again, well voiced on these forums by those who favour the ease of travel and the attraction of choice in the Gyle and Livingston. I'm not saying that I agree with it but I am not blind to it either.

You may disagree with my perception as I do yours, simply comparing Dunfermline favourably with other Fife towns does mean that town centre has improved. Try comparing if with Falkirk or Stirling or do they not count because they are not in Fife. To some who live to the west of Dunfermline they are just as close and easy to access as Livingston is to the east.

Recommend? Yes 50 No 9
GoWest
50 posts
Feb 6, 21:05
Report comment

I see. What i'm guessing your saying is Dunfermline isn't improving to a standard that meets your own expectations? It perhaps hasn't grown as quickly or improved as much as some people would like. That's fair enough. But I dont think its fair to say that it hasnt been improving. I have seen a big improvement in it compared with 10 years ago.

Dunfermline might not have as good a retail offer as Livingston. But there is a reason for that. Livingston's outperforming every "town" centre in Scotland. Only the 3 largest cities have bigger stronger centres. Dunfermline is always going to have to compete with Edinburgh and the Gyle. That doesn't mean it cant improve in its own way. Believe it or not, only until very recently, people were actually travelling from Edinburgh and the Lothians to shop in Dunfermline as it had the only Primark store in South East Scotland.

I'm not sure what you think Falkirk has over Dunfermline? Its range of shops is no better. If anything at least Dunfermline has the Debenhams Department Store. Stirling is a university city, with a very affluent and large catchment population. Dunfermline's demographic make up and it's catchment isn't as affluent as Stirling's, or Perth's for that matter.

If you look at similar sized towns to Dunfermline- Kirkcaldy, Greenock, Hamilton, Ayr, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Glenrothes, Kilmarnock, Irvine, and compare it then you would see it's actually performing pretty well. Even if some shops have been closing, or budget retailers have been opening in the centre. If you dont like budget retailers, then your not going to like Matalan opening a new store at the Carnegie Drive retail park in the vacant units soon.

Based upon what you have said i'm guessing were going to have to agree to disagree. But i'd rather be positive about Dunfermline. Especially seeing all the improvements that have already, and are planned to take place. I will enjoy shopping in the centre, meeting friends for coffee or something to eat, having a walk around the abbey or the Glen, going for a swim or to the gym, and going out for drinks or to a show at the Alhambra for some time to come.

Recommend? Yes 20 No 38
Johnnyboy1
18 posts
Feb 7, 10:17
Report comment

GoWest

Are you Susan Hughes or Mikey Maloco, hiding behind a 'user name'?

Just a thought.......................................................................

Recommend? Yes 16 No 0
itsallwentpetetong2012
145 posts
Feb 7, 10:53
Report comment

Dunfermline Delivers has not delivered at all!!!! i am not a shopaholic but the high street in dunfermline is dyer here is my list to improve the high street and surrounding areas

1.Build a flagship store where the Coop building used to be fill it with either a Superdry Shop or H&M, so bringing people down that end of the high street.(footfall)

2.Stop opening too many of the same shops as we do not need any more card shops or bakers or banks or hairdressers and please stop all cars from accessing the high street as there seems to be loads of cars on the high street and you can t walk down the street without a car trying to run you over.

3.Build a new multi-storey car park in Walmer Drive(there a car park there at the moment but make it a multi-storey it will not spoil anyone's view , make the entrance at East Port and the exit at the new row and a free shuttle bus for passengers and blue badge holders

4.Make the units in the Kingsgate Centre bigger(knocking two into one if needs must) so attraction more retailers like USC, Republic,Bank,Topman

5.Open up the bottom end of the High Street with little different shops like Lush,Schuh ect like what you have in St Andrews.

6.Link Carnegie Drive Retail Park and Kingsgate Shopping Centre up via a footbridge so using the carpark as a overspill if the Kingsgate multi-storey gets too busy and also linking up the shops as well.

7.Give all pubs licences like the seven kings and the new weatherspoons permission to have outdoor seats, ie the seven kings can use the space at the glen gates and weatherspoons can use land outside there new pub so generating cafe culture.

8.Move Carnegie College to car park behind the Seven Kings or the old Dunlop works which does not seem to be getting built on at the moment as where promised a urban village at the site make the college the center point of the new urban village and that would create footfall for Dunfermline town centre.

9.Make the Pittencrieff Park as destination for the East of Scotland not just another place to walk your dog,i remember when i was wee they used to have a zoo in there.Make the park a tourist destination again, ie go ahead with plans to bring the Glen Pavilion into the 21 st Century.

9A.Keep the tourist part of the Glen as it is as amazing and a lovely wee walk but utlise the bottom half of the Pittencrief Park buy building a amusement park like M&D in Strathclyde Park so bringing in tourist and also linking it up to the abbey and surrounding buildings and the new museum that is getting built and by doing this you can also make the bottom end of the High Street busy again like it is when the fireworks or the children s gala are on.

9B.Move the Children Gala and the Fireworks to Sinclair Gardens a very much unused park in Dunfermline.

10.Fife Council drop you rates for shops as listen to what Mary Portas report says so bringing the footfall back to town center's we all live in age of the internet and bigger shopping centers we need to have a variety in the high street not just shops bring in people back to high steet.

11.Can i say a big well done to Thomas Moffat and Visit Dunfermline team and the team behind the Alhambra(Kevin Bridges four night sell out) and Rubens Deli/Wine shop for there forward thinking and bringing new ideas to Dunfermline.

Dunfermline is not a City but can be if we stop thinking like a small town.

Recommend? Yes 34 No 3
GoWest
50 posts
Feb 7, 13:56
Report comment

Johnnyboy1- no, I just know a little bit about the subject.

itsallwentpetetong2012- I think you should go for Susan Hughes job. Seriously, I think some of your ideas are good. But I also think you need to ask yourself, is what you are asking realistic and can it all be achieved in the current economy?

People losing their jobs + increasing living costs= less disposable income= new expensive shops (aka Superdry) won't open.

1- whos going to pay to build a new flagship store? Cause the public sector ain't got the money and the private sector is reluctant to build just now.

2- Dunfermline Delivers or the Council can't control what shops chose to move in, market forces and private landlords do.

3- Who is going to pay for an expensive multi-storey carpark at Walmer Drive? Multi-storey car parks are very expensive and there is no spare public money for a new car park in Dunfermline. I personally wouldn't want my taxes spent on paying for a new multi-storey car park for Dunfermline.

4- Who's to say knocking units in the Kingsgate hasn't been looked at? It may not be structurally possible?

5- St Andrews is an affluent university town and is one of Scotlands main tourist destinations attracting hundreds of thousands of people every year. Dunfermline isn't and doesnt.

6- Who is going to pay for a footbridge? They're knocking down town/city centre footbridges all over Scotland, Dundee waterfront being a prime example. They are expensive and attract anti-social behaviour.

7- Are you really going to encourage people to cross a road with pints from the seven kings so they can sit on the edge of a public park? Where do you think the glasses will end up??? Whos to say Wetherspoons wont have outdoor seating on the High Street? Its not open yet.

8- With regards to the college, I recall seeing a Dunfermline Press article which suggested this is being explored? it'd be good if it could go ahead.

9- You really want to turn the Glen into the Links Market?? Who's going to pay to maintain a zoo? They are very expensive to upkeep.

10- Public authorities DONT control the rents in town centres- the private sector market does.

I dont deny there is room for improvement, but lets be realistic.

Recommend? Yes 14 No 37
shopaholic
25 posts
Feb 7, 15:59
Report comment

itsallwentpetetong2012 - some really good ideas there.

I agree though that with current economic conditions it is unlikely there would be public money for store development. However, I totally agree with stopping cars in the High Street during the day and a shuttle/shoppers bus operating round the centre including a link to the railway station.

It is true that landlords decide who they let to so if another card shop wants to open and a landlord wants to let then........

I support the proposal for the college and I am sure there were plans a few years ago for a new car park at Walmer Dr, although I doubt if there is money for that now.

The Kingsgate have extended units before, Poundland expanded into the one next door so it can be done if the demand is there.

I think we do have to be creative about our High Streets, make shopping an enjoyable day out and not a chore.

Recommend? Yes 17 No 4
itsallwentpetetong2012
145 posts
Feb 7, 21:25
Report comment

itsallwentpetetong2012- I think you should go for Susan Hughes job. Seriously, I think some of your ideas are good.

-Already have it was advertised on S1 Jobs

But I also think you need to ask yourself, is what you are asking realistic and can it all be achieved in the current economy?

People losing their jobs + increasing living costs= less disposable income= new expensive shops (aka Superdry) won't open.

This is the kind shop that all the kids are buying clothes from at the moment, Livingston got 1 so why can t we.

1- whos going to pay to build a new flagship store? Cause the public sector ain't got the money and the private sector is reluctant to build just now.

-Maybe we use the money if Carnegie College relocates and we sell the old site to house developers

2- Dunfermline Delivers or the Council can't control what shops chose to move in, market forces and private landlords do.

-Well Dunfermline Delivers needs to meet with the private landlords etc so that we don t have the same shops opening giving Dunfermline High Street the variety it deserves so that we can bring footfall back to the High Street.

3- Who is going to pay for an expensive multi-storey carpark at Walmer Drive? Multi-storey car parks are very expensive and there is no spare public money for a new car park in Dunfermline. I personally wouldn't want my taxes spent on paying for a new multi-storey car park for Dunfermline.

-Sell all the other little car-parks that the council own and build one large multi storey.so clearing the streets of cars and making shopping in Dunfermline enjoyable.

4- Who's to say knocking units in the Kingsgate hasn't been looked at? It may not be structurally possible?

-Poundland done it so why can t the others ..........

5- St Andrews is an affluent university town and is one of Scotlands main tourist destinations attracting hundreds of thousands of people every year. Dunfermline isn't and doesnt.

-Do you not need to pass Dunfermline to get St Andrews,If i not mistaken was Dunfermline not once the capital of Scotland and do we not have 5000 new homes that will built in DEX plenty of customers there and do we not also have Scotlands biggest music festival on our doorstep every July but Dunfermline Delivers does nothing to attract these people or have a mini concert or something like that in the Glen as the Glen Pavillion does have stage at the back of it.We also could attract people from the Edinburgh Festival as well.

6- Who is going to pay for a footbridge? They're knocking down town/city centre footbridges all over Scotland, Dundee waterfront being a prime example. They are expensive and attract anti-social behaviour.

-Does not have to be a bridge it could be a subway or a tunnel just so that both areas link so bringing customers to both areas.

7- Are you really going to encourage people to cross a road with pints from the seven kings so they can sit on the edge of a public park? Where do you think the glasses will end up??? Whos to say Wetherspoons wont have outdoor seating on the High Street? Its not open yet

-Well have you ever been to underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe there lots of outside drinking area ie bars set up for the summer- the pub would be responsible for picking up the classes.

8- With regards to the college, I recall seeing a Dunfermline Press article which suggested this is being explored? it'd be good if it could go ahead.

-Agreed

9- You really want to turn the Glen into the Links Market?? Who's going to pay to maintain a zoo? They are very expensive to upkeep.

-I never said build a zoo, i was meaning there used to be a zoo there yester year when i was a kid.

-Is the links market not really busy all the time- it would be a tourist attraction for East of Scotland- Mini Alton Towers.

10- Public authorities DONT control the rents in town centres- the private sector market does.

-Well Dunfermline Delivers needs to meet with these people and lower the rates ,there is a report on the BBC News where a landlord bought ten empty units that had be empty for a while and he LOWERED the rates all the but one of the units is now rented out.

PROCRESS is needed ASAP

Dunfermline Delivers needs to stop looking inwards and look outwards as if we continue to do what we are doing just now the town centre will be like a ghost town , we can t rely on Primark to keep people coming to dunfermline as Primark have now opened store in Edinburgh & Livingston

Recommend? Yes 9 No 22
GoWest
50 posts
Feb 7, 21:51
Report comment

In one ear and out the other springs to mind. Good luck with that. Looking forward to seeing your ideas brought to reality.

Recommend? Yes 12 No 33
MrsJBarrowman
10 posts
Feb 8, 01:06
Report comment

Whilst I don't think Dunfermline Delivers has actually delivered anything I also believe that individual retail outlets in Dunfermline are failing miserably to provide an acceptable standard of customer service. On a recent and rare trip to Dunfermline town centre we were treated terribly. The concept of customer service seems not to exist in many of the town centre shops. Almost every store we went into left us feeling a wee bit disheartened at the lack of customer service.

The reason for our visit was that a wee member of our family had just celebrated a birthday and was desperate to part with his birthday loot. We went into Costa coffee first and after ordering were saddened to hear the "coffee maker" moaning that she "hated making" our choice of drink (she even made a face to match her displeasure).

We then ventured on to JD sports where the wee one chose 2 pairs of trainers to try on. After a good while hunting down someone to help we were told that they "dinnae huv them in his size pal" (without checking). Whilst the adult in the shopping party was desperate to leave, the wee one (still anxious to part with his pennies) found something he wanted to buy. We went to the checkout and again felt as though we'd interupted a social gathering by asking them to serve us. Several other shops proved just as dreadful. I think retail in Dunfermline has lost its "oomph" (or did it ever really have it?) The only shop that afforded us the customer experience we've come to expect was one of the much berated card shops (The Card Factory) - the man who served us was so nice, happy and seemed to care that we wanted to spend money in his store.

Tonight (with a hole well and truly burning in his pocket) we ventured to the Gyle and I have to say that it was a completely different story. All pennies were well and truly spent and it was a pleasurable experience. Although it's not much in the grand scheme of things that was a couple of hundred pounds that could and should have been spent in our city centre.

I think individual retailers in Dunfermline need to revitalise their staff and spend money ensuring that they are customer focused then maybe people will stop heading to other areas to spend their money.

Recommend? Yes 32 No 1
musicmania
1 post
Feb 8, 18:12
Report comment

I am very new to this so I decided to fully research Dunfermline Delivers, their business plan and their board. It's all there on their website. I also researched historical blogging on this site and Blackadder clearly likes to moan, complain and live life from a very negative, ill informed view point. It's quite clear they have no market intelligence, unlike GoWest. An educated individual will always see the bigger picture. Well done Dunfermline Delivers, you are delivering EXACTLY what the BID levy payers have dictated, through their vote on the business plan that THEY, (not Dunfermline Delivers) created. The facts are all there but being new to Dunfermline it is really apparent that people don't care about fact or evidence just gossip and scare mongering. I even asked to see their evaluation surveys, which they were more than happy to share...warts and all! So, wind your neck in Blackadder, stop being lazy and research your subject before you spout your mouth off at individuals as well as organisations. Shame on you!

Recommend? Yes 17 No 30
itsallwentpetetong2012
145 posts
Feb 8, 21:25
Report comment

Go West !!! i put forward my idea's as we all like living in Dunfermline but we need to move forward!

i was in the High Street today and was glad to see no cars there ! but the high street needs improved as there is alot of shop closing.

Recommend? Yes 24 No 9
GoWest
50 posts
Feb 9, 13:11
Report comment

I don't doubt your intentions are good itsallwentpetetong2012.

But I think you need to lower your expectations and be more realistic about what you think can or should happen.

Nobody is arguing that Dunfermline could be improved. All I am suggesting is that people stop puting it down and see the bigger picture.

Dunfermline has been improving and is gradually moving in a positive direction. In the long term with major developments like the new museum, Pittencrieff park improvements, Tesco and proposals at the former Pilmuir Works (old Dunlop works) moving forward, Dunfermline should have a bright future.

Recommend? Yes 15 No 22
vinoboy35
70 posts
Feb 10, 22:03
Report comment

some intelligent debate here .However.levels of No votes on comments suggests the uusual negativity prevalent within Dunfermline, often confirming the sterotyping of Fifers being miserable gits .Yes,customer service in the town is atrocious at times ,usually by moaning native born Fifers , thought inversely that would make some happy !

There are exceptions especially in our cafes .

Recommend? Yes 2 No 2
doedoej
2 posts
Apr 4, 19:38
Report comment

Has anyone seen what dunfermline.us are doing?

Recommend? Yes 1 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Dunfermline Press Poll

Do you think Dunfermline Delivers does a good job for Dunfermline?

Follow @dunfermlinep