400 invited to city centre summit
Published 21 Jun 2012 09:00
12 Comments
MORE THAN 400 businesses, groups and tourist attractions have been invited to a summit on the future of Dunfermline city centre.
The event will take place at the Glen Pavilion on Tuesday at 5.30pm and is aimed at providing a platform for ideas on how to improve Dunfermline's appeal as a shopping destination and tourism centre.
The Press reported recently that breathing new life into the centre of Dunfermline would be a top priority for the new council administration.
Council leader Alex Rowley said parts of the High Street were starting to look "shabby" with empty shops and 'To Let' signs spoiling its appearance.
"As I said before we want Dunfermline to return to its former glory," Councillor Rowley told the Press.
"It's Scotland's ancient capital and we want to make it appealing and a top tourist attraction.
"We can't promise to have all the answers as a council and there are things that are beyond our control but we want to listen to what businesses and local groups have to say as a first step.
"We're committed to making Dunfermline a vibrant, busy place and from the feedback to the Press article many people also feel that we need to act to improve things."
Mr Rowley feels that Dunfermline is failing to exploit its potential as a visitor destination given its proud history from the days of Queen Margaret through to Robert the Bruce and Andrew Carnegie.
He would like to see story-boards telling Dunfermline's story in prominent locations and wants to find ways of tapping into the huge tourist market in nearby Edinburgh.
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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B2theB
188 posts
Jun 21, 10:31
Report commentUmmm, Dunfermline is not a city.
Just because you keep saying it, doesn't make it real you know.
Recommend?
Yes 20
No 14
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maclam
335 posts
Jun 21, 10:42
Report commenthopefully the general tax paying public will eventually be nvolved during any fuure consultations concerning the city centre.
Recommend? Yes 12
No 0
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acm9122
15 posts
Jun 21, 12:32
Report commentIf they are looking for ideas here is simplest one and easiest to introduce. Reduce parking charges to similar to Livingston or do away with it completely like retail parks.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 0
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talkytalky2012
3 posts
Jun 21, 14:53
Report commentwe needs shops to buy stuff not pubs to drink or places to eat with ridiculous prices, no more charity shops, no more phone shops or beauty places, we are in a volatile economy how many people can afford the luxury of eating out as a family these days??? or getting a pampering and as for pubs ten a penny in a small town like dunfermline. DO not allow any more they may bring in some revenue but the reputation is what you are trying to achieve. we need a change of direction, lots of business have tried and failed to succeed in dunfermline. lower rates, less car parking charges and a pedestrian high street would also help, to many allowances made for disabled people when it comes to this.
the ratio of leisure interests in the town of dunfermline weighs out the actual retail sector.
really what does dunfermline have to offer these big business brands to come here???????????? will be a ghost town in next ten years like the bottom end of town is now. watch this space only a matter of time before it happens.
Recommend? Yes 11
No 3
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itsallwentpetetong2012
170 posts
Jun 21, 19:41
Report commenti agree with the comments above , we should get rid of the cars in the high street as i was in Stirling(better shopping experience) the other weekend and it was so relaxing to be on there high street and not get run over by some idiot driver or hit by a lorry.
Dunfermline has a bigger population than Stirling & Livingston but we all choose to shop at these destinations because of the better variety of shops, better parking,better shopping experience
Here are my suggestions to make Dunfermline High Street a better shopping experience.
1.Install retractable bollards at the top of the Queen Anne Street for access to delivery drivers only no other drivers at all.
2.Fill in the gap site that was the Coop building with a Flagship Shop Store so bringing people to that end of the High Street. i.e Superdry Shop,TK Maxx,Zara Ect
3.Lower the RATES that we charge so we can attract new shops ect
4.Let all the pubs have outdoor seating so attaching cafe culture, ie with the new JDW opening up(they can't do it at the moment as a idiot driver would crash into it)
5.Build a Multi Store Carpark at Wilmer Street(Access Via High Street-Exit Via East Port) so taking all cars off the High Street and its not along walk to access the High Street and it would also be used for people parking there cars to see shows at the Albrahama and the future Dunfermline Museum. Livingston & Stirling Both have similar parking.
6.Stop opening up the same kind of shops in the High Steet. I E Bakers ,Hairdressers ECT , more variety of shops like what we have in St Andrews,Stirling & Livingston.
7.Its good that we opening a new Cafe in the Glen but we do not take take advantage of this a tourist attraction with its lovely walks ect, we need more in the park to bring the tourist in.ie a theme park like M&D(bottom part of the park not the Glen part) or a place like East Links Family Park(http://www.eastlinks.co.uk) would bring in tourists and so rejuvenating the bottom end of the High Street.
8.Get a move on with the Urban Village that we have been promised long ago with the new Tesco site as well.
9.Thanks to people like the Albrahama and Rubens that show us if you have got a good idea you can succeed in Dunfermline.
10.Make more use of Sinclar Gardens, have the children gala and fireworks there as it amazing park and does not get used and ie the band stand ect.
Recommend? Yes 6
No 1
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Tradesman
100 posts
Jun 22, 08:52
Report commentIt was the views of the ‘interested parties’ of the high street of the 1960s which placed Dunfermline’s High street at a distinct disadvantage to other areas of Fife vis-á-vis new inward investment.
The small minded shopkeeper cartel which controlled both directly and indirectly Dunfermline and District Council blocked the national and international companies which wished to open their operations in the town.
This was little more than a protectionist operation designed to prevent genuine competition against the small single operation businesses owned by these individuals driven wholly by self interest.
Dunfermline High Street was left in a time warp, whilst companies such as C&A, British Home Stores and Littlewoods opened in Kirkcaldy; whist these companies may or may not seem desirable today they were in the 1960s.
These stores would have been bought up or taken over as happened with Littlewoods which eventually managed to open in Dunfermline on the site of the Regal Cinema after it was burned down in 1976.
We need to be very careful even today of the self interest of the chosen 400.
Those who wish to see all change!
Those who wish to see little or no change!
Those who even today resent competition!
Those who wish to see everything desirable located in Kirkcaldy!
Dunfermline needs to look closely at the empty and underused premises that are above the High Streets shops, many are mouldy, dilapidated eyesores; all options should be open to consideration.
Fife Council spent £4 million upgrading Kirkcaldy High Street which took a year to complete!
Recommend? Yes 13
No 0
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AS
6 posts
Jun 23, 23:46
Report commentWe definitely need a better class of shop in Dunfermline and a greater variety with more upmarket stores. A Pizza Express or Bella Italia or La Tasca in the Town Centre would make such a difference too.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 0
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itsallwentpetetong2012
170 posts
Jun 24, 12:49
Report commentSome good points raised above but the council need to see the light of day regarding the above improvement needed.
I was in Dunfermline yesterday and there are some plus points about Dunfermline but there are alot of negative ones.
Number one problem is that you can t walk down the High Street without someone driving down the street.This should banned straight away because the high street is pedestrian high street not dropping of point for drivers. The High Street will never improve until we get rid of all cars on the street.
The shops where busy but we need more of them to attract more people into Dunfermline.St Andrews seems to have the right idea with the mixture of big High Street shops and little independent ones but mixed together so not attracting all the customers to one area of there High Street and that what Dunfermline High Street needs to do.
If i was the council i would fill in the old coop site with a plaza of shops but have a link to Bruce Street.The Plaza could include a Zara,TK Maxx,Superdry,ect.
Bruce Street should be pedestrian so helping them attract shops or restaurants as that road is now dufunct with Tesco cutting off the top of that Street.
The Maygate part of Dunfermline Town centre is really nice part of the town centre but the council need to look at opening the museum in the building over from the library instead behind the library as far as the shops go there a lot of interdependent good shops down which we need more of to grow into there but spread into the disgrace which is Bridge Street and parts of Bruce Steet.
As i said above we need a really High Street brand leader to open up at that end of the High Street to attract business and intermix with the small independent shops.
There is also plenty derelict shops which could be made into shops/restaurants/leisure or housing.
1.Three white buildings in Bruce Street and also the carpet shop in Bruce Street.
2.Empty units in Chapel Street.
3.Disused Dunlop Factory & St Margert Works(Eyesore)=Urban Village
4.Empty Units in Bridge Street.
5.Empty Pine Shop-St Margaret Street.
Hopefully on Tuesday at the meeting Dunfermline comes up with Idea's how to bring this great old town back to life.....
Recommend? Yes 4
No 0
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AS
6 posts
Jun 24, 15:43
Report commentI couldn't agree more with the above remark about the Disused Dunlop Factory. It makes the place look like a slum. What a waste. Can't someone push for a bit of progress with this?
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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itsallwentpetetong2012
170 posts
Jun 25, 10:12
Report commentLinklever and a gentleman called Bill Flettcher would be your best port of call regarding that .
Recommend? Yes 0
No 1
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itsallwentpetetong2012
170 posts
Jun 27, 00:14
Report commentI say open this to the people of Dunfermline as we are people who decide where to shop and go.....
Instead of given it to the chosen ones who have already made a mess of our lovely town...
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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ChuckD
65 posts
Jun 28, 22:02
Report comment@b2theB
There's nothing to stop Dunfermline calling itself a city, it's totally legit to do so, you don't need the queens approval. the thinking was that it would be a positive step to make (trick?) people into thinking its more progressive/attractive than other similar destinations, which is fair enough.
I hope we get a monorail out of this...I heard Shelbyville might get one instead if we don't act quickly.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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