Kincardine residents have four days this week to help decide the future of their village in the wake of the closure of Longannet Power Station.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the only charity dedicated to improving the quality of life in former mining communities is co-funding the £40,000 cost of GoForthKincardine’s intensive public consultation initiative, which runs from Wednesday 7th June till Sunday the 11th with the Community Centre as its base.

The CRT appointed Architect Oliver Chapman and a team of experts to lead the discussions and run a public involvement programme which includes walking tours of the village to help locals see their own area through fresh eyes.

Oliver said: “I urge Kincardine residents to grasp this opportunity with both hands.

“We have been overwhelmed by the commitment in time and energy many members of the Kincardine community have already given to the planning of these events.

“One of the highlights is a 'Pecha Kucha’ on Wednesday night, where a handful of people will tell a tale about the village and an idea for its future to an open audience - each speaker is only allowed 3 minutes and 10 images! 

Peter McCaughey, the lead artist with the team added: “We have already uncovered some fascinating facts about Kincardine and its past:

At one time Kincardine had:

The tallest chimney in Europe,

The longest bridge span in Europe,

The biggest ropery in Europe,

The Tulliallan forest nursery produced seeds that were distributed and seeded nurseries all over the UK,

100 plus ships regularly berthed in the port, ships that distributed emigrants all over the world...

Peter added: “The scale and reach and ambition around Kincardine was enormous. It's time for the town to claim this history and to use it to change the future for the village.”

Bob Young, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: ”This is a fabulous opportunity for Kincardine residents to have a really enjoyable time shaping their own future.

“At the end of it all Oliver and his team will turn the projects and proposals local people want to take forward into viable action plans, making it easier for them to attract funding to bring them to life.”

Full details of the GoForthKincardine programme, on June 7, 8, 9, and 11 are available on the Go Forth Kincardine Facebook page, or call Gary Porter of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust on 01259 272 127.