COUNCILLORS are fighting for Dunfermline's share of £4.3 million amid concerns it could miss out on the Scottish Government cash.

It was announced in March that Fife Council would receive money from a £50m Holyrood pot to help revitalise town centres.

But there are strong suggestions that Dunfermline, which is doing relatively well, may lose out to places that are struggling badly, like Kirkcaldy.

Joe McGuinness, the former area services manager for Dunfermline, said: "It's almost like we're being punished for being successful, this idea that 'Dunfermline can take care of itself' and doesn't need any help.

"There are a lot of volunteers doing a lot of work to make Dunfermline a better place and to up its profile.

"To miss out would be a real slap in the face for the town."

Labour councillor Helen Law, convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said: "Final decisions haven't been made but the FIFEplan is focused on four areas – Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Levenmouth and Cowdenbeath – that are in the direst state.

"Without doubt, they will get more than we will get although I'm fighting to get funding for a number of projects in Dunfermline and we'll definitely get something.

"I'm worried that Dunfermline may not get a decent share but mid Fife and those areas of deprivation will be the focus.

"You just have to look at their High Street to see that Kirkcaldy is in a bad way so they'll likely get more. It's identifying those areas in greatest need but we also have to make sure everyone gets a bit of the cake."

Dunfermline North SNP councillor Ian Ferguson said there were three projects the party was particularly interested in: an enterprise hub; turning the vacant St Margaret's House into a backpacker-style hostel; and the gap site on High Street, a combined total of £750,000.

But he added: "Nothing is set in stone and there won't be any decisions until the end of May, when the policy and co-ordination committee look at this.

"It's not that Dunfermline is missing out to Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, as we just don't know yet how the money will be allocated.

"Dunfermline is doing really well as a town and the councillors here are aware of that and want to keep it going. We should be used as a standard for other places in Fife.

"I want the money to be spent in Dunfermline. If you look at the Sunday parking charges, that money doesn't stay in Dunfermline, it goes into a central pot and that feels wrong.

"Dunfermline should be a little boom town and it could be; we want to encourage people to come here and not go elsewhere."

Mr McGuinness said the money was intended to help with town centre development and regeneration, not to tackle deprivation or high unemployment.

He added there were criteria to be met and Dunfermline was in the best position as it already had a local community plan that was "second to none".

While retired, he maintains a keen interest in the town and continued: "We have a number of shovel-ready projects that could benefit from some capital expenditure to get them up and running.

"Our business model is for such initiatives to be self-sustaining as we appreciate the council can't keep throwing money at lost causes.

"Any contributions towards achieving Dunfermline's aims will be a shot in the arm for the small army of volunteers who are giving of their time to make their community a better place."