THE final part of a £1.15 million project to improve the streetscape and transport links in Dunfermline is be carried out in the coming months – three YEARS after the initiative began.

First approved by the council in 2017, the remainder of the scheme will see improved pedestrian signs put up around the town centre.

Work already completed includes improving footways around the bus station, the streetscape in Bruce Street, Abbot Street and Maygate while a pedestrian/cycle crossing was created at Inglis Street at the traffic signals on Carnegie Drive.

Footway improvements have been made at St Catherine's Wynd and Kirkgate while the Leys Park Road car park has been renovated.

Now the remaining £30,000 – as well as additional funding of £60,000 from the Scottish Government and Abellio's Transportation Fund – will see new signs put in place.

At the City of Dunfermline area committee meeting on Tuesday, councillors were given an update on the scheme.

Susan Keenlyside, Fife Council lead consultant (transport networks), said the £1.15m investment had come from developer contributions and Fife Council's capital investment plan.

"The majority of projects have been completed and there is just one left," she said. "It is to tidy up what we have and make it a lot clearer for people to move around the town.

"Working closely with the Local Community Planning Partnership and with input from Dementia Fife and Age-Friendly Dunfermline, this project aims to develop a sympathetic age-friendly approach to way-finding.

"It aims to provide clearly legible pedestrian routes throughout the city centre, connecting the bus and railway stations and local car parks to the various places of interest in Dunfermline."

The work has been delayed because of the coronavirus lockdown but it is hoped it will now be completed later this year.

"This has been quite a significant investment into Dunfermline," added Ms Keenlyside.

Committee convener Councillor Helen Law said: "It has been quite a phenomenal bit of work going on. This project has attracted people to Dunfermline and I am really, really pleased we have managed to get almost to the end of it with just this small project left."

She singled out the improvements to the Leys Park car park as one of the highlights.

"I was really pleased at the way that turned out," she added. "It was tarmaced, had new lighting, and that has been key to getting the COVID-19 testing centre – they would not have been able to go there if it had not been renovated.

"It has made the car park very useable and is a nice space that folk can use."