Public views wanted on transport plans for Kincardine

The ‘Kincardine, Places for Everyone’ project - which aims to improve accessibility and transport links in and around the Fife town - is calling for people to give their feedback on the proposals.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT), headquartered in Kincardine, has been working with the design team at HarrisonStevens, a firm of landscape architects, to progress the project with funding from Sustrans - a sustainable transport charity.

It says is keen to engage the local community in consultation and make it as easy as possible for everyone to participate despite the Covid-19 lockdown.

From today (Tuesday June 9) CRT will display the vision boards for the plans, images and drawings of the proposals in the windows of its hub on Kincardine High Street.

And from Wednesday June 17, it will launch a virtual engagement platform that will allow people to see images, videos and additional information online and leave feedback for the design team.

Issues aiming to be addressed by the project include:

• Connections and networks within the town of Kincardine to identify key missing links and the routes with the most opportunity for improvement
• Main junction upgrading in Kincardine town centre
• Improvements and development to the North Approach Road (A876)
• Improvements to Kincardine High Street, such as better signage
• Prioritising pedestrians and cyclists to move around certain parts of the village

CRT helps mining communities recover from the devastating effects of pit closures by supporting local initiatives to improve health and employment. It says its ‘Kincardine, Places for Everyone’ project is part of its commitment to rejuvenating the local area following the closure of Longannet Power Station in 2016.

Nicky Wilson, chair of the CRT trustees in Scotland, said: “With our Scottish headquarters in the heart of Kincardine we are obviously keen to see improvements made to the local area.

"Improving accessibility to the town is a priority identified during the Go Forth Kincardine Charrette in 2017 and we would urge the local community to take part in the consultation on the ‘Kincardine, Places for Everyone’ project. We are looking forward to getting people’s feedback on the proposals and what they would like to see happen in the area."

Mike Harrison, creative director and co-founder of HarrisonStevens, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to present the developing designs for Kincardine High Street. 

"We have engaged with the residents of Kincardine throughout the progress of this project. The design proposals for the reimagining of the high street respond to the wishes of the community."

Donald Campbell, chair of the Go Forth Kincardine group, said: "It’s great to give the people of the town of Kincardine the opportunity to take part in the consultation on this really important project.

"We want people to feel part of the big picture of what is being planned. We look forward to the consultation and would encourage the local community to engage."

Daniel Price, infrastructure officer at Sustrans Scotland, said: "We are pleased to support this significant project through the Sustrans’ Places for Everyone fund.

"We would encourage people in and around Kincardine to take part in this consultation and have their say in making the town more accessible for people walking and cycling."