COWDENBEATH Conservative Councillor, Darren Watt, is calling on local residents to make an extra effort to shop local and support local businesses, especially during the High Street improvement works in Cowdenbeath.

The improvements started on Monday and will continue over coming months.

Cllr Watt said: “We are incredibly blessed for substantial investment is being made on our High Street, however, I worry the short-term inconvenience may have a negative impact for our retailers and businesses.”

As reported in last week’s Central Fife Times, work on the High Street starts this week and is scheduled to be completed in around six months. Improvements such as pavement replacement will be key to the project and we’ll also see significant changes such as additional seating and floral features at the likes of the Green Square.

Cllr Watt continued: “Long-term, I am optimistic we’ll see a resurgence in our town centre and although trading conditions are generally very difficult on the High Street throughout the UK for both independent and larger retailers, I genuinely believe Cowdenbeath can buck the trend.

"Internet shopping and out-of-town retail parks are often to blame and the recent closures of Poundworld, M&S and Maplin highlight that, however, in Cowdenbeath, we are very fortunate to have a large number of independent retailers offering a huge variety of unique goods and services. I would suggest we must use them more than ever before.

"If our local businesses suffer significant financial hardship during the improvement works, we risk losing them altogether and what good will a fancy new High Street be without retailers!"

He added: "I call on all local residents to specifically go out of their way and visit our High Street more frequently in the coming months. "Furthermore, I would ask they encourage friends and family from out of town to pay a visit. They can still drive through and enjoy free parking throughout town. They could easily hop on the regular No.19 bus or even come by train and get off right in the centre of town.

"We have a number of wonderful gift shops selling a huge selection of bespoke items and several salons where you can enjoy a whole host of treatments. We also have many places to eat including cafes and pubs, as well as a couple of butchers, bakers and take-aways. Jewellers, cobblers and a carpet shop also grace our High Street.

"At the south end we have a couple of lovely clothing shops and down at the north end, we have a charismatic confectionary retailer and a passionate, talented tattooist. And let’s not forget, in the centre of town, we have the leisure centre, new community centre and the new skate park!

"The future is clearly bright and my message is simple, please visit our High Street, shop local and support our businesses. If we don’t use them, we lose them and I for one am not prepared to see that happen.”