THERE is a strong belief that the Green Square can become a vibrant part of the regeneration of Cowdenbeath High Street. The team of consultants who visited the town on Thursday were in favour of it being at the centre of plans to give the town a fresh image and they will be drawing up ideas around it which could spell a new beginning for the main thoroughfare.

After touring the town centre before they met up with activists at the Town House, the group, led by architect Malcolm Fraser, all spoke of their belief that Cowdenbeath was anything but a down and out town.

The five person group was, Brenda Jones, Director, Management Services North, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Overseer of project delivery and ensuring that Fife Council’s requirements are met; Malcolm Fraser, Director, Malcolm Fraser Architects; Clive Albert, Director, Malcolm Fraser Architects; Chris Bell, Technical Director: Transport Engineering; and Kate Sinclair, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Assistant Project Manager, responsible for assisting the Project Manager to co-ordinate the team.

Malcolm said, “The first thing I would like to say is that the town centre does not feel anything like being down and out, there is a real feeling of energy out there.

“For me there is a clear case of two halves about High Street with the busier south end and the quieter northern sector.

“The south end does have factors such as the Morrison’s store, the leisure centre and Central Park in it, while there are significant factors affecting the north end such as the derelict building at the and the empty shop units which were to have been part of the now abandoned Tesco development.

“However, there a number of ‘attractor’ aspects such as the new Aldi store which will be opening soon, and the stock car and football facility at Central Park and the Green Square feature.” At that point there were observations from the floor that the stock cars, through meeting on a Saturday night, did not attract a massive influx of people wishing to use facilities in the town.

It was also pointed out that Ore Valley Housing Association had been asked to assess what could be done to create a mix of social and affordable housing with facilities such as restaurants in the vicinity of the Green Square.

The feeling from the floor was that this could be something that would be placed behind the current Square but it was felt that the feature had to remain.

Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Cowdenbeath, John Banks, said that the town was going to increase in population and it was important that people were encouraged to stay in the town to shop and use the pubs and restaurants.

To do that attractions would be very important and he accepted that the derelict Crown Hotel and now vacant North End Park had to be important aspects of the rejuvenation of the North End.

Malcolm Fraser concluded, “This meeting has shown that there is a desire to see the image of Cowdenbeath upgraded and there are several ways it can be achieved.

“We will make drawings incorporating some features which can make the central area a bit more attractive and perhaps using the railway bridge on High Street as an element.

“There certainly needs to be something done to enhance the north and south gateways into the town, with the junction at the Morrison’s car park requiring attention and traffic calming at the south end to make it more pedestrian friendly.

“It is clear that there is a desire to have the Green Square as part of the town and that is no bad thing and there can be a real mix of elements including affordable housing and restaurants as part of all this.

“We will go away and come up with some recommendations and report back within a few weeks.” Cowdenbeath Area Services Manager, Kevin Sayer, was delighted with the the reaction of the public and the thought put into suggestions.

“I feel that this was a very progressive meeting which had a lot of encouraging ideas floated.” The consultants will come back to Cowdenbeath within a few weeks and give people the chance to look at their recommendations.