Community Inspector Ian Stephen and others working to improve the centre of Cowdenbeath are suggesting that shops with shutters should have them painted with special images depicting what they sell and services they offer. The idea would be paid for by special funding but do you think it could make a difference to the look of the town centre?

"I have seen it done before when they were renovating the library in Kirkcaldy and they painted books over the shutters. It looked fine and it would brighten the place up and not make it look so run down. If it's done well it's a good idea," - John Arnott (64), Mossend Terrace, Cowdenbeath.

"It probably could but the best way would be to bring taxes down; shops are here for maybe two or five years, but then they disappear because they're having to pay too much. There has to be a compromise." - Ronald McNeish (79), Lochgelly.

"It could well brighten the place up but I think that the money could be better spent. Maybe I'm wrong but people are always shouting about money for hospitals for example, so I think it could be used somewhere else." - Robert Docherty (84), Francis Street, Lochgelly.

"I don't think it will work. There are other ways of encouraging people into the town, although it is a hard situation, but I think this will just encourage graffiti." - George Henderson (72), Viewfield Terrace, Lumphinnans.