Cupar is looking to inspire local residents, community groups and businesses to “think big” about the future of the town and its surrounding countryside. 

Cupar Development Trust (CDT) has been given Scottish Government funding to lead a series of consultations throughout April and May to which residents, businesses, community partners and stakeholders will be invited. The outputs – “capturing local priorities and needs for now and the future” – will help to create a Community Action Plan (CAP) to support Cupar as a 21st century market town, serving some 57 communities across Cupar’s rural catchment, called in these consultations “Cupar & Country”.  There will be other consultations later in the year, and all will be under the genera title of “Our Kind Of Town”.

There have been a number of community consultations over recent years, including the CuparCould Charette in 2016. Working with local independent consultants Community Enterprise, CDT wants to build on those previous conversations and create an “exciting and ambitious Community Action Plan“ that reflects the wants and needs of local people across the whole district – not only Cupar itself.

Yours views matter!

The Plan will document the aspirations of local residents, voluntary groups and businesses, and include an action plan showing how these projects will move from the page, to real change on the ground which makes a positive difference in people’s lives.

Cupar Development Trust sees this Community Action Plan as a foundation, which will help to ensure local policy truly reflects what residents want. Your feedback in the CAP will be used as the basis for a subsequent Place Plan, which includes more technical detail around land and buildings. This Place Plan will be considered by Fife Council as they develop their own Local Development Plan governing the use and development of land in and around Cupar.

CDT wants to hear from local residents, voluntary groups and businesses about your priorities for the future of Cupar and Country. What you share now will help to plan the things that will happen in and around Cupar and which will make a direct difference to you, your family and neighbours.

As a first stage, CDT is sharing a short survey. It will take around 10 minutes to complete via the link below …

Not online?

For those who’d rather complete a paper copy of the survey, these will be available soon from North East Fife Tenants & Residents Federation ‘Community Voice’ hub on Crossgate.

CDT is also holding a number of community events – the first in the Cupar Corn Exchange on Saturday 15 April between 11am and 4pm … the same day as Fife Farmers’ Market is in town. All are invited to drop in for as long or short a time as you can spare to have your say, and enjoy some coffee and cake!

Bill Pagan, Chair of CDT, says: “The future of Cupar, and the ‘Cupar Country’ which it serves, is of huge importance to all of us who live, work, and relax here. 30,000 of us live in Bell Baxter’s catchment area, and our futures, and our children’s and grand-children’s futures, depend on us developing the best ideas to take our area forward. The task is urgent because 2023 is the year when Fife Council will publish draft plans creating the framework for how Fife will develop between now and 2030, which our community will wish to respond to.”

Mark Richardson, Board Member of CDT, leading the consultations said: “If those of us already in the community don’t look to the future, who will?  The consultations with the community about the draft ‘Community Action Plan’ which we are going to develop will allow us all to share ideas, find solutions and make our town and our wider communities more sustainable.  Please join the conversation.”

 

Calling All Community Stakeholders

Separately, a meeting* is being held on Tuesday 2nd May at the Corn Exchange (lower hall) – 1900-2100 – that will give a chance for representatives of the area’s third sector, business community and public sector to hear more about the Cupar & Country Community Action Plan.

There will be a short presentation and Q&A, followed by group discussions to identify priorities for the future of our area.

The event is free; however, in order to manage numbers, all are asked to register via the meeting’s Eventbrite link.

Interested? Simply click on the image below and complete your details on the Eventbrite page to register – and feel free to register with all who might be interested. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

Need more?

For more information on Cupar Development Trust or the Community Action Plan, please visit the CDT website via this link or email Bruce Henderson, CDT’s Development Officer.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

* Please note, this is a rescheduled event that was originally planned for Monday 24th April; those who registered have been notified of the change.