IT'S a story 29 years – and counting – in the making but there are high hopes the gap site in the centre of Dunfermline could be filled.

There was a setback when the bulk of the Scottish Government's £4.7 million for revitalising town centres in Fife went elsewhere but there's still plenty of ambition for the plot between Queen Anne Street and High Street.

Ideas developed from the Design Dunfermline public consultation in April 2018 include everything from a hotel, new homes and stepped gardens to an enlarged music zone, stage for street theatre and a play area.

Other possibilities include films being screened on the gable end of adjacent buildings, pop-up shops and coffee outlets, and a mini square for events and performances.

Councillor Helen Law, convenor of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said: "It's been up for sale for years and any attempts to do something with it have come to nothing.

"It does have lots of potential and there are plans on the table which we don't have the funds for right now.

"We did bid for the Scottish Government's town centre money but didn't get it."

In June, Dunfermline received just six per cent, £300,000, of the cash given by Holyrood to Fife Council to help town centres.

Cllr Law applied for funding for three projects: the Maygate Enterprise Hub, the High Street Gap site and the development of St Margaret’s House but only the hub bid was successful.

Kirkcaldy received £1.6m.

She continued: "I've been really keen for years to see the gap site in greater use.

"I must admit, I like the green space and the pedestrian link between the bus station and High Street but there are opportunities to improve it.

"There could be pop-up shops and coffee outlets and better seating areas, the performance area is great but it could be bigger and better."

At one stage, the site was the bustling heart of Dunfermline with a huge Co-op department store dominating both sides of what was Randolph Street.

It closed in 1990 and over the years, the boarded up and derelict buildings became a symbol of town centre decay.

Alfred Stewart Properties Ltd bought them in September 1999 but after losing patience with the company for their failure to redevelop the eyesore site, the council moved to demolish the buildings and pursued a compulsory purchase order in February 2006, eventually paying £3 million.

The land has been up for sale for more than a decade with no takers.

While there is a "presumption" in favour of retail, the council added that a range of alternative uses, including bars, restaurants, leisure, hotel, office and residential will be considered.

Cllr Law acknowledged: "There were big plans that never materialised and anything the area committee tried to help it along or tidy it up were discouraged as Fife Council were really keen to sell it and see the site redeveloped.

"The economic development team have now softened their approach to the gap site, whereas in the past they weren't supportive.

"That's given me hope we can do something good there."