Dunfermline: Ideas for city's future at Glen conference

Other ideas to come out of a conference, designed to help locals shape the 'vision' for the city's future development, include a European approach to cafe culture by closing off Bridge Street to traffic, turning vacant buildings into hostels for visitors and planting more flowers.

There's even a suggestion that American movie makers could make a 'Da Vinci Code' style of thriller with tales of Dunfermline's rich history – warts and all – at its heart.

The "innovative" conference was held in the Glen Pavilion at the end of June and a report on the various workshops was presented recently to the city's councillors on the area committee, with more information on the city 'vision' to follow at the next meeting in October.

It contains proposals such as a big annual music, comedy and arts festival to be hosted in the city – perhaps building on the successful Outwith – with 'Dunfermline's own T in the Park' incorporating the Glen, Abbey and the theatres.

Could Dunfermline have its own T in the Park-style festival? It's been suggested that the city could host.

As the ancient capital, and with Dunfermline Abbey and the city's royal connections, making the most of our history and improving the experiences that bring people here led to talk of medieval recreations and a "proper" St Margaret visitor centre to improve the storytelling.

There were 178 delegates and five workshops at the conference, covering tourism, culture and events; business; health, inclusivity and activity; enhancing and sustaining the city; and connected communities.

Some participants suggested a big new tourist attraction, a strategic investment in something like the Kelpies with the junction of the M90 and A92 put forward as a possible site - similar to Ian Moir's idea for a Citizen Spire at Kelty.

Others said the Tom Hanks movie, the Da Vinci Code, had worked wonders for the Rosslyn Chapel so could the Spielbergs of the world or European filmmakers make anything of our rich past, or could there be a 'Horrible Histories' style TV programme?

While there are some concerns about the slow pace of change since the Queen confirmed Dunfermline as Scotland's eighth city in May last year, there's no shortage of ambition on how to make the city slicker and more attractive.

Empty buildings could be re-purposed with a 'Dunfermline Experience', similar to the Jorvik Centre in York, turned into a children's fun park or hostels for tourists.

Could empty buildings in the city be turned into a 'Dunfermline Experience', like the Jorvik Viking Centre in York? It's one idea that's been put forward. (Image: The Jorvik Viking Centre)

There were proposals for a boutique hotel or major hotel chain while it was suggested 'cafe culture' on the streets could see Bridge Street and Bruce Street closed off to traffic to create the type of vibe you get at Ashton Lane in Glasgow.

Bus tours of the city, better, more affordable and accessible transport and turning Dunfermline into a 'pedestrianised and cycling city' were also put forward.

It was also felt more could be made of our green spaces and parks, with better signs and information about them and our walking routes, such as Fife Pilgrim Way, Witches Trail and Carnegie’s Way.

There have been ambitious plans before which have caused excitement, only to come to nothing, while missing out on the levelling up money from the UK Government has cast doubt on any prospect of the City Square project going ahead at the High Street gap site.

We're also two years on from the suggestions given by hundreds of locals for the future development of Pittencrieff Park, but that momentum seems to have stalled.

What's different now, so they tell us, is that Dunfermline's new city status means it can tap into funding sources that others can't reach.