KINCARDINE’S heritage is set to be protected as part of the Local Resilience Plan developed for the area.

The plan promises a heritage centre, trail, path development, an increase in biodiversity and pledges to protect the town’s native woodland.

Identifying key heritage assets within and around Kincardine, the newly put together Resilience Plan aims to tackle issues surrounding the Kincardine Bridge, the Devilla Forest and Tuliallan Woods and Woodlea Cemetery.

The plan has been launched as part of the Climate FORTH project, which outlines community priorities for heritage within the area they live in.

Kincardine has been chosen as one of four areas to receive resilience plans – the others being Hawkhill in Alloa, Fallin in Stirling, and Bainsford and Langless in Falkirk.

The plan has been tailor-made following consultation with residents in the town, held over workshops earlier in the year.

The plan states: “The community of Kincardine was engaged through a series of three drop-in sessions in April 2024.

“There were held in Kincardine Community Centre, with each session open for four hours to ensure wide opportunity for participation.”

The Resilience Plan identified five key issues within Kincardine to tackle – the bridge, cemetery and forest areas, but also stories and history and paths around the town.

A heritage centre is proposed for Kincardine, which would exist within the library or another existing community space to preserve and showcase the town’s history.

The plan places emphasis on recording and cataloguing stories from residents in the town, hoping to attract the community and inspire interest in Kincardine’s heritage.

Concerns were voiced in regards to paths in the town not being maintained, struggling with overgrowth and needing improvement.

The action plan proposes a funded path development project to widen the path system and encourage walkers and cyclists into the village.

Interestingly, flooding was identified as an issue for the town, due to Kincardine sitting just above sea level.

There were no solutions proposed for how to combat flooding, despite maps showing that large areas of Kincardine could fall below sea level by as early as 2030.

Alice MacPherson, community and youth development officer for Climate FORTH, said: “We are very excited to see the launch of Climate FORTH’s local resilience plans.

“Since September 2023, we have been privileged to work with communities throughout the inner forth area and engage in discussions about their past, present and future.

“We hope that communities will be very proud of these plans and use them as a roadmap to a brighter, more climate-resilient future.

“A huge thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Lottery players, along with NatureScot and UK Shared Prosperity Fund, who have made it possible for local people to come together and share their hopes for the future of their places.”

Kincardine residents are now urged to read over the plans, identifying which actions will receive the £45,000 worth of funding available to each area.

An in-person vote already took place on September 17, but voting can still be done online at surveymonkey.com/r/Kincardine_f.

The full plan can be also be found on the Survey Monkey link.