More than 1,100 people have taken part in a widespread community consultation in Cowdenbeath on how the town should develop in the future.
Coordinated by the local development group, My Cowdenbeath, the exercise asked residents for their views on what works well and how the town can improve, with the results set to be published later in November.
The community engagement project included an online survey as well as several in-person events with a stall at the Gala Day, then in the Green Square and at Brunton Square in the town centre throughout August and September 2023.
Stuart Duffy, Director of My Cowdenbeath said:
“We are really pleased with the high rate of participation in the residents survey, we appreciate everyone who took part and gave us their opinions about our town and how we can move forward together as a community.”
“There were so many great comments about how the area has such a strong community spirit and ofcourse there were lots of complaints about the area too – that’s what the process is for. We’re busy analysing all the data from the 1,124 responses and putting a report together which helps us set some of the priorities for the future.”
The organisation also put forward a number of proposals to test how local people would back them, such as new events in the town square and improvements to the public park. A previous Cowdenbeath Action Plan, which was developed by Coalfields Regeneration Trust, expires early in 2024 and the group hope to have developed some initiatives to take forward into a new Community Action Plan by then.
“We’ll be leading the development of a Local Place Plan and a Community Action Plan in the area and hope lots of people will support what we’re trying to achieve, to really improve the area and make it better for everyone who lives and visits here.
There was good news for 4 locals too, who scooped £400 in prizes as part of the community survey as a thanks for taking part!
Prize winners were drawn live on Facebook earlier in October:
Elizabeth Hood – £250 voucher
Russ Hoffland – £50 voucher
Nicola Weir – £50 voucher
Fiona Merrilees – £50 voucher (donated to Foodbank)
Anyone keen to support My Cowdenbeath in the development of their Local Place Plan, Community Action Plan or future projects can contact us on: info@mycowdenbeath.scot
My Cowdenbeath CIC 