£1m of funding has been awarded to the historic market town of Cupar as part of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS).

The funding will cover essential repairs and improvements to the town’s streetscape and buildings.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop announced the funding.

She said: "Our historic environment plays a key role in communities and this funding provides an opportunity to invest back into the historic fabric and back into the heart of communities.

"It also provides the opportunity to help stimulate economic regeneration, a key priority in today’s economic climate, be that through a new end use or rejuvenating an existing facility."

She added: "The funding will allow Fife Council to protect and enhance the external fabric of our notable Cupar landmarks. These include the Burgh Chambers, the YMCA and the County Buildings as well as the historic Closes.

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"To complement these improvements, we plan to build training into all major projects through the creation of private and public sector apprentices. All this investment will contribute to improving the appearance, attractiveness and functionality of Cupar’s town centre."

The projects funded by the award will include:

- repairs to the B Listed 'at risk' Burgh Chambers

- repairs and improvements to County Buildings

- grants for privately owned historic buildings in need of repair

- improvements to the town centre streetscape around key junctions

- repairs and improvements to selected closes

Jim McLeish, service manager for Regeneration Place and Environment said: "We expect CARS to include an energy efficiency element in training for local building contractors, an energy efficiency audit for all buildings applying for grant and example projects to promote energy efficiency in older buildings to local building owners and local groups and schools."

He added: "Our aim is to leave Cupar, and the surrounding area, with a legacy of skilled contractors, experienced in working with traditional methods and materials, and employed in carrying out lasting repairs on historic buildings in this part of Fife."

(IT)