A Positive Mindset

A Bottom Up Approach

In today’s article I wanted to touch on the subject that concerns a lot of us who live in Dunfermline and the surrounding area. Namely, how do we take advantage of our newfound city status and how do we continue improve things (or alternatively, how do we halt continuing decline)?

It is well documented that The High Street is in decline right across the country and Dunfermline is no different in that respect. Shopping habits have changed and many major retailers have disappeared since the pandemic. Lack of funding and a rates system which to many seems completely anti-business , certainly do not help either.

So how do we solve this problem?

I don’t pretend to have all the answers but I know that a positive mindset goes a long way in life. It’s all too easy to concentrate on the negative and ignore the positive things going on.

I read an article expressing opinions concerning a prominent business man in our local newspaper a few days ago that voiced severe criticism of our High Street and whilst it was hard to argue with a lot of what he said, I just don’t see how this helps things.

All it did was encourage a huge pile on in social media was mostly drenched in negativity (although there were quite a few positive comments too to be fair).

I know from recent meetings and conferences that there a lot of people who want to do their bit in improving things, so we need to harness this goodwill, get organised and take ownership of the situation.

At Visit Dunfermline we prefer a bottom up approach from within our community.

The outsider is not the expert, we are.

We are the ones with the relevant local knowledge and expertise.

Whilst, I’m not ruling out external involvement, it is a constant source of frustration that we continue to look outwards, when perhaps we should be looking at the strength within ourselves.

As someone who was involved for years with getting Fire Station Creative up and running, I know first hand how a bottom up approach can achieve great things but it certainly isn’t easy, as you do not always have the complete support of the powers that be. However the satisfaction one gets from achieving good things for our community and those who visit our city, makes it all worthwhile.

I’ve spoken to a lot of visitors from UK and further afield recently and their responses have been overwhelmingly positive when I ask them about their thoughts on our special place.

Perhaps it’s time we started listening to them and getting behind the many individuals and groups who are working so hard to improve our quality of life.

We need to start thinking and acting like a city.