THE plans to improve Cowdenbeath, set to start in the New Year, have been shortlisted for the Scotland’s Town Partnership Future Towns Award as part of Scotland’s Town Week.

But you only have until Sunday night at midnight to cast your vote.

Andrew Walker, of Fife Council's team which is steering the project said: "The people of the town will start to see things happening early in 2018 but meanwhile the project has been nominated for this major award.

"However, we need the public to case their vote for Cowdenbeath.Voting opened on Monday and closes late on Sunday night so it would be good if as many people clicked on and backed it."

Connections is a holistic approach to the regeneration of Cowdenbeath Town Centre.

The project not only looks at physical connections but also emotional, community and historical connections.

Andrew added: "At the core of this is community involvement and the great degree of civic pride that the people of Cowdenbeath have for their town.

"The five key themes • Make the ordinary work better • Connect all the assets • Make it feel safe • Sheltered social space • Bring colour and vibrancy.

"This will include transformation of Brunton Square into a heritage garden reflecting the mining heritage of the town, creating an attractive gateway into the town and giving people a place to dwell.

"Creating a formal greenspace in the heart of the town centre giving people a place to meet, a reason to spend more time within the town centre and a place to hold events."

The town centre has a mix of day time and evening economy so at points of the day there has been a wall of grey shutters so brightening these up by painting them to provide colour and vibrancy at all times of the day has been a plan and the Shutter Art Project has seen stretches of the street really brightened up.

The plans for the New Year will see improvements to the road and pavement structure plus the Green Square enhancement.

Cowdenbeath's opponents for the award are Dunoon, Edinburgh, Leith, Falkirk, Galashiels, Glasgow Shawlands, Kincardine, Paisley, Prestwick (Dementia Friendly Prestwick), Prestwick, Stornoway and Troon.

To vote click on  Scotland’s Town Partnership Future Towns Award.