Cupar named as the first ‘digital improvement district’ in Scotland

Cupar has been named as the first ‘digital improvement district’ in Scotland by the Scottish Government.

The trial, which will introduce town centre WiFi, a ‘digital brand’ and website for the town, will be used as a potential model for other parts of Scotland in future the expansion of ‘smart towns’.

The pilot, in partnership with Fife Council, Destination Digital, Scotland’s Towns Partnership, and the Association of Businesses in Cupar and District, follows a pledge in the Programme for Government to fund a business improvement district dedicated to digital improvement.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “This is another exciting step towards achieving our vision for improved connectivity in Scotland. The pilot enables Cupar to showcase its digital capabilities, ultimately demonstrating the need for smart towns as well as smart cities, using a sustainable tailored model.

“Cupar will soon be able to enjoy exemplar WiFi and model the delivery of digital infrastructure within towns through strategic collaborations and partnerships with local businesses, agencies and communities to best meet their needs.

“For some businesses they may begin the journey with their first engagement with social media advertising, but it could also become a test bed for opportunities around the Internet of Things, such as addressing traffic flows, lighting, air quality, flooding, and better business intelligence.

"We will continue to make the investment in our connectivity that is required to support economic growth and boost international competitiveness.”