AN award-winning restaurant owner says he may be forced to move his businesses from Dunfermline to Edinburgh if high street improvements are not made.
Nihat Oymak, who runs Antioch on Bridge Street and Amorist Bistro Bar on High Street, says he "can't waste his time here" and that "nothing has changed" since city status was granted.
He told the Press: "It upsets me to see the state of Dunfermline, it's been awarded as a city but it doesn't feel like it.
"Nothing has changed and the state of the high street is very bad.
"We are trying our best to bring the best awards to the city and we can see the politicians are doing nothing about this at all.
"If things keep going like that, I am thinking to move Antioch to Edinburgh."
He said that he had met people who live in the outskirts of Dunfermline but who had never visited the city centre because of its lack of appeal.
Nihat believes that these attitudes are harming his business and if something is not done to make the most of the ancient capital's new city status, he won't have a choice but to travel across the Forth.
"If things are not getting better in Dunfermline I think I will move it to Edinburgh because I can't waste my time here when I can make five times the amount in Edinburgh," he said.
"They need to re-do the high street, all the tiles, you will see every day older people falling.
"The bins are a big problem - try to take any picture in this beautiful city and all you are going to see behind you is an ugly bin."
He continued: "I said this at the city conference and I think this is just for show, I don't think this conference will bring anything.
"It's the same for everything, even the tailoring businesses, the Amorist.
"Can you imagine you had the Amorist on George Street in Edinburgh? You would do ten times what you do here in a week."
Nihat, also known as Oscar, says Antioch has also faced problems with overflowing bins for the last three years.
Commenting on the concerns, Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman said: "Oscar has raised these issues like where to best store bins on the High Street along with some long standing planning issues.
"Unfortunately, there are no easy answers but further efforts should be made by Fife Council to seek alternative solutions.
"This is especially important where we have award winning restaurants which add a great deal to the High Street and the local economy.
"Following discussion with Oscar at the recent City Summit, I'd be keen to have further talks with Area Committee chair and City Centre councillors to see if any more can be done in the short term.
"Our City has bags of potential and our focus has to be on continuous improvement as we grow as a City."
In September last year Nihat lodged plans with Fife Council for a 24-bedroom hotel above Amorist Bistro Bar, on the corner of High Street and Douglas Street.
He believes that this project can still work, but only because of visitors to Edinburgh who take advantage of Dunfermline as a cheaper option.
He said: "The hotel will work, it is still in progress but we've been having a hard time, we are waiting for the building warrant.
"Hotel-wise Dunfermline is one of the good places because you would be struggling to find a room, all the reps, instead of staying in Edinburgh for £300 they'd rather come and stay in Dunfermline for £100."
Gordon Mole, Fife Council’s head of business and employability said: “The Council and its partners recently held a Dunfermline City Conference, where businesses and key stakeholders came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges for traders in the city centre, to inform a city plan.
“We’ll continue to work with businesses in the development of plans which will enhance the city centre, including the creation of a new city square, to draw in residents and visitors.
"We’d be happy to continue to meet Mr Oymak to discuss his concerns.
He added: “The council takes street cleanliness seriously.
"We’ll investigate and take appropriate action when a problem with commercial or domestic bins is reported to us."
