THE creation of a mountain bike track at Lochore Meadows Country Park has left nearby residents seething.

The track was funded through sportscotland and is seen as another excellent addition to the facilities at the visitor attraction but the mess left through the installation of the track over recent weeks has seen a petition raised by unhappy residents in St Ronan's Crescent and St Ronan's Gardens, Crosshill; and Montrose Crescent and Melrose Gardens in Lochore, four streets which are very adjacent to the facility, containing almost 200 signatures.

Lochs councillor Mary Lockhart, aware of the concerns, held a meeting last Saturday to let the concerned householders ask questions of officials who have been involved in the project and there have been pledges that worries over the mess left by the heavy equipment used in putting the cycling track down and the loss of hundreds of trees, will be addressed.

St Ronan's Crescent couple, Maggie and Tom McPhillips, have been particularly upset by the loss of the trees through the project and the areas of rutted mud left behind.

Said Tom: "We were not aware of this project and one day all we saw was the trees disappearing before our very eyes.

"Our view since we moved into the house many years ago changed almost overnight and now we can see Lochore and Ballingry, but even worse was the muddy rutted areas that were left by the heavy duty equipment used to put down the track and take away the trees."

Maggie added: "The wooded areas outside our front door attracted a lot of wildlife, birds of all species and also squirrels, but when the work started the creatures headed for safer ground.

"The lovely walking paths have been turned into a quagmire and while we have been promised that the damage will be re-instated we are currently looking at a bombsite."

Tom said that another concern residents had was that the mountain bike track would attract a lot of users and were would these people park their cars?

He commented: "To be honest the more attractions that come to the park the better but the lack of car parking for major events is a worry.

"We know that the cycle track is here to stay but there are a lot of things that need addressed and that is the residents' worry."

Councillor Lockhart said that the lack of consultation with residents was a reason she held the meeting last Saturday: "There has to be something done to ensure that when projects such as this are to be done with the effect it has on the nearby environment, people are told about it.

"The removal of the trees was something that was going to be have to happen, with or without the cycle track project, as these were planted when the country park was being created out of pit spoil 40 years ago and only had a life of around 30 years.

"Some were falling down and had to be dealt with but what we must ensure is that replacements are put in place quickly and many of these of the fast growing variety.

"Also we have to ensure that the track area is shielded from houses that are only yards away, by hedges."

Councillor Lockhart added: "The re-instatement of the paths destroyed by the work is also very important and I full understand the concern of the residents who have seen the footpath network seriously damaged by the work done the over the past few weeks.

"The contractors have assured us that they will be starting this week on this work and they intend that this will take place quickly.

"What is fundamental also is that neighbourhood notification takes place as a matter of course when projects such as this are going ahead."

Ms Lockhart also said that this project was another reason why a Lochore Meadows Plan for the Future had to be created.