HUNDREDS of Kelty people have, within a few days, backed a petition geared at persuading the Health and Social Partnership in Fife to replace the village's health centre.

The Main Street facility has been under increasing pressure as Kelty has continued to grow in size and the planning application by I H Brown, for 900 houses off Cocklaw Street, set the alarm bells ringing.

On Saturday a petition was launched by local Labour Party activists which is making a plea to the Partnership and Fife Council, to agree to the construction of a brand new Health Centre before the planning application for the large housing development, is given the green light.

The activists included MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Lesley Laird; MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Alex Rowley; and councillors Alex Campbell, Gary Guichan and Mary Lockhart, and they found plenty of support for the petition on Saturday.

Said Councillor Campbell: "The people of Kelty are very concerned at the possible affects on the village of this planning application being passed without a new health centre being built.

"The current facility is no longer big enough to handle the traffic being asked of it and GPs at the health centre are supporting the petition.

"We found people very aware of the problems being experienced at the health centre and they want the authorities to recognise that the village needs a new facility before any plan for another 900 homes for Kelty is granted."

He added: "I am supportive of the application but only as long as the right infrastructure is in place in the village.

"The developers have pledged to build a new school, but we also need a new health centre or the capacity to cope will simply be not there."

By Monday 290 had signed the petition online and the activists on Saturday acquired more than 300 plus names.

Councillor Campbell went on: "We will present copies of the petition to the Health and Social Partnership, Fife Council and the developers, to make the feeling of the Kelty community clear to all.

"This a vital moment in the future of Kelty as a community."