THE controversial plans to develop over 60 homes in Kelty will be discussed again at Fife Council’s West Planning Committee next Wednesday (27th).

Objections from residents, who raised concerns about issues such as standards of housing, transportation issues and flooding, prompted the committee to continue to consider the application after the last meeting at the end of July, in order to allow a site visit to take place. The visit is scheduled to take place on the morning of the 27th, and the findings and subsequent discussion of the planning applications are expected to take place at the meeting afterwards. Although the applications were recommended for conditional approval, the plans could be put on hold further, depending on those findings.

The units are proposed for Fife Council’s social housing programme, which has committed to the delivery of 2700 new affordable houses by 2017. Because the two applications are for different sites, each less than 50 residential units, Persimmon Homes were not required to carry out a formal public consultation beforehand, although Fife Council carried out neighbour notification. Some 75 letters raised concerns or objections about the development on the Great North Road, and 34 letters were received regarding the development on scrubland at the top of Seafar Drive.

Blairadams Fields action group set up a petition against the development, and a Kelty residents committee wrote a letter of concern in which they raised issues regarding overcrowding, drainage issues and parking issues. In addition, the letter complained about significant amounts of mud and dirt on the roads and noisy work from vehicles, machinery and workmen outside of agreed working hours. The committee’s hope is that “common sense and concern for everyone, present and future, on this lovely and friendly estate, will result in better plans being produced.”