LOCHGELLY Community Council's concerns over the way they feel the consultation process on the boundary between Glencraig and Lochgelly was handled has met with a sharp response from Benarty Community Council.

Fife Council's Community and Housing Services Committee voted last spring to back the move of the boundary from the Fitty Burn to just above Lochgelly High school, but LCC have written to the local authority their expressing concern

The chair of Benarty CC, Tom Kinnaird in a letter to the committee, said: "Of serious concern is the allegation by Lochgelly Community Council that some form of tampering may have taken place during the Fife Council public consultation process which invalidates the result.

"It is unclear exactly whom LCC is accusing of carrying out the tampering, but by their direction, it appears to be accusing Willie Clarke and Brian Menzies of something.

"I would appreciate if you would take this into consideration during your deliberations at the special meeting on Thursday. It is my opinion that the request for this boundary change to be reversed should be dismissed as a mark of respect for Willie Clarke".

Willie Clarke's son, Wullie, is also concerned by the allegations and said: "No doubt Lochgelly CC will suggest their words have nothing to do with Willie Clarke but the one thing that should be clear to everyone is that Glencraig was one village and the historical and cultural ties are self-evidently with the rest of the Benarty villages not Lochgelly.

"My father, and those who grew up and lived in South Glencraig, understand that simple fact. It was actually surprising the amount of people that contacted him and Brian offering their support in the campaign through 2018/19 and who believed the fight was also their fight.

"We are talking about identity here and Lochgelly Community Council were questioning the identity of all of these people. Many “Glencraigers” still reside in the four Benarty villages and I believe it would be true to say that the whole community was indignant that Lochgelly Community Council was claiming their responsibility stretched to the Fitty Burn.

"In fact the weight of historical and cultural evidence to the contrary collected by Brian and my father persuaded the Community & Housing Services Committee to unanimously decide in Benarty’s favour at a special meeting in March 2019. As a matter of record that committee included elected representation from Lochgelly and they were part of that decision".