Several roads in Cowdenbeath including Sinclair Drive, Rae Street and South Street have recently been resurfaced as a result of the annual Area Roads Programme.

The work, which cost around £150,000, involved a procedure called micro-surfacing, described as "a cost-effective preventative solution".

Cowdenbeath councillor Darren Watt said: “It’s a completely different approach by Fife Council. Because of the inflation rate pressures put on existing budgets, they’ve tried a new approach which has proven a bit controversial in the short term at least.

"I think people have to remember the condition of these roads in the first place, particularly on these streets, it’s so much better. “

Central Fife Times: South Street is one of the roads to receive the 'micro-surfacing' treatment.South Street is one of the roads to receive the 'micro-surfacing' treatment. (Image: Cllr Watt)

The surface needs to settle in and will need traffic running over it for the next few months. Works are still incomplete with edges to be swept, ironwork to be adjusted and lining to be replaced.

Cllr Watt said “It’ll be a case of seeing how it beds in, and whether that’s something that can cope with the volume of traffic, particularly on Rae Street where double decker buses go up and down on a daily basis. It’s a long-awaited programme that will hopefully offer some relief and comfort for residents and commuters in the short term at least.”

There had been demands from residents to improve the quality of the roads and Cllr Watt acknowledged the issues Cowdenbeath face.

He said: “The Area Roads Programme has a small budget where we can deal with stuff locally and such issues. Because the roads have been neglected for so long it would take at least a decade for us to catch up with the current list, given our budget and that’s without any potential further restrictions.

“The fact we have been able to resurface some roads that were in dyer need, I mean these were closer to craters than potholes, it’s been long overdue and hopefully we can start rolling out the service in more areas of Cowdenbeath and the surrounding areas.”