THERE appears to be a lack of joined up thinking in Fife Regional Council's Planning Department, or as they prefer to be known these days, 'Economy, Planning and Employability Services'.

A planning application was received in April from the Co-operative Society for the erection of a retail store in Cocklaw Street, Kelty.

Neighbour Notification Notices were issued by the planning department to near neighbours which presumably would have included the residents of Oakfield House, in Cocklaw Street.

Astonishingly, however, no one appears to have informed the Planning Officer that Oakfield House is residential.

In his email of September 26 to the Co-operative Society, the Planning Officer says: 'it has only recently been brought to my attention that this property (Oakfield House), contains residential units'.

This suggests that some five months after receipt of the application the planning officer had still not visited the site, or if he had, appears to be singularly unobservant.

It will be a matter of concern if a decision on an application of this magnitude can be reached without apparently a site visit from a Planning Officer.

An explanation from the Planning Officer would not go amiss.

JAMES MARTIN,

Kelty.