More criticism of Kingask developers

The Courier, 21 February 2000

Protests from Fife Council over the actions of developers who have “abused” the terms of a legal agreement about construction traffic on the Kingask scheme have a “hollow ring", claims North East Fife MP Menzies Campbell.

Mr Campbell was reacting to news that the council might this week proceed to legal action against St Andrews Bay Development Ltd over part of the agreement relating to the £50 million scheme.

Concern has been expressed about a large numbers of lorries - well in excess of the terms of the legal agreement - entering and leaving the site.

The issue was raised at last week’s full council meeting in Glenrothes, when there was more criticism of the developers.

The chairman of the council’s East Area development committee, Frances Melville, has said that the time for delay is now over, and she has called for immediate court action to protect the credibility of the authority.

The council has now stated that there is “extreme urgency” in the situation, and that a meeting of officials was due to take place first thing this morning.

Mr Campbell said yesterday that the the attitude of the developers in the face of the concerns of local people was “simply astonishing”

He said there had been an assurance that the terms of the Section 75 agreement had been carefully drawn up so as to ensure the development would take place with the least possible impact on the environment.

Evidence now available, he said, suggested that in their determination to proceed the developers were willing not so much to drive a coach and horses through the agreement, but to “drive as many lorries as they pleased.”

“Protestations from Fife Council about the iniquity of the developers actions have a hollow ring in view of the undue enthusiasm which was shown for this project right from the very beginning.

“Those who were anxious that this development should proceed will no doubt be reflecting on the way in which their trust has been abused. Several people have got egg on their faces, added Mr Campbell.

The council has said that it is treating the matter very seriously, and that the current situation is not acceptable.

It has also been made clear that the council has been continuing discussion with the developers in a bid to reach a satisfactory agreement.