A public consultation will take place on the location of a new residential children’s house after a decision on the plans has been taken.
Fife Council has confirmed it will engage with residents of the Raith estate in Kirkcaldy if it proceeds with plans to locate the new facility at the site of the Raith Gates care home.
The home, which would cater for up to five looked after children, would be a replacement for Rimbleton House in Glenrothes.
Plans of the move to the residential area of Kirkcaldy have only emerged this week and have alarmed local community leaders, who claim they have not been consulted on the proposal.
Although other potential locations have been examined, the Raith Gates site is earmarked for approval when the council’s executive committee meets on Tuesday.
The proposals to relocate to Kirkcaldy are expected to be rubber-stamped, despite concerns from the community and a local councillor over a lack of engagement with residents.
However, Dougie Dunlop, the head of children’s services at the local authority, has said the council is willing to work with the community, albeit after a decision has been made.
“We need to replace the current childcare house in Glenrothes,” he said. “This report clearly shows which sites in central Fife are most suitable when considering the needs of children and the physical sites themselves.
“Councillors will have the opportunity to discuss the findings. If the site identified as the most suitable is approved, site investigations will take place. Officers will also engage with local residents and communities about the plans in more detail.”
Kirkcaldy councillor Susan Leslie said: “The redevelopment of the Raith Gates site is important to both Fife Council and the local community.
“I am disappointed that prior communication and discussion with the local community has not taken place and, as a result, I have not been able to represent my constituents as I would wish.
“The request by the local community for a short delay to enter into discussions with Fife Council about this proposal is not unreasonable. We have waited years for a replacement for the house at Rimbleton. Another few months is not an unreasonable request.”
The chairman of Kirkcaldy West Community Council, David Henderson, warned residents would be “apprehensive” about the proposed facility.
Asked if he agreed with that description, Euan Fraser, chairman of the local residents’ association, said: “Yes.”
While acknowledging that the council’s social work department had a job to do, he added: “We’ve had a care home here for 40 years and it has been good.”
Mr Fraser said plans to circulate a petition are under way, though he said the timescale ahead of Tuesday’s meeting means the association will have its work cut out.
“The problem is that we don’t have a lot of time. What we would like to see is a decision delayed until there has been a local consultation on this.”
jowatson@thecourier.co.uk