Fife Council has been accused of wasting money in the name of road safety.
Labour councillor Tom Adams said he was furious the local authority is spending £11,000 on “unneccessary” works to raise a zebra crossing in Buckhaven at a time when it is struggling to make a saving of £78 million in a bid to balance its books.
Mr Adams claimed the transportation service was using up its budget “just for the sake of it” by creating a speed hump on the crossing at the junction of Wellesley Road and Sandwell Street where, he said, there had never been an accident.
His comments were made despite the fact the work was approved earlier this year by the council’s Levenmouth area committee, which Mr Adams chairs.
Action was proposed following discussions with residents and the police who said vehicles were not stopping for pedestrians at the crossing.
Local councillor Jim Young said he had asked transportation to make improvements after being approached by concerned constituents.
“I asked them to make it safer and I’m quite happy with what they’re doing,” he said.
The work was advertised in March and no objections were received however, Mr Adams insists taxpayers’ money is being wasted.
“I think £11,000 to raise a zebra crossing is absolutely scandalous,” he said. “It was brought to Levenmouth committee within a whole raft of transportation proposals, so it wasn’t scrutinised.
“I was against the one outside Carberry House in Leven and I’m against this.”
Ian Smith, lead professional for traffic management in mid Fife, said: “The raising of the zebra crossing was approved by the Levenmouth area committee earlier this year as part of the wider area transportation work programme.
“Within this report we estimated a cost of £11,000 for the work.
“Replacement of the globes with the new brighter LED halo lamps will also be part of the upgrade.”