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Fear for Dunfermline High Street sees Halbeath Retail Park bid rejected

The retail park expansion was rejected after conerns for businesses in the town centre were raised.
The retail park expansion was rejected after conerns for businesses in the town centre were raised.

Councillors have snubbed a multi-million pound expansion of a Fife retail park which could have created 300 jobs, insisting they are determined to put Dunfermline High Street first.

The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society wanted to develop empty land on the north east side of Halbeath retail park to house nine shops and foodoutlets which could have broughtseveral hundred jobs to the area.

The majority of the smaller units would be built for shops and the site would be anchored by a discount food store.

But Fife Council officers said thattaking all the issues and concerns into account the proposal was considered to be unacceptable as it would be contrary to the development plan and proposed FIFEplan.

They recommended it be refused to try to maintain the vitality and viability of Dunfermline town centre, which, like many others, has struggled in recent years.

Instead of the retail park beingcomplementary to the town centre, the major expansion would make it analternative shopping destination which would be in competition with the high street.

There were also concerns about its impact on the road network andpedestrian safety.

And question marks were raised over the company’s willingness to make a financial contribution, or one in kind, to improve the road network toaccommodate the new development.

City of Dunfermline committeechairwoman Helen Law said the council was pushing hard to live up to the town centre first principle.

“We are out on the High Street giving assurances to traders, visitors andcustomers and to agree to this would be flying in the face of that,” she said.

“We want our town centre alive and this will not do that.”

Councillor Neale Hanvey saidtraditional high streets were battling on two fronts against out of town retail parks and the rise of online shopping.

And he argued the jobs created by the development may not be sustainable.

However, Councillor Mike Shirkie said: “Jobs are very important to Fife as we have lost more jobs in 2015 than we have actually gained so I am verycautious about losing two to threehundred jobs on offer.”

He put forward a motion, backed by Councillor Bob Young, for approval, subject to conditions, but this was defeated by five votes to three as the planning committee agreed withofficials’ recommendations for refusal.