By Charlene Kelly

FIFE COUNCIL’S head of Development Services was sent back to the drawing board yesterday after parts of the finalised 20-year Fife Structure Plan were thrown out by councillors.

Keith Winter’s 78-page revised report, including appendices, replaced an initial draft report put before members of the environment and development committee in spring last year.

The amended report envisaged 1450 new houses in Cupar and 1200 in St Andrews, alongside 11,000 houses in four other strategic development areas in central and west Fife.

It also set out 500 new homes in the Tay Bridgehead area—reduced from the previous proposal of up to 950—400 at Leuchars and Guardbridge, reduced from the earlier suggestion of up to 1000, and 500 in the East Neuk.

Mr Winters stated, “It is considered that removing housing numbers for Cupar and St Andrews from the finalised document, as requested by the East Fife Area Development Committee is inappropriate, as this would, almost inevitably, lead to the Scottish Executive determining a final housing number for each community and an increase in planning applications being determined on appeal without the strategic context of the development plan to help ensure balanced long-term growth in the two communities.”

Welcoming the report, committee chair, Mike Rumney said he felt the proposals were “ambitious but achievable.”

He added, “The time has come for members to get off the fence here and agree the recommendations because if they don’t the Scottish Executive will set its own agenda and the council will have no control over that.”

Councillor Rumney’s comments were backed up by Councillors Jock Cameron, Alan Kenney and Alec Thompson who agreed the recommendations should be given the green light.

Councillor Rumney also praised Mr Winter for his hard work and for maintaining a sense of professionalism throughout the debate despite “nasty and vitriolic comments” which had been directed his way over the past few months.

Praise for Mr Winter was far from Councillor James Simpson’s mind, however, when he described the report as “tremendously flawed.”

Frances Melville added, “I too have grave reservations about this finalised plan, particularly with regard to the housing requirements for the next 20 years and would rather see a shorter plan put in place.”

Councillor Alice McGarry said she felt the structure plan as it stood was “unsustainable.”

Tony Martin said he too felt a 20- year plan was “unnecessary” and put forward an amendment that the housing land requirement set out in the report should be set at 12 years.

He further moved that Dunfermline, St Andrews and Cupar be deleted as Strategic Development Areas and that Tay Bridgehead, Leuchars, Guardbridge and Inverkeithing Bay be deleted as Strategic Areas.

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Simpson and Councillor Rumney’s motion to grant the recommendations was backed by Councillor Thompson.

Councillor Martin’s amendment won by 10 votes to eight.

It is understood that another revised plan will now be drawn up by Mr Winter to go before the full council on April 27.