By Aileen Robertson

A PROPOSAL to build 75 houses and a nursing home on Kelty’s only decent children’s play area would spell disaster for the community, say residents.

Local children turned out to protest against the plans at the playing field, known locally as Avenue Park, beside Keltyhill Avenue on Saturday.

The expanse of grass has a swing park and is often crammed with children playing football, cricket and tennis.

However Fife Council agreed a development brief to build housing on the park last August.

Joy Johnston, who has lived in the area for 17 years, has two grown-up children and one teenage son. She said her children have always used the park and her grandchildren are now starting to play there.

She said, “There’s fierce opposition to this building proposal. They’ve given us three options for where to put a wee bit of swing park, and the rest of the grass would be covered with houses.

“Building there would be a complete disaster. As well as taking the park away, the area would become more dangerous because of the increase in traffic. There are lots of other spaces around Kelty which could be built on without taking away the only bit of park the kids have.”

The park is surrounded by houses, and children can be seen using it at all times. Ms Johnston said this made the park a much safer place to play than, for example, the local quarry.

“It’s important for a child’s development to have an open space. They should be concentrating on improving the park facilities instead,” she added.

Avenue Park was first earmarked for housing in 1981, through the north-east sector plan, however residents are now questioning why an area of public space should have to be built on.

Local group Kelty Partnership is leading the campaign against the housing proposals. Partnership chairman Alex Rowley said instead of being given three options for a housing proposal, the community should have been asked if they wanted housing there at all.

“We welcomed the fact that the council agreed to consult, but their starting point is that the park will be sold and the houses will be built,” said Mr Rowley.

“The community is being offered three options, all of which result in the majority of the park being developed into housing. They must go back a stage and ask the people of Kelty if we want our park sold off for housing.

“It is deceitful to have a consultation that does not ask us the fundamental question: are we happy for our park to be sold off?”

He has written to the council chief executive asking about discussions between developers, housebuilders and businesses, who he said were all set to make a considerable profit from the project.

In contrast, said Mr Rowley, the community was expected to receive £150,000 to develop a play park at Blairadam or elsewhere.

“All the parents say they wouldn’t allow their children to play at Blairadam Park. It’s just bribe money,” he said.

“I want details of all meetings, correspondence, Emails and discussions between council officials, councillors, consultants, builders and businesses. The interest of the community should come before the interest of all those who want to make profit from our park.

“People in Kelty are outraged at this proposal and the way Fife Council seems determined to have their way regardless of what we think.

“We will write to every Fife councillor making clear our park is not for sale and will work with all community groups in the village to bring forward proposals for upgrading our park and securing investment for improved play and recreational facilities.

“It is high time Fife Council got their act together, stopped trying to bully communities and railroad through development and agreed to a master plan for our village to be drawn up in partnership with the people of Kelty.”