By Gordon Berry

ONE OF Scotland’s major national conservation bodies has accused Fife Council of producing an imbalanced structure plan which has given inadequate guidance on the environment and the needs of society.

The claim has been made by Scottish Natural Heritage, which has joined a long list of individuals, groups and politicians making their views on the controversial document known to Scottish Executive ministers.

The body has just lodged a formal objection to the finalised structure plan and, like many other people making representations, it has claimed the council has failed to reflect views put it to during the consultation process.

The letter makes specific reference to plans for the major north-east Fife population centres of Cupar and St Andrews, and it has expressed strong concern over a number of issues.

These include elements of western expansion and green belt plans for St Andrews, and the proposals for a northern bypass accompanied by 1450 new houses in Cupar.

SNH has said a number of “basic principles” are absent from the plan, and that missing policies cover subjects such as energy efficiency in layout and design, the use of recycled materials, adequate consideration of the links between new build and public transport provision, and maintenance of key landscape features.

In addition, it said, key areas outlined in national guidance are either absent or poorly represented, and the plan is inadequate when considered against the requirement for a strategic environmental assessment.

The body has commented on the last-minute decision that St Andrews and Cupar should be designated as “strategic development areas” and it states that there are strong concerns in relation to the creation of a link road at the west of St Andrews, and the consequences for the proposed green belt in the town.

The body has indicated that it is equally concerned over the Cupar proposal, and said the implications of the proposed relief road and associated housing are likely to lead to “significant and adverse effects on the setting of Cupar and the landscape character of the local area.”

“At this initial stage in our understanding, we have serious concerns over the principle of this proposal and its effect on the local environment around Cupar.

“We would encourage other options for development in and around Cupar to be fully considered.

On the contentious issues of green belts, SNH said policy should identify that development on green belt land is an exception, but the structure, and the draft local plan, reverses this.

SNH believes green belt policy should be decided prior to the allocation of new housing proposals, particularly ‘the western expansion’ of St Andrews and link road.

“Otherwise, the council risks undermining the integrity of the green belt, as a land form and land use, and also as a policy, before the designation and the policy are implemented,” said the letter.