A REDUCTION in the number of new houses which could be built in Cupar over the next 20 years fails to go nearly far enough, according to one of the town’s councillors.

Reappraisal of the controversial Fife Structure Plan has led to changes in the future housing land requirement for Fife, which could see the number of new homes built in Cupar drop from the 1450 previously envisaged to 1200.

The proposed expansion of the town—which would fund a relief road—has provoked widespread opposition and Councillor Bryan Poole said residents expected more from Fife Council’s promise to reconsider the structure plan, which is already with the Scottish Executive.

Fife Council approved changes to the document last week, which could see 200 fewer houses constructed in St Andrews and 50 fewer in the Tay Bridgehead.

There was no change to the 500 homes envisaged for the East Neuk but in Leuchars and Guardbridge a reduction of at least 100 is proposed, the exact number to be dealt with in the local plan.

Mr Poole said, “I welcome the administration’s acceptance that the structure plan could be improved.

“However, the contents of the reappraisal paper, certainly as far as the Cupar area is concerned, don’t go nearly far enough in addressing the concerns that were raised during the run up to the production of the original structure plan.”

Of the many components in the structure plan—including environment, economic development, transport, industry and retail—only housing land requirement has been reconsidered.

Mr Poole said he was “astonished” that the other elements were not being looked at again.

He said, “In Cupar the number of houses was only one of many issues included in the structure plan which the community had real concerns about.

“There were concerns about where the houses were planned to go—in effect a new town to the north of the town.

“There were concerns whether the services—schools, doctors, dentists—could cope with an additional 1400 houses.

“It was felt the additional houses would bring even more traffic misery to the town and more traffic pollution.”

He also said there was no consensus as to whether Cupar should have the relief road mapped out, and considerable opposition to its dependence on the creation of 1450 extra houses.

He added, “There was little support for an out of town shopping complex, as was in the structure plan, particularly as the town centre is under pressure as things are at the moment.

“The housing needs for the neighbouring villages in relation to future school rolls had not been considered.

“Had they been, the future of rural schools could have been secured through the structure plan.”

Commenting on the papers brought before the council as it approved the revision, he said, “The way this report is framed, none of these issues will be re-appraised or consulted upon.”

He said he was sure townspeople would feel let down and added, “I’m certain the people of Cupar were expecting a bit more than the possible reduction of 250 houses.”