By Charlene Wilson

Plans to build a new Islamic mosque in Kirkcaldy have met with fierce objection from neighbouring residents.

Such was the level of opposition to proposals to demolish the existing Fife Islamic Centre in Templehall and build a large, two-storey domed building in its place that a special hearing took place yesterday to discuss key issues.

The event at the Adam Smith Theatre was attended by the Kirkcaldy area committee, the applicant Fife Islamic Centre and people from the local area.

Various concerns were raised at the meeting including inadequate parking, noise disturbance, an increase in traffic, hours of use, wildlife and green corridor issues and the possible threat to pigeon club, the Novar Homing Society, if its tenancy was transferred from Fife Council to the Islamic Centre.

Opening the meeting, committee chair Alice Soper stressed the purpose of the hearing was to allow people to voice their views on the issue—not to make any decisions.

First to speak was Kirkcaldy North Community Council secretary Kenneth Millar, who said both the local structure and development plans were “infringed” by the application.

“The site is outwith our community council area, but we have long been concerned about the lack of open spaces in Kirkcaldy.

“Places where children can play and people can walk their dogs are getting smaller and smaller, and I believe we should protect these areas at all costs.

“We are disappointed also that Fife Council say that only a small part of the green corridor would be affected. This is bad advice.”

Mr Millar also pointed out that traffic approaching the junction with Hendry Road and Cumbrae Terrace was already bad and would not cope with the increased level of vehicles visiting the new mosque.

“We believe it is the wrong building in the wrong place for the wrong reasons and therefore urge refusal,” he said.

Next in line to air their views were Archie Frew and David Brown from the Novar Homing Society who said they were concerned for the future of their pigeon club if it was no longer owned by the local authority.

“We have existed since 1978 and believe that, although pigeon racing is seen as a minority sport, we must do what we can to keep our sport alive,” said Mr Frew.

“We are a non-profit-making society and if we have a new landlord they could increase our rent or push us out the door,” said Mr Brown. “We need to know our future will be safe.”

The representatives also raised the issues of possible parking difficulties which could lead to access problems and of wildlife being endangered if their habitats are taken away.

Local man Ian Watson said residents in Cumbrae Terrace and surrounding streets were worried that an elaborate new mosque would attract people from further afield and would therefore lead to “complete traffic chaos.”

“This is already a busy bus route with very little off-road parking... and is an accident waiting to happen.”

Mr Watson said residents were also concerned about noise disturb- ance following recent incidents involving “angry late-night visitors” to the existing mosque.

Other residents raised flooding concerns despite the fact that SEPA were satisfied there was no known flooding risk in the area.

Making a case for the building of a new mosque, Fife Islamic Centre agent Rob Hutton said, “For the last 16 years the centre has operated from its current premises but it is no longer suitable and worshippers have been seeking an alternative site for the last eight years.

“The new building will be used in the same way as the current one, for religious prayer and teachings, and will not result in increased use as there are already two other Islamic centres in Glenrothes and Dunfermline.”

He said Friday afternoons would continue to be busy due to that being the most important time for prayer and on the religious festivals of Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr.

“The application includes 95 car parking spaces in comparison to the 20 there presently, which will be of major benefit during these occasions.”

Mr Hutton said Fife Council had no known record of noise complaints and the new mosque would be situated 50 metres from the nearest house.

He stressed that the pigeon club’s lease would be honoured and extended for as long as members wished and said wildlife would be enhanced rather than threatened due to the planting of more trees.

Information collated from the hearing will be used by Kirkcaldy area committee to identify important issues—with the final decision to be taken at a later date.