It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt by a “dangerous eyesore” which has been deteriorating in the heart of Dunfermline it has been been claimed.
SNP councillor Neale Hanvey has called for urgent action on the increasingly dangerous spot under the Glen Bridge.
He has raised concerns about the steep gully next to the new town centre Tesco, as barriers have deteriorated and rubbish has been strewn down the banking to the burn culvert below.
The barriers are now severely damaged and Mr Hanvey thinks it is only a matter of time until someone is seriously injured.
“I have been keeping a close eye on the area under the Glen Bridge which has been causing increasing concern, but the state of it now is absolutely shocking,” he said.
“The barriers are broken and the whole area is extremely unsafe.
“There are discarded shopping trollies and rubbish strewn down the bank and it looks dreadful.
“Although this will present a challenge, not only in clear up costs but also in securing the environment safely, we must act to remedy this with some urgency.”
Mr Hanvey has already written to officers responsible for the environment and parks and open spaces to ask them to take immediate action and to seek additional financial support where possible.
“As we all know their services have been stretched by significant cuts of up to 20% in recent years which is well above the level of savings the council is required to make.
“The safety of our shared environment should never take a back seat, but that was the choice of this Labour administration,” he said.
“Officers have taken immediate action to put together a proposal to secure funding to fix this matter, but as it is in the heart of the city any proposal will need to be sympathetic to the conservation area.”
Ken Gourlay, the council’s head of assets, transportation and environment, said: “We are aware of the issues around the Glen Bridge which are complex due to access challenges and anti-social behaviour problems.
“We have been involved in on-site meetings with stakeholders, including the nearby Tesco store, in an attempt to remove the trollies at the bottom of the slope.
“To address the most immediate issue, which is the risk of people falling down the slope, a quote for a replacement metal fence is being sought.”
