Fears have been voiced about the impact of construction traffic as new homes are built near a Fife primary school.
The green light was given was for 27 flats to be built in Burntisland Road, Kinghorn, which were opposed by the village’s community council.
The site, west of Viewforth Place, is on the A921 through Kinghorn near an entrance to the village primary school.
Fife Council was accused of failing to learn from the development near Kinghorn Loch where it was not known that the B923 would be closed for 16 weeks before Lovell Homes was given planning permission.
Alan McIlravie, provost of the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn Community Council, said construction traffic arrangements should have been dealt with before planning application was granted by the council’s central area development committee.
He said: “They have not learned the lessons which Fife councillors themselves articulated.
“We had a lot of complaints from residents in the nearby streets where the contractors’ lorries and vans were parked on pavements. These things should be considered as part of the planning application.”
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Mr McIlravie said there was potential for conflict between construction vehicles and others when the area was busy with schoolchildren arriving and leaving.
He said: “It is a nightmare in terms of risk, with big lorries moving about, works vehicles, and sight lines being compromised.”
In a report to the committee by the council’s development service, it was stated that should construction traffic issues arise they would be dealt with by other authorities including police and the council’s roads team.
But Mr McIlravie said it was irresponsible that it had been “left to others to pick up the pieces”.
He said: “I think this whole thing has been shoddily done.
“The councillors who voted in favour of it without a site visit should hang their heads in shame.”
The community council also objected to the style of the contemporary timber-clad and mono-pitch roof buildings at a gateway site in the historic burgh.
It said they would repeat the mistakes of allowing the 1960s flats to be built further along Burntisland Road and High Street.
However, council planners said the one, two and three-bed properties in five two-and-a-half storey blocks proposed by Here Home Builders would integrate well and respect the character of the area.
Development service manager Alastair Hamilton said: “We can assure residents that all material considerations that were raised by third parties were addressed in the committee report that was presented to the central planning committee.
“Construction traffic movements and road closures cannot be taken into account when considering planning applications.
“In this instance the development requires a connection and new manhole to an existing sewer within the A921.
“This will require approval from the council’s transportation department who will look for appropriate traffic management measures to minimise disruption to traffic.
“But if we refuse permission, Scottish Water still have the authority to carry out the works under their statutory rights.”
