Residents in Newburgh fear their concerns will be ignored as potentially hundreds of new homes are built on the burgh’s eastern boundary.
Perth-based A&J Stephen is to consult the community on its proposal for a mixed used development, including housing, on fields on either side of Cupar Road.
Fife Council has zoned 11.6 hectares of land for around 275 homes, employment land and extensions to the primary school and cemetery, despite concerns about the impact of a large population increase on local services and infrastructure.
Details of A&J Stephen’s plans have yet to emerge, but the firm has lodged a proposal of application notice with the local authority and is inviting residents to attend a drop-in session next Wednesday in Tayside Institute Community Centre.
David Mathieson, who led the Newburgh Sustainable Housing Campaign, which fought the inclusion of the two sites in Fife’s local development plan, reckons the community will struggle to make its voice heard.
He said: “Does anyone really think, that A & J Stephen, builder… cares what our community has to say about its plan to increase the size of our town by about one third?”
Mr Mathieson claimed the developer had already refused two invitations to address the community.
He said: “How can you trust anyone that has already been invited to a public meeting and to a community council meeting to discuss this issue, but declined to attend both, preferring to invite us to their drop-in consultation event where they decide the plan with no input from our community?”
He also urged A&J Stephen to provide evidence of local demand for hundreds of new houses.
A spokesperson for A & J Stephen Ltd said: “We are looking forward to hearing the views of the community on Wednesday October 4 and would encourage residents of the town to come along to our drop in event at the Tayside Institute Community Centre between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.
“Our proposals conform to the adopted development plan for Fife and will provide much needed affordable housing for Newburgh.”
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