A plea has been made not to split Glencraig.
Benarty Community Council has been horrified to learn the boundary between it and its counterpart in Lochgelly is not where everyone thought.
Instead, it is dividing what used to be North and South Glencraig, with the south now under Lochgelly’s jurisdiction.
Former Cowdenbeath area chairman Willie Clarke and fellow Benarty community councillor Brian Menzies are asking local councillors to investigate.
The bisection is, they say, “for a great many Benarty residents who grew up in that village community, not a tolerable situation, especially given the history of Glencraig and its people”.
They argue that since the establishment of community councils in 1973 it has always been accepted that the southern limit of Benarty community council was marked by a boundary which ran alongside the railway line at Lochgelly.
But with the arrival of Fife Cycle Park it’s come to light Fife Council considers the boundary between Benarty and Lochgelly to run along the course of the Fitty burn.
Mary Clarke, secretary of Benarty Heritage Preservation Group said Glencraig was “very much a part of the Benarty area historically, physically and emotionally, and clearly was never part of Lochgelly burgh”.
She added that feelings were running very high that lands of south Glencraig are now within the confines of Lochgelly.
The community councillors added: “This obviously brings into question everything that has up to now been taken for granted.”
Despite trying to delve into the matter, Fife Council seems to have no records from 1973 when the boundaries were set up.
While they have maps showing the current boundaries, the council hasn’t been able to produce original markers which must have existed when community councils were being formed.
In addition, Scottish Government guidelines say boundaries should take into consideration things like historical ties in geography as well as connections in education, health and voting practises.
“It is inconceivable that the present situation would have been allowed to become established given the historical and social ties that have always existed with this part of Benarty and it remains a complete mystery how Fife Council has allowed the situation to go on without comment before now,” they said.
While the community council concedes a change may have taken place before 1997, they argue no consultation had taken place with Benarty or Lochgelly.
Now, said Mr Menzies, they want to get round the table with Lochgelly Community Council to resolve the great divide.
