A controversial plan to turn a former convenience store in Kirkcaldy into a pub has been turned down by councillors.
Members of Fife Council’s central area planning committee ruled a drinking establishment in the heart of a residential area would have a detrimental impact on people living there.
They were particularly concerned about the effect of loud noise on neighbours.
The ruling came despite assurances from planning officers that environmental health experts had no concerns with the proposed development.
Eros Limited had applied to give the old Co-op on Pentland Place a new lease of life by transforming it into a bar with car parking and a new fire escape.
The suggested opening hours had been 10am to midnight.
Planners had received six letters of objection from local people calling for the application to be rejected amid fears their lives would be blighted by anti-social behaviour on the part of the pub’s customers.
They said their property values would be affected by noise, violence, damage and littering and argued the area was already well served by pubs in nearby Dunearn Drive and Bennochy Road.
In a report to the committee, however, planning officer Scott Simpson said these were not planning considerations.
“Should such issues arise they would be dealt with by other relevant authorities, ie the police, Fife Council’s environmental health public protection teams and licensing teams,” he said.
Mr Simpson argued the effect of a pub would not be any worse than that of the shop that previously occupied the unit.
The application had the support of Glenrothes Conservative councillor Mick Green, who said: “In this day and age we are reading about pubs closing every week so it’s nice to see one trying to open.”
But Kirkcaldy SNP councillor Zoe Hisbent replied: “Any new business should be commended but, equally, if I lived there I would have reservations.”
Moving the proposal be refused, Glenrothes Labour councillor Jan Wincott said she believed it would have an impact on residents.
“Residents are going to suffer from noise, traffic and littering,” she said.
The application was turned down by seven votes to three.
