A warning has been issued that Cupar town centre could face months of chaos while its sewage pipes are dug up if hundreds of new houses are built.
It is claimed its Victorian drainage system would be unable to cope with the 1,480 new houses proposed in the Cupar North expansion.
Businesses suffered when a town centre street was closed several years ago for repairs to the collapsed sewer.
But resident Ceri Williams, of the Campaign Against Cupar North, predicted that would be nothing compared to the disruption if the sewer stretching a mile along Balgarvie Road, West Port, Bonnygate and St Catherine Street had to be upgraded.
Calling for Cupar North’s status as a strategic development area to be removed by Fife Council and a review of the entire process, he claimed officials had failed to conduct a simple check of the sewerage position back in 2005.
Mr Williams, also a founding member of the older Cupar Against Rural Development group, said: “The future of this massive development is now in doubt and Fife Council will have to consider the position for any expansion of the town, given that the drainage infrastructure would have to have a complete overhaul or replacement.”
Sepa states Scottish Water has indicated there is no capacity in the existing network and the cost of any upgrade would have to be met by the developer.
In Cupar North Consortium’s masterplan it states foul drainage from the houses would connect with the existing system and any upgrade found necessary in an assessment by a Scottish Water subsidiary would be carried out as part of the development works.
The council’s development plan service manager, Bill Lindsay, said Cupar North was a key element of the council’s development plan strategy endorsed by the Scottish Government and independent reporters.
He said: “Sepa has been consulted through each stage of the strategic and local development plans.
“Their advice about flood management and assessment is reflected in the development requirements in the proposed local development plan for Cupar North.
“Many representations have been made on the application from community and public bodies, some of which have highlighted issues or concerns about drainage and flooding.
“We will work with the developers and SEPA to ensure that solutions to any flooding or drainage issues are identified and incorporated into any legal agreements or planning conditions before any decision is taken.”
David Wardrop, planning consultant and spokesperson for Cupar North Consortium, said: “We will deal with any infrastructure issues in a holistic manner as part of the planning process.”