Jubilant campaigners win fight to halt sewer plan near their homes

SCottdsh WAter Comes lp wdth AlternAtdve for 1,100 new homes

Campaigners trying to stop one of Fife’s top conservation areas from becoming a “sewage dump” have won their battle.

Scottish Water wanted to increase the sewer capacity near the historic harbour at Dysart, where scenes for hit TV drama Outlander have been filmed,

However, it faced opposition from residents living in Pan Ha’, a street of 16th and 17th Century listed houses restored by the National Trust for Scotland and the-then Historic Scotland organisation.

Now, it appears Scottish Water has contacted worried residents to say it will drop the Dysart plans and look at other options instead.

Locals warned the stench from the sewers would repel many tourists who visited the area, including busloads of Outlander fans and walkers on the Fife Coastal Path.

Residents also feared the major work, to serve 1,100 new houses planned at Kingdom Park on the north-east side of Kirkcaldy, would destabilise and damage old buildings and walls, including their own homes. They were further concerned about the potential impact on the 16th Century St Serf’s Church, tower and graveyard.

And late last year they voiced their worries that the flood defence offered by an area of grassland where the work would be carried out would be lost and flooded mines in the area had not been considered.

Ros Chapman, one of the residents campaigning against the move, was “extremely relieved” with the U-turn.

“It would have been a dreadful blight on a historic and beautiful conservation area,” she said. “We are pleased that Scottish Water has seen sense.

“We are still on cloud nine. It has hasn’t quite sunk in yet as it has dragged on for months and months.

“We want the development to succeed, but it was a dreadful idea to have it here.”

Ros, whose house was built in 1583, added: “We would also like to thank Councillor Ian Cameron, who has been everything you can hope a local councillor can be. He’s been a tower of strength for us.”

A spokesman for Scottish Water said: “Following the public information event held in Dysart on December 7 it is now Scottish Water’s intention to develop an alternative plan for the development of Kingdom Park, Kirkcaldy.

“We are now in the process of developing a feasibility study into the alternative option and will keep the community updated as this progresses.”

Itwouldhave been a dreadful blight on a historic and beautiful conservation area. We are pleased that Scottish Water has seen sense