New group formed in opposition to site for Burntisland Primary

RESIDENTS IN Burntisland have formed a new group to voice their concerns over the chosen site for the town’s new primary school.

Around £12.5 million has been made available for a new build on the Toll Park in Burntisland after Fife councillors decided the site was the best option for taking the project forward.

However, members of a newly-formed action group strongly disagree with the selected location and have branded the process used to choose it as “seriously flawed”.

Councillors are due to consider a progress report on the new Burntisland Primary today, although the action group is calling on the council to rethink its plans and will host its own meeting in the Burgh Chambers at 5.30pm today to discuss the issue.

Bob Smith, vice-chairman of Burntisland Community Council, said many in the town felt at least two other viable sites should have been considered, particularly as they were brownfield sites.

“The Toll Park is protected green space under the local plan and is 60% owned by the Common Good Fund in Burntisland, the other 40% being part of the widow’s Trust in Burntisland,” he said.

“Fife Council are charged with administering these funds, but treat it as if they own them and can do what they like with them.

“Burntisland Commu- nity Council organised a public meeting in October 2011, which was attended by some 350 to 400 local residents.

“On a show of hands at the end of the meeting, 100% of the attendees agreed that Burntisland needed a new school, but 80% of the attendees were firmly against it going on the Toll Park.

“Despite this being the most representative form of consultation with the wider community to date, Fife Council have chosen to ignore the views of the community.”

Despite the criticism, though, business change manager Alister Hendrie said the council was “still convinced” the Toll Park option was the right one.

“Burntisland Primary School, one of our biggest primaries, is at present housed in a series of old buildings and temporary modular units and is bursting at the seams on a piece of ground that cannot hold any further extensions to the school,” he said.

“During the consultation process we are confident we not only met the statutory requirements for public engagement but actually went beyond this with a number of consultation events.

“This was backed up by HMIE’S endorsement of our consultation process.

“The public had their say on this school and the official education consultation was overwhelmingly in favour of a new build at the toll Park site.”