The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
125-home proposal for village
A BLUEPRINT for a huge housing development to the south of Coaltown ofwemyss has the support of local councillors.
Members of the Levenmouth area committee yesterday approved planning permission in principle for the creation of 125 properties on land to the south of Main Street, although the committee has sought more detail on traffic calming measures proposed for the village, when a more detailed application comes forward.
An extant permission for 63 homes is in place for the site in question but Wemyss Estates’ new application will see almost double that number built in the area.
The committee approved the plans yesterday, subject to various conditions, including the conclusion of a legal agreement relating to a financial contribution from the developer of £130,000 towards education provision, a financial contribution to the upgrading of Lochhead Park, a commitment to providing cash towards public art and the provision of three affordable homes.
While the application has been backed in principle, however, councillors are seeking more clarity on what could be done to improve road safety, after concerns about the impact the development would have on two junctions – the first at the Checkbar road coming from Kirkcaldy and the second at Hugo Avenue near Coaltown of Wemyss Primary.
Councillor Jim Burke said: “I welcome this but I have great concerns about the exits and entrances to the site on road safety grounds, especially that Checkbar junction.”
Raised table junctions have been proposed, as well as a pedestrian crossing, but it was agreed a mini-roundabout should also be created at the junction nearest to Kirkcaldy to slow incoming traffic down.
Other possible measures will also be looked at and will either come forward as part of any forthcoming, more detailed application or as a separate entity.
Councillor Ally Hunter added: “What we’ve done is highlight the concerns around the two specific junctions but I’m conscious that we’re not transportation engineers.
“We now need to leave it to the transportation engineers who ultimately, as professionals, will understand what mechanisms are available to slow traffic down best.”
Councillor Andrew Rodger said: “There have been things that Wemyss Estates has put forward in the past and nothing has come of them so I hope this does go ahead.
“We have a major problem in Levenmouth with housing and I don’t want people travelling in and out of the Levenmouth area – I want them to stay and buy in the Levenmouth area.”
But councillor Arthur Robertson said: “We’ve got ongoing parking issues at the school and I’m concerned this will make things worse.”
Nevertheless, the plans were unanimously backed by the committee and a more detailed application is expected to be submitted this year.