Community complains that living next to site is like ‘water torture’

Dunfermline: Residents say work on site regularly starts before 8am

Disturbance from a Dunfermline housing development is like the “drip, drip, drip effect of water torture” it has been claimed.

Dunfermline North councillor William Campbell claimed construction noise on Campion Homes’ Hawthorn Bank site regularly kicked off before 8am.

Fife Council’s west planning committee threw out the application for the Paton Street site, but it was granted on appeal by the Scottish Government.

Mr Campbell claimed conditions meant to prevent work from starting before 8am “are being regularly ignored”.

Hitting out at the apparent inability of the planning system to protect residents from the impact of building work, he said locals deserved better.

“They expect the council’s planning officers to be able to enforce the conditions laid down, but it seems that the powers they have aren’t adequate.

“Sadly, the developer doesn’t seem concerned about the impact on local people.

“If this was occasional people might put up with it, but it has the drip, drip, drip effect of water torture.”

Residents have raised concerns with Bellyeoman Community Council about many occasions when traffic has been on site by 7.45am, ineffective management of traffic access to the site that causes congestion, noise and vibration and no reassurance heights of properties are in accordance with the approved design.

Fife Council’s service manager Alastair Hamilton said a condition applied to the consent by the Reporter who approved the appeal required a scheme of works to be agreed to limit the disturbance and disruption to neighbours which might arise from noise and dust.

“The scheme of works specifies that noisy activity will be restricted between the working hours of 8am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on a Saturday with all plant and machinery fitted with noise suppression equipment.

In response, Campion Homes maintained land was zoned for housing in the local plan and the planning permission “does not contain a condition relating to working hours”.

If this was occasional, people might put up with it, but it has the drip, drip, drip effect of water torture. COUNCILLOR WILLIAM CAMPBELL

Nicolson. Picture: Dougie John Dudgeon and Keith and Anne Ormond of Bellyeoman Community Council, Councillor William Campbell and Ken Barker and Wilma Allday of Bellyeoman Community Council.