Council Election 2017

Dunfermline North

The pressure the rapid expansion of Dunfermline North could place on local services is the main talking point in the ward.

Now running from the district of Parkneuk in Dunfermline to the village of Kingseat, as a result of boundary changes, the area is witnessing significant housing developments at the current time.

I&H Brown has already started work on a £100 million development, including a primary school, on 62 hectares of agricultural land between Parkneuk and Wellwood.

Meanwhile developer Taylor Wimpey is shaping up plans for a 1,400 housing development to the north of Halbeath.

This proposal would also include a primary school and other community facilities.

However, many are concerned about the impact such vast schemes will have on high school provision and also on the local road network.

In particular, there are worries about the planned northern link road which will marry up with the M90 at the busy Halbeath junction.

Construction of the road would see it run alongside Townhill Country Park and cut across the village before running alongside the old railway line towards Kingseat Road.

Many communities are concerned about the impact it may have on their lives.

At present the sprawling ward is represented by two Labour and one SNP councillor.

However, the SNP’s David Mogg stood down for personal reasons, forcing a by-election in November 2015.

This was held for the party by Ian Ferguson, who polled 1,056 votes, ahead of Labour’s Joe Long on 719.

Turnout was just over 24%

New homes being built at Carnegie Faulds on Dunlin Drive, Dunfermline.