FAMILIES in Aberdour have hit back after a Cala Homes boss criticised what he described as a “vocal and organised anti-development group” in the village.

Neil Craig, who is part of Aberdour Residents East, said they had been “absolutely astonished” to see another application for land to the south of Main Street and were further angered when Cala planning manager Steven Cooper made the remarks in an interview with the Press last month.

“We were made out as if we were doing something wrong because we are looking to try and maintain the situation,” Mr Craig said.

“They are constantly told it is out but the system allows them to continually apply. They only need to be successful on one occasion where we have to be successful on every occasion.

“It must be costing the council every time they have to go through the process.”

Cala Homes want to build up to 100 homes in the village but expressed frustration about the anti-development feeling they had encountered.

Planning manager Steven Cooper said they had received a strong, recurring message through consultation last year that Aberdour was in “real need” of more economically-active families to support trades and local shops.

He said they had been interested in the site, 5.44 hectares of agricultural land to the east of Aberdour, between Main Street and the Fife Circle railway line, for four years.

As part of the plans, vehicle access would be via a T-junction on the A921, there would be new footpath and cycle links and 25 per cent of the new properties would be affordable homes.

However, the plot of land is not included in Fife Council’s local development plan, FIFEplan, which states what can be built and where.

On behalf of the residents’ group, Mr Craig said they were beginning to feel “rather under siege” from the national building company.

“Developers in general have been given the opportunity to put forward ‘new sites’ for consideration to meet any perceived shortfall in the five-year effective housing land supply.

CALA Group Limited are attempting to take advantage of this situation as this proposal is not for a new site as it has already been assessed, and rejected,” he explained.

“The Scottish Government reporter rejected the site due to its ‘unique character, as development on the A921 approach to the village from the east would be radically altered with a loss of character. The pleasant rural quality of the setting of the recreational areas east of Hawkcraig Road would be diminished by the development’.

“Any tinkering CALA Group Limited have made with the layout in the proposals for this disproportionate housing estate will not add to this pleasant rural quality.