ROSYTH has been dealt a massive jobs blow after ambitious plans to transform the waterfront looked dead in the water this week.

Scarborough Muir Group (SMG) had £500 million plans for a dynamic quayside featuring bars, restaurants and new housing, backed by residents.

But the plans now look doomed after the long-awaited FifePlan recommended the land should not be changed to mixed use and should be kept as employment land only.

Rosyth councillor Mike Shirkie vowed to fight the recommendation and blasted: “I am incandescent with anger that yet again the reporter, who is an unelected person, has chosen to ignore the wishes of the the community council, the people of Rosyth and the wider West Fife community.

“I have been fighting since 2008 to get mixed use development for Rosyth Waterfront.

"We have lost some 1,000 jobs in Fife over the last 18 months for a variety of communities and we are facing the construction end of the Queensferry Crossing and we have got the aircraft carriers coming to an end in 2020.

"What better opportunity than to start mixed use development that would create thousands of jobs in the construction period and then permanent employment once various phases of the project are completed?

“I am extremely disappointed and what I intend to do, as a local councillor, is take the fight on,” added Councillor Shirkie.

“I think what we need to do now is get a petition up. We cannot let this decision prevent access to the waterfront for another five to 10 years – I will not let it go. I will be looking at every avenue possible open to us to get this decision changed.”

Rosyth Community Council secretary Davie Barbour added: “There will be some disappointment, there were many who supported the development.”

Depute leader of Fife Council and executive spokesperson for economy and planning, Councillor Lesley Laird, said: “This decision has been taken despite our bid to the Reporter to designate the land as mixed use, which we feel could have brought exciting development to the area for the benefit of the local community and visitors to the area. 

“Fife Council has been actively engaging with a potential developer of the site and as part of those discussions has set out some of the challenges that would require to be addressed in developing the site for mixed use.

“Despite the continued uncertainty in the market, Rosyth continues to attract industry interest. Enquiries can take a long time to develop and this is frustrating for the community. With the opening of the new Crossing this will undoubtedly open up new opportunities and we will continue to work with the main landowners to explore development proposals and help them promote the various sites at the Waterfront.”