ROSYTH residents have been told that now is the time to make their feelings over the future of the town’s waterfront heard.

That was the view of Labour councillor Mike Shirkie at last Tuesday’s meeting of Rosyth Community Council as debate continues over whether the land should be kept for industrial, port-related use or rezoned for mixed use.

The issue divided councillors when it was brought up at a meeting of the South West Fife area committee in August and was debated further by the community council, who stated their belief that the opportunity to open up the land for retail and commercial development was “more favourable” than for it to remain strictly industrial.

Councillors at the South West Fife area committee argued that with no concrete plans for the site, it should used in other ways and they voted 5-4 in favour of mixed use. It is set to go before the executive committee for further consideration.

Councillor Shirkie said, “Tourism is the second-highest employer in Scotland and we now have a chance with the new bridge coming to take advantage of that. We should be looking at ways to try and keep them on this side of the water as Fife has a lot to offer. But if you want a plan B to take the site forward as a mixed use development, now is the time to make your views known. You can use Facebook and social media to gather opinion and if that is the way you’d like to go, then get a petition and submit it to Fife Council.” Suggestions from residents at the meeting as to what they would like to see on the site included an iconc structure like the Kelpies development as part of a ‘Gateway to Fife’ and an entertainment arena similar to Glasgow’s SSE Hydro to serve the East of Scotland.

That view was echoed by Tim Bishop on the ‘What’s Happening Rosyth?’ Facebook page, which posed the question to its followers with the majority stating their preference for mixed use.

He said, “The site is large enough to contain a construction similar to that mentioned and parking facilities. Easy access to Edinburgh and central Scotland would also be in its favour.” But SNP councillor Douglas Chapman said, “To give up on this site for housing and other mixed use at this time is short-sighted. When you look at the Ocean Terminal development in Edinburgh, which I believe has been a planning disaster, then we should guard against going for mixed use.” Resident Derek Hunter added, “Mixed use will only bring short-term employment during construction and then service sector jobs in the leisure and tourism sector, whereas port use will be longer-term jobs and development for the longer term.” In 2009, Fife’s planning committee decided that the waterfront should be designated for commercial use only, with councillors removing any mention of housing in the policy.

The move sank Scarborough Muir’s £500million plans to redevelop the site to be used for offices, hotels, leisure, business, fast-food chains, retail and a community woodland.

The proposal also included reinstating public access to the waterfront area but councillors were concerned that a change would jeopardise Rosyth’s development as an international port.