Published: Thursday, 17th June, 2010 9:00am
Inverkeithing in line for £5m sports academy backed by Sir Alex
by Ally McRoberts
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INVERKEITHING will lose out on a £5million-plus sports academy, backed by Sir Alex Ferguson, if a plan to build 450 homes at Spencerfield does not get approval.
The Manchester United manager has already agreed to be patron to a facility in the town that could be built on a four-acre site, complete with an indoor astroturf pitch.
It would also have a sports injury clinic and close links with nearby Inverkeithing High School.
An ambitious masterplan would also put "significant" sums of money into a community fund to revamp the town, including run-down Fraser Avenue and Ballast Bank.
That's the carrot.
But it's all dependent on a change to Fife Council's Dunfermline and West Fife draft local plan to allow housing at Spencerfield, currently an area of farmland between Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay.
The blunt warning has come from the Alfred Stewart Property Foundation (ASP), which will "walk away" from the town if they don't get the backing for their housing plan.
ASP is the operating company of the Alfred Stewart Trust, which was set up after the late developer's death in 2008 and, in accordance with Mr Stewart's will, the legacy is to use his estate for the benefit of the people of Dunfermline and West Fife.
One of their plans is to build 450 homes at Spencerfield and gift land at the site to the Norrie McCathie Benevolent Fund for the establishment of a sports academy.
As a charitable foundation, ASP said they would then use the profits from the housing to spend on improving Inverkeithing.
Spokesman Roano Pierotti said, "The trust would make a profit from this land, pay the landowner and then put the rest of the profit back into Inverkeithing.
"As an example, we've said we could put money into Ballast Bank."
This could include upgrading the football pitch, putting a running track round it, building a community pavilion with better changing rooms, creating attractive landscaping and a new coastal path.
He continued, "If we get the allocation we will give the land to the Norrie McCathie Benevolent Fund for their sports academy.
"We're not building it for them but giving them the start they require by providing land at no cost.
"But it all rests on us getting the allocation for these houses.
"If we don't get it we'll walk away."
It had been hoped to site a sports academy at Pitreavie playing fields in Dunfermline but progress has been slow.
The Norrie McCathie Benevolent Fund now want it to be built in Inverkeithing and a spokesman said, "We are extremely impressed by the approach that Alfred Stewart Trust and its operating company have taken to focusing on the regeneration and investment needs of the town and we look forward to continuing to work with them on our plans for a sports academy which are also backed by its patron, Sir Alex Ferguson."
One of the trustees, former councillor Alan Kenney, said, "One of the most important aspects of the sports academy is that it would be a trust.
"Any profit generated goes back into the community, it's not a private commercial business."
Mr Pierotti added, "It fits very well with what we're about and it's a double whammy for Inverkeithing.
"It's easy for us to gift the land because it's extra to what we require.
"But, because ASP is also a trust, the profits from the housing also go back into the town. It wins twice."
However, the masterplan needs public support and a change in the draft local plan, which sets out what can be built and where over the next decade.
It follows the Fife Structure Plan, which stipulates that 600 houses should be built in Inverkeithing over the next 15 years.
In the initial draft local plan, Spencerfield was selected by council planners as a housing site but councillors at the South West Fife area committee objected and it was removed by the planning committee.
At present, the draft local plan states that houses should be built on sites at RM Supplies and the old Caldwell's paper mill instead.
ASP say both these sites are unsuitable and incapable of producing the number of houses the structure plan demands.
The draft local plan will be the subject of an examination - formerly a public enquiry - early next year and adopted in 2012.
Mr Pierotti said, "This is effectively the plan that officers wanted but local members were against.
"The professional planners and officers have always supported it, now we hope the councillors and people of Inverkeithing will too."
Inverkeithing Community Council was briefed on the plans on Monday and chair Shirley Currie said, "Our initial reaction is we're a bit wary.
"We're just not keen on 400-odd houses being squeezed into a field but what we'll do is have an open meeting at the civic centre and see what the public think.
"The last review the community council did, about this time last year, there were 73 per cent who didn't want any building outwith the town.
"They were worried about the amalgamation with Dalgety Bay and the implications for Preston Quarry.
"In a way, they're not offering any more than any developer would but we'll listen to what they have to say and we did appreciate they came to us first."
Have your say. .
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Ann
Unregistered User
Jun 17, 10:25
Comment: 11701
Starting with the houses outside the Dalgety Bay boundary which will benefit Bayside Football club and now outside the boundaries of Inverkeithing for the Norries.
There's nothing like a bit of blackmail is there?
If the builders "DON'T GET WHAT THEY WANT", they'll walk away. Shocking to say the least. I hope the councillors have the nerve to say no.
Why is it that builders always seem to want to build on Greenfield sites..... and why "hundreds" more houses when there are literally thousands of "new builds" sitting empty because there is no market to purchase them.
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juice
Unregistered User
Jun 17, 21:44
Comment: 11729
Exactly. Charity with strings attached isn't charity. It's something else. Like keeping it in the family. Football has always had "loveable rogues" hovering around the directors' box. These people can pull anybody's strings. Law. Banking. Crime. It's covered. The deal is done.
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Helen
Unregistered User
Jun 18, 22:22
Comment: 11784
The building of houses in Inverkeithing should have abosolutely nothing to do with the upgrade of sporting facilities.Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts Football Club has been in Inverkeithing since 1996 and was moved from Hillfield playing fields to Ballast Bank.The club has hundreds of players ranging from ages 5 to 19 and also have an Amateur team. For years the club has fought for improved facilities. For years the club has taken hundreds of youngsters ‘off the streets’. Recently the Club was approached by Alfred Stewart Property Foundation, but because by Club did not wish to back their housing plan,they have obviously sought other interest. eg.Norrie McCathies Benevolent Fund. They have dragged Sir Alex Ferguson’s name into it to make it look like a a spectacular offer.Hope the councillors refuse to back this.
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Viv
Unregistered User
Jun 19, 10:51
Comment: 11789
I totally agree with the three posts above!
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Rowan Ferguson
Unregistered User
Jun 20, 09:25
Comment: 11802
Yes, this is blackmail, but I don't think folks should be so quick to dismiss it. This facility would be an enormous boost for Inverkeithing, and an opportunity like this would never arise again. It gets my support - Inverkeithing would be transformed, and although it does come at a cost (the loss of open space to accommodate housing), the benefits must be considered, ie Fraser Avenue; top-notch facilities for our youngsters, regeneration of the town, incomers to boost the economy (I concede, more traffic - but you would expect the regeneration to take account of this). Sounds like my support won't be popular, but this is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I'd be solely disappointed if it doesn't get the green light. If you want Inverkeithing to keep its status quo, then dismiss this. If you want Inverkeithing to strive ahead, then support it!
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anonymousfifer
Unregistered User
Jun 20, 22:17
Comment: 11810
Didn't Alfred Stewart have something to do with the co-op building fiasco?
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Jamie
Unregistered User
Jun 22, 11:14
Comment: 11843
This is undoubtedly a controversial topic, looking at the comments made I am surprised at the lack of support and shortsighted views of others.
This country is in big trouble; we are looking at years of austerity measures, large reductions in government-backed projects and huge reductions in local government spending. Inverkeithing councillors need to take this proposal extremely seriously and in context with what’s happening elsewhere. When was the last time Inverkeithing got a chance like this. A £5M sports academy plus a charitable foundation that has to spend its profits on the local community!
What’s the alternative? Do nothing and let the world keep driving past?
Let a large house building company come in and screw Inverkeithing for as much money as it can for its shareholders? Wait for the government to give us the money for the sports academy? Nothing in life is free, I believe this would be good for Inverkeithing, If you don’t agree with me then think of it as ‘the least worst option’
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Wayne Morris
Unregistered User
Jun 27, 22:09
Comment: 12042
This really is a fabulous opportunity for inverkeithing.I believe the community should embrace these plans and work with ASP rather than work against them. That way real progress can be made within the town. Experience has shown that only those with an axe to grind tend to turn up to Public Meetings about this sort of thing. The feedback from the meeting will be utterly pointless as it will be the views of NIMBY's rather than the views of the majority of residents of the town who would have no issue with progress. Regretably this progress will be thwarted at every opportunity by a few activists who frankly should know better.
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Ian Campbell
Unregistered User
Jun 29, 00:11
Comment: 12073
Perhaps if these developers really wanted to do something for the good of the town. Buy the papermill,demolsh it shove it into the bay clean up the site then develop the site, the harbour and renew the pavillion. That would really make a differance! Not as easy as a green field site. It would not be the first time green belts have been developed for ulterior motives with shady under tones. We need to protect what country side we have left!
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petitioner
Jul 1, 05:58
Comment: 12126
This comment has been referred for moderation
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petitioner
Jul 1, 06:03
Comment: 12127
I wrote to Sir Alex Ferguson regarding his apparent knowledge of and support for this project and his lawyers responded saying Sir Alex had "absolutely no knowledge of the site or the planning position in relation thereto".
So the developer is spinning a yarn about the approval and support of Sir Alex. Just as the developer is spinning when he says the proposed academy will be like the famous Ajax one. This is like saying that my house is like Buckingham Palace. They are both dwelling places but there the similarity ends.
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invlassie
Unregistered User
Jul 4, 13:09
Comment: 12210
There is a severe lack of decent sports facilities in Inverkeithing and there's been no decent investment in the town for a long time. There's also a lack of affordable / housing association properties to rent and a large waiting list for what there is. I would like to see my teenage children being able to find somewhere to live locally but what hope is there unless they earn a really high wage? According to the council's own policies, 25% of all housing in a development of this size has to be affordable housing - that's over 100 properties!
Lets get realistic here. The papermill has been sitting derelict for over 6 years - it's still owned by Inveresk - no sign of development so when is it likely to happen? Everyone in the town wants this to be developed but where is the real pressure from people who live in Inverkeithing - no use bumping gums unless you put it to some practical use and put pressure on where it's needed! What's Fife Council been doing to help this process along? Nothing! Why's that then? Well residents of Inverkeithing haven't been active in telling them that they are doing a miserable job in revitalising the town. If residents don't get together and start to apply pressure then the town will stay as it is - no regeneration, no housing for our children to be able to stay in the town, no new local jobs, crap indoor sports facilities or any facilities come to that. When was the last time you saw some development in the town that gave any community benefit?
Let me ask those that are against this - what have you been doing to campaign to get the other options developed? If nothing then shame on you! What are you giving back to your community?
If this sort of development means that there is some benefit for the town and it get's done within 5 years then I'm reluctantly realistic and say let it go ahead.
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wayne morris
Unregistered User
Jul 4, 15:13
Comment: 12212
If there were more people like "Inverlassie" above and less people who are simply against things for the sake of being against them, the town would surely be a better place dont you all think? Oh, in fact you probably dont because despite what has been said you would still prefer an empty field to realistic regeneration of a town that has been going downhill for years.
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inverkeithingdotnet
Jul 9, 20:52
Comment: 12319
I think i'd also like to hear a bit more about what is on offer here. I think it's wrong to dismiss this as being an opportunistic builder or whatever. The fact is the population is growing and these houses have to go somewhere so why shouldn't Inverkeithing benefit. This needs people to get together and actually really look into what is on offer here. I was really surprised hearing this story becuase I had heard nothing about it. I'd love to know how exactly the community council communicates with the wider town.
I have two young kids and I now see that maybe I should be taking a bit more of an interest in what is happening here. I would suggest that people do need to come together to try and get things moving. I've thought for a while that Inverkeithing is going downhill very fast and this sounds like a really promising opportunity to give the town a boost.
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petitioner
Jul 30, 14:10
Comment: 12736
It is wrong for this article to imply that the Alfred Stewart Trust is has charitable status and as a consequence all profits from the activities of the developer would go back into the town.
The Alfred Stewart Trust was to be set up for medical and/or community purposes as per the wishes expressed by the late Alfred Stewart in his will. However I have been informed by the Offices of the Chrity Regulator Scotland that the Trust has been refused charitable status on 27 May 2010 because it did not meet the charity test.
So the continuous referal to the Alfred Stewart Trust is erroneous.
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Frank Wood
Unregistered User
Aug 7, 19:57
Comment: 12887
When they have finished building the 450 houses what happens to the rest of the green belt fields next to them.They won't build on them will they?
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