Skip Navigation,Sitemap

Dunfermline Press

Villagers' anger at go-ahead for travellers' site

Published 26 Aug 2011 08:45 Print Comments 33 Comments

Jump to first paragraph.

Share this Facebook Twitter Google Buzz Delicious DIGG Reddit Stumbleupon Email RSS

click to enlarge

PLANS to build a gypsy travellers stop-over site at Crossgates have been abandoned after fierce opposition from villagers.

However, at Cairneyhill, a similar site has been given the go-ahead despite similar local hostility and claims that no public consultation had taken place.

At Crossgates a public meeting was held at which 80 villagers made it clear they did not want the site but in Cairneyhill locals did not have the same opportunity.

The community council previously hired a hall for a public meeting on the issue but Fife Council pulled out of sending a representative to explain the plans.

The lay-by to be used lies between Cairneyhill and Torryburn and both community councils were against it but the council's housing and communities committee voted it through on Tuesday.

Labour councillor David Ross had called for site visits to the three remaining sites, Cairneyhill, Cardenden and Crail but his plea was rejected.

He said afterwards, "I have been contacted by local councillors and local residents who have real concerns about the development of the sites in Cairneyhill and Cardenden because of road safety, drainage and other problems.

"Worryingly, many of them say the council hasn't undertaken proper consultation on these proposals.

"This is a sensitive issue and the committee members owe it to local people to listen to their concerns before taking a decision.

"It is disappointing that the council's SNP/Lib Dem administration have once again chosen to believe they know best without giving proper consideration to the views of local people."

Cairneyhill Community Council chair Maureen Hunter said, "This particular area has major opposition from both Torryburn and Cairneyhill community councils yet despite the lack of consultation Fife Council officers stated in the papers that they are at present in discussions with the landowners for the possible lease of the land.

"They also state that the site has been used for years by travellers on a regular basis.

"This is totally inaccurate and if on the odd occasion there was forced entry, the road was immediately blocked off on their departure.

"A few months ago Cairneyhill Community Council hired a hall on the understanding that a representative from Fife Council would explain the rationale for the proposal and allow discussion - Fife Council reneged at short notice and no consultation has ever taken place."

Community council secretary George Roxburgh said, "People here feel very strongly and my phone's not stopped ringing for days.

"The council knew there would be hell to pay if they had a public meeting in Cairneyhill so they didn't have one."

Local Lib Dem councillor Gerry McMullan said, "I'm amazed that housing officers can highlight these facts when they have not fully met with the community council in Cairneyhill, which is the closest residential area to the site."

Concerns raised at Crossgates included a possible rise in crime and "previous bad experience with gypsy travellers with local farmers and businesses".

Council officers were told that the local farm "would need to become a fortress".

The plan had been to turn a lay-by on the A907 just east of the village into one of four new stop-overs in Fife.

At the meeting in the village there had been unanimous opposition to the plan and a petition was started to further demonstrate the strength of feeling locally.

Chair of Crossgates and Mossgreen Community Council Robert Arnott said after the meeting, "The condition of the site leaves a lot to be desired with potholes and severe flooding on a regular basis and is not suitable for what is proposed.

"Concerns were also raised regarding the effects the site would have on the local communities in view of what has occurred at other locations used by gypsy travellers."

An officer's report to the housing and communities committee stated, "The committee should acknowledge that there is no support for the proposal within Crossgates.

"The outstanding concerns in relation to the proximity of the proposed stop-over site to the high-speed road, the safety of families with children on the site and the gas pipeline are regarded as high risks.

"The consideration of these risks and the required significant level of resources to mitigate against these risks confirm that this particular proposal should not be pursued further."

The Press broke the news to Mr Arnott that the Crossgates plans had been scrapped.

He said, "I'm very pleased to hear that. It wasn't just a case of people here not wanting the travellers, there were also genuine safety fears.

"I'm delighted that on this occasion the views of local people have been heard and have made a difference."

A spokesperson for Fife Council insisted that Cairneyhill Community Council had been consulted over the plans when asked by the Press.

"The proposals on the next step follow a consultation process within local community councils, councillors and members of the public," stated a council press release.

John Mills, senior manager for housing management and homelessness, said, "These sites will offer a short-term temporary place to allow gypsy traveller families to live in a managed environment as opposed to current unauthorised sites."

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Post a comment

Registered users log in here

You must be logged in to post. If you have not registered with us, please do so now.

Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users do not have to complete word verification once logged in and can also take part in competitions and other registered user only features of the site.


Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Vote

Dunfermline Press Poll

Do you think Dunfermline Delivers does a good job for Dunfermline?



Most Read

  1. BREAKING NEWS: Reports of major incident in Dalgety Bay
  2. DALGETY BAY ACCIDENT UPDATE: Woman dies
  3. DALGETY BAY ACCIDENT UPDATE: Police appeal for witnesses after woman dies
  4. DALGETY BAY ACCIDENT UPDATE: Road screened from view
  5. Developer offers £1 for £174,000 Dunfermline site
  6. Pensioner killed in road collision named

» View More Stories

You may have missed

Hot Jobs

Your social, local Business Directory - It's in Dunfermline • It's in The Directory • Directory Network

Copyright ©2013 Forth Weekly Press, Pitreavie Business Park, Dunfermline, Fife, KY11 8QS • Tel: 01383 747500 • Fax: 01383 737040

Login     RSS Feeds FacebooK Twitter

close XCookies

We use cookies to enhance the use of our site - please see here for our Privacy and Cookie policy.