MASTERTON families have blasted the delay in the creation of an additional road which they hope will help alleviate traffic concerns in the area.

Anne and Michael Bury, who live in Pinkerton Avenue, say a second access road is long overdue and developers should have completed it years ago.

They say the additional route – which will go from from Macdonald Street to Lapwing Drive – was one of the planning conditions for Taylor Wimpey’s Masterton development and would provide an alternative access and reduce traffic on Middlebank Rise.

“The new road itself is supposed to lead over to the Dundas Homes onto Lapwing Drive and it will take down the volume of traffic off Middlebank Rise because anyone wanting to go to town from that end of the development will use the alternative access road,” she explained. 

“My husband has been pursuing it with the planning authorities but they aren’t interested. 

“There is a lot of traffic on Middlebank Rise. My kids have to walk up and down to go to school and it is a big issue. We have had enough now.”

David Steven, technical director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, confirmed work to complete the bridge, culvert and the creation of MacDonald Street had been due for completion by the 200th house at Masterton.

“These works have proven technically challenging in a number of areas to progress, and it is unfortunate the project has taken longer than we had anticipated to complete,” he said.

“However, I am delighted to be able to confirm that our works will be completed by end of March.

“We would like to take this opportunity to advise local residents that despite the completion of the bridge, unfortunately, the road cannot to be used until the adjacent site works are completed by the developer involved and we are unable to comment on their timescales.”

Fife Council’s transportation development management’s lead officer, Mark Barrett, admitted there had been delays.

“The road crosses the Pinkerton Burn, which will link the two parts of McDonald Street, Masterton Park, Dunfermline,” he said.

“The road link should have been in place prior to occupation of the 200th house within Area R3. However, it’s now programmed for completion by Taylor Wimpey by the end of this month. 

“This is a couple of years after the actual occupation of the 200th house but the road crossing of the Pinkerton Burn presented technical challenges for Fife Council during the approval process and its construction has presented challenges for Taylor Wimpey.”