A WEST FIFE eatery could make way for housing after a planning application was given the green light.

Ian and Sheila Wotherspoon, who run the Hideaway in Kingseat Road, had applied for permission in principle for the erection of eight houses with associated access and parking in proposals which would see current buildings demolished.

A total of 15 letters of objection were received from members of the public with concerns raised including road safety due to additional traffic on the roads, loss of privacy and houses not complementing adjacent homes.

However, planning officers recommended approval as the loss of the community facility was considered to be justified and the proposal was considered to be compatible with its surrounds in terms of land use and could be designed to cause no significant detrimental impacts on surrounding residential properties or road safety.

A report to members of Fife Council's central and west area planning committee said the business had been marketed for sale between June 2016 and August 2018 with no interest.

It stated: "In early 2017, the owners noticed a significant drop in the business' turnover so they tried a different marketing approach with a view to increasing the amount of business they were generating by changing the opening hours and the menus, however, there has been no change to the turnover and they advise that the business isn't profitable and that there is no future in the current business without a potential buyer.

"The agent also considers that the loss of the Hideaway would not materially affect the local community as there are a number of alternative venues close by, including the Harvester Restaurant, which is less than half a mile away, and the Fife Leisure Park, which is less than one mile away.

"The leisure park also includes a number of restaurants and there are at least 70 to 80 other food outlets within the Dunfermline area."

Development plans put forward by Taylor Wimpey which would include a community core with a school, community uses, retail and business nearby were also cited as factors likely to affect the business.

The report concluded: "The loss of this community facility is also considered acceptable as the property has been previously marketed for a reasonable time period with no interest shown in the business and there are also alternative similar uses nearby, including the Harvester public house and

restaurant which is located approximately 607 metres to the south-east of Halbeath.

"The loss of this community facility would, therefore, have no significant detrimental impact on the surrounding community."