THE creation of a southern access road serving new homes near the £180 million super campus site in Dunfermline would do “more harm than good”, according to a local environmental group.

The Save the Calais Woods Wildlife group said the planning application submitted to Fife Council for Dunlin Drive would benefit no-one other than residents at the west end of the Shepherd Offshore development site.

Spokesperson Martin Willcocks said they have been keen to raise awareness of the proposals which he fears will affect local wildlife and reduce safety in the area.

“Our group has been campaigning against planning applications in the area to try and safeguard the green networks, the wildlife, pollution risks, safety, different aspects,” he said.

“The current application still involves the Shepherd site but is for a separate application for a southern approach road.

"This comes in from Sandpiper Drive and will go down alongside Calais Wood and to the proposed new homes at the west end of the Shepherd site.

“We feel it will do more harm than good and benefits no-one other than the new houses.

"Basically, it serves the developers as such to build their houses but it will cut off part of the green network.”

Mr Willcocks said the proposals, which have received 123 objection comments, would “compromise buffer zones” around the woodland.

“There appears to be no joined up thinking and they contradict each other.

"They harm what is a valuable recreation area as well as a wildlife site and it is supposed to be a protected ancient woodland,” he added.

“We have also identified quite a few traffic concerns where it exits out onto Sandpiper Drive. It is a blind corner at the moment where it comes out on the the 40 mph speed limit.

“Making another exit onto Sandpiper Drive reduces what is already classed as a safe path and a cycle path.

"A lot of people jog there so making another exit there seems less of a safe route as well as for any pupils coming into the school via woodland areas.”

Anthony Aitken, head of planning for Colliers International, who are acting for Shepherd, said planning permission in principle was given for a southern access road back in 2014.

“We are providing a detail of what had already been planned when we received planning permission in 2014. It is not new. There is more detail on it now,” he explained.

“To access a site of this scale – it is a 100 acre site overall – you need these numbers of access points for vehicles through the council’s own transportation structures so there are safe routes of passage for emergency service vehicles and the like.

“The Calais Wood group regrettably weren’t present when we received planning permission in 2014 but we did further consultation at the beginning of last year and took full account of representations made by them.

“Whilst there is emphasis on the road, the pedestrian and cycleways will be made and these are sustainable transport options.”

As previously reported, the wildlife group have also objected to proposals for other uses on the site.

While they back the addition of the new replacement schools for St Columba's and Woodmill, and the new campus for Fife College, they have concerns about the 225 houses, the proposed 16-pump petrol station and drive-thru coffee shop.

They believe it will lead to environment and ecological damage, more traffic, road safety problems and a rise in littering, pollution, vandalism and flooding.