A DUNFERMLINE councillor admitted she "hates" cars using the pedestrianised zone on High Street but an extension to the ban on vehicles has not been agreed.

Helen Law said too many motorists are ignoring the traffic restrictions on driving through the town centre and some of those she had pulled up about it had given her "cheek".

She's in favour of more pedestrianisation but insisted that proposals to ban traffic on High Street between noon and 9pm, outlined in the Press last week and criticised by Disabilities Fife, had not yet been approved.

Cllr Law said: "There's a desire in the town to create a buzz about the night-time economy and one of the ideas is outside seating areas, which you can see is being done up and down the country.

"As part of that, we've also been looking at more pedestrianisation, even just to try it at the weekends or over the summer, to see if that helps.

"In the pedestrian zone, I hate cars being on the High Street in general but shops have to get deliveries and disabled people need to get parked."

She added: "Something needs to be done as regards pedestrianisation and there's the possibility to try and make the town more attractive and build up the night-time economy by having pedestrianisation for a longer period.

"Even if it's just for the summer, I think it would be a good thing as I'm very keen for anything that livens up the town, but there are lots of discussions to have first."

Fife Council said there should be NO vehicles present in the pedestrianised zone, which covers part of Pilmuir Street and all of Queen Anne Street, High Street and Guildhall Street, between noon and 3pm, Monday to Saturday.

Vehicles that enter High Street before noon and still there during restricted times can be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

Outwith those times, only commercial vehicles making deliveries and Blue Badge-holders are allowed.

Cllr Law said: "I feel very strongly about it as, even with the noon to 3pm pedestrian zone, people just ignore it and drive through.

"And outwith noon to 3, it should only be for deliveries and the disabled and yet I see cars without a Blue Badge and others taking a short cut through the town centre all the time.

"I've been annoyed and pointed out the restrictions to drivers before and either have been ignored or I just get cheek.

"If wardens are out and about, they will give people tickets but they can't be there all the time."

Last week, Charles Litster, chair of Disabilities Fife, said the proposed traffic ban between noon and 9pm could "disadvantage" disabled and elderly people and make it more difficult for them to access businesses and services in the High Street area.

Dunfermline's new economy adviser, Sunil Varu, has been speaking to the owners of the car park at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre about a deal giving Blue Badge-holders free parking for two months and then for £2 a day thereafter.

Cllr Law confirmed: "We are looking at the possibility of extending the restrictions; it may go to 1pm to give people a bit longer, and we're also talking to the people at the Kingsgate.

"They have really good disabled parking, it's next to the lifts and Shopmobility is there so people can bring equipment to help if it's needed.

"It's all about trying to get the town back on its feet but there's nothing set in stone."