THE brew-haha over early-morning opening at the new drive-thru Costa Coffee in Dunfermline has finally been resolved after a year of disputes with Fife Council and the Scottish Government.

PVY Ltd, run by businessman Gary Stenhouse, has been told the outlet in the freshly-named Pittsburgh Retail Park on Halbeath’s Main Street can open from 5.30am after all.

Councillors on the central and west planning committee last week were persuaded to allow the request after a new noise assessment concluded that early cuppas would not disturb residents.

Scott Simpson, the planner tasked with assessing the application, said: “The submitted evidence demonstrates that there would be no significant noise impact on Main Street were the approved Costa unit to open from 5.30am.”

The decision brings to an end a dispute that lasted almost 12 months, with PVY stating it was at the behest of Costa to seek permission for earlier trading and deliveries.

It had sought a 5am opening for the unit when planning permission was first applied for last year but councillors who were concerned about noise and light pollution opted to restrict operations to 7am.

PVY’s planning agent, Joe Fitzpatrick, then sought another 5am bid that was also rejected by councillors.

He then took this to the Scottish Government on appeal but a Government reporter rejected the request on the grounds that the noise assessment was not robust enough to reassure planners of the level of noise, or lack thereof, associated with the drive-thru.

A new noise assessment, coupled with the compromise of a 5.30am opening, was enough to persuade council planners and elected members.

The report tested how certain sounds would be picked up by nearby residences, such as voices or radios in cars with windows open, doors opening and closing, and vehicles driving onto the site to make deliveries.

Planners concluded the noise levels were “within acceptable limits” for the time of day and recommended that the committee give the bid the green light.

However, conditions have been attached to ensure the Costa is as quiet as promised – and the other units are still restricted to a 7am opening.