Dunfermline Learning Campus set to see more trees felled

They say it has “become apparent” that tree removal needed to enable the building of the proposed access road at the site on Dunlin Drive is more extensive than envisioned previously.

Planning permission in principle was granted for the Dunfermline Learning Campus in May and enabling works began in September.

It was said previously that an area of 0.816 hectares of woodland would be required to be removed but now the application is asking for an additional 0.353 hectares to be included.

Agent Steven Black, of JLL, on behalf of applicant Fife Council’s education and children’s services directorate, stated: “As further, more detailed, site survey information has become available, it has become apparent that the grading of the road embankment to the immediate east of the north-south link road, which serves the serves the college and school site, will require additional tree clearance to provide an appropriate and safely-graded engineering solution.

“It has been identified that there is considerable variances in actual ground levels and this has necessitated the extension of the area requiring tree clearance.”

The education campus, which will include Fife College as well as St Columba's and Woodmill high schools, will be built at the Shepherd Offshore site off Dunlin Drive by 2024.

It also includes 225 houses and 17 assisted living apartments, a nursery, 90-bed care home, pub/restaurant, drive-thru coffee shop and a 16-pump petrol filling station.

Plans to remove additional trees over and above what was agreed has drawn criticism from Liberal Democrat councillor James Calder.

The Dunfermline South representative said: "Many residents had concerns about the access road at the new school/college site and I shared these concerns.

“Already, a large amount of natural area is being lost, including at the Axis Point site nearby, and Dunfermline's residents are feeling ignored in this whole process.

"We live in a climate emergency and face enormous challenges – so removal of trees should be at a minimum.

"Perhaps if the unnecessary and environmentally-destructive plans to put a new petrol station at this site, next to a school, were removed, removing more trees would be unnecessary.

"There needs to be a change in course and a complete rethink. I fully believe that maintaining more nature around the new schools is something that will enhance wellbeing for pupils and residents alike.”

The application to remove more trees comes follows calls for enforcement action after claims a buffer zone requirement to protect woodland near the new education had been ignored.

The Save the Calais Woods Wildlife group said in October that what should have been a 15-metre strip between any development at the Shepherd Offshore site at Halbeath and the woodland was non-existent in places.

The campaign group also hit out after trees were felled from a site near where the access road is proposed in March. They estimated between 50 and 60 trees were chopped down on land near Dunlin Drive without warning.

When the felled trees were discovered, Forestry Scotland stepped in and told workers to cease work until an investigation was carried out. It has since concluded that Shepherd had not broken the law – but if it fells any more trees it could become liable for prosecution.

JLL have said a total of 2.58 hectares of plantation will remain in the woodland near the access road.

“Substantial” tree-planting and landscaping works are also proposed for the two new high schools and Fife College.