A DECISION to allow the removal of a planning condition to provide a road safety plan at the upcoming new Costa Coffee and gym in Dalgety Bay has been described as "disappointing".

Fife Council planning officers said the change was"acceptable" in terms of guidance and development plans and would therefore "not create any significant detrimental road safety issues".

Franchise operator Cuppacoff SC Ltd were given approval by the authority in August to build the dual-purpose, two-storey unit at the Donibristle Retail Park.

As part of the agreement, they were asked to provide the local authority with a traffic management plan, along with the management of the wider site, and to construct a new pedestrian crossing at the junction of the drive-thru entrance and Ridge Way.

However, in November, they applied to remove the condition, saying it was “impossible to implement”.

Architecture Design Limited, agents for Cuppacoff, said that the works required fell outside of land within their client’s demise.

But local councillor David Barratt criticised the company, accusing them of "putting money before public safety".

Dalgety Bay Community Council had proposed a one-way system in the car park and the council’s transport service agreed.

Cllr Barratt told the Press: "It's a disappointing decision but inevitable.

"I don't think that Fife Council could have done anything else.

"However, I'm separately having discussions with the owners of the Gateway to see if I get the changes the community council wants, so it's not a lost cause yet.

"The concern is that the traffic is just going to grow there. The new Asda filling station is coming and B&M so they bring more and more traffic.

"The community council are looking at ways to manage that, including suggesting a one-way system.

"They originally contacted Aldi about implementing a one-way system in their car park which they did.

"There is talk of having a no right turn order at the first junction into Greggs and Dominos too and even a suggestion that there should be a new roundabout."

The council reiterated the conditions of the proposed development after removing the traffic management condition, including the provision of 52 car-parking spaces and 8 cycle spaces.

The Costa outlet will be part of the £4 million Dalgety Bay Gateway development, which is home to Aldi, Domino’s Pizza, Greggs and a number of other businesses.

The drive-thru is to be built with the nearby A921 in mind – seen by transport experts recruited by Cuppacoff as a vital link road to the M90 and other towns in the south of the Kingdom.

The unit will be subdivided on the ground floor, with the gym taking up the entirety of the storey above. An operator for the fitness suite has not been disclosed.