Frustrated Falkland folk will be pleased to see the back of traffic lights which have delayed travel through the village for the last 10 months.
Preservation and strengthening work has been completed on a steading and gable adjacent to part of a historic wall ripped down by a housing developer to the anger of villagers.
Residents were promised that the traffic lights and scaffolding in the Pleasance would be gone this morning, long after they were supposed to be removed.
Poor weather and legal issues had hampered the work on the barn and byre at Dovecot Farm, leaving traffic reduced to one lane for much longer than anticipated.
Local councillor David MacDiarmid expressed his delight that the work had been completed by Fife Council’s building services.
“I would like to thank the community and road users through Falkland for their perseverance over the last 10 months. The work done by building services is fantastic.
“I’m pretty sure that most people will think the preservation of part of the heritage of the village has been worth the pain and inconvenience.”
Chairman of Falkland Community Council Anthony Garrett was equally pleased that the job was done.
“Fife Council building services team has completed some excellent work to strengthen and preserve the old steadings.”
The scaffolding was erected and lights installed to ensure public safety after Lomond Land, a sister company of Lomond Homes, demolished part of the adjoining wall along the Pleasance last April.
Neighbours tried in vain to stop the company bulldozing the stone structure, reckoned to be over 300 years old.
An order requiring landowner William Mill to repair the steading and gables expired last May, so the council stepped in to carry out the work.
An enforcement notice served by the council on Mr Mill, Lomond Land and Lomond Homes requiring reconstruction of the demolished wall was deemed invalid by a Scottish Government reporter after an appeal by the three parties.
A new consultant appointed by Lomond is to meet community representative shortly to discuss proposals for the wall.