Cash-strapped police have issued a shock demand for £6,500 to oversee road safety at a historic funfair.
Fife Council licensing convener Bob Young has accused Police Scotland of risking lives by refusing to help control traffic and allow crowds to enter Links Market in Kirkcaldy unless the bill is paid.
Mr Young told The Courier: “The police are relinquishing their responsibility for the safety of the region’s young people and it is absolutely shocking.”
He said until now officers had policed the area free of charge as part of normal duties.
The quote was revealed this week, just a fortnight before the 700-year-old street fair on the Esplanade is due to open.
A police spokesman said it was obliged by statute to charge for services at commercial events and officers would work with organisers to ensure it was safe.
Mr Young insisted: “This has come out of the blue and they are putting lives at risk.”
He added the council could not afford the “extortionate” bill and would instead have to install a temporary traffic light, a system he described as less than ideal.
“It’s like the police want to put the whole of the Links Market at risk,” Mr Young said.
“The police are supposed to be in charge of the health and safety of the public and to quote £6,500 to police a crossing is just unbelievable.
“We’ve got to this stage of the planning process and suddenly they’re quoting us these kinds of figures. It’s appalling.”
Mr Young added: “You can imagine a crowd of children or young people coming along to see the shows.
“They’re not looking at the traffic, they’re looking at the shows. This is an accident waiting to happen.”
He said any cost to the council would have to be passed on to The Showman’s Guild, which runs the market, something the local authority is loathe to do.
“This will be (chief constable) Stephen House trying to get his budget in order.”
“As a result, we’re being forced into a position of putting temporary lights up,” he said.
“Even if we do that, the kids won’t be looking at the lights. They’ll be so busy looking at the shows they’ll be straight out into the road.
“As it is the market will go ahead, there will be temporary traffic lights instead of police officers to stop cars and help people cross at the bottom of Nicol Street and I’m not so sure it’s a good thing.”
The police spokesman said: “Police Scotland is obliged by statute to provide and charge for police services. It also sets and reviews the charge rates.
“Charge levels are assessed on a case by case basis which provides flexibility to distinguish between different types of events.
“Commercial events, where the organiser, company or organisation may intend to make a profit, will be charged full cost recovery when police services are provided. Police Scotland will work with event organisers to identify opportunities to minimise costs through consideration of alternative solutions, such as private security firms, without compromising the safe and successful running of an event.”cwarrender@thecourier.co.uk