One of three potential sites for a controversial seasonal camp for Gypsy Travellers has been ruled out.
The former Fife Council depot at Strathore Road, Thornton, will no longer be considered by planning officers after projected costs were said to be too high.
It now means that the facility is likely to be established at either the Southfield or Eastfield industrial estates in Glenrothes.
The decision to rule out the Strathore site has been taken by a specially-created task group, chaired by the council’s head of housing, John Mills.
He said: “I gave a commitment to keep members updated on progress with the site search for a pilot seasonal site in the Glenrothes area.
“The task group has now reached the stage where we can remove further consideration of the old roads depot site at Strathore Road from our consideration.
“The main reasons for the decision are costs of provision of the site, a consideration of the existing provision for Gypsy Travellers in the Thornton area and the prospect of affordable housing being built on part of the site at a later date.”
Glenrothes has had illegal Traveller camps for years, with last year seeing a number of flashpoints as authorities dealt with the encampments.
Establishing seasonal sites is the council’s response to the ongoing problem, in the hope that Travellers will utilise these and alleviate the concerns of residents, as well as addressing the problem of cleaning up the site afterwards.
The facility would operate between March and November and complement three permanent camps already up and running in Fife.
Although a location remains to be decided, it is understood the council wishes to establish the site away from residential areas.
Councillor Ross Vettraino had concerns about the possibility of the camp being established at Strathore.
He told The Courier: “I’m pleased that good sense has prevailed. The site was not appropriate and that should have been obvious from the very beginning.
“There can be no doubt that the intervention of the community council was critical.”
Given the sensitivities surrounding the issue, Mr Vettraino last month told The Courier that he wished for the any discussions about the planned site to be as open and accountable as possible.
This latest update is seen as part of that process, a move welcomed by Councillor Altany Craik, chairman of the Glenrothes area committee.
“The site search will go on in Glenrothes, as the number of unauthorised encampments are now starting to increase as the Travelling season starts,” he said.
“The council has accepted that the best way forward is to create an alternative to unauthorised camps, so that it does not need to spend scarce council resources on legal and clean-up costs.
“The task group will keep councillors up to speed with progress going forward.”
Meanwhile, the council’s executive spokesperson for housing has re- emphasised the need to establish the seasonal camp as soon as possible.
Hoping to have the facility up and running by the summer, Councillor Judy Hamilton said: “While I fully appreciate local anxieties about the council seeking to provide Gypsy Travellers sites, we work with most encampments by working together in cooperation with Gypsy Travellers.
“I believe it is in all of our interests to provide facilities that will enable council officers and Gypsy Travellers to manage the larger unauthorised encampments better and avoid potential disruption for our residential and business communities.”
Photo by George McLuskie