No evidence of drug dealing, drug taking or vandalism was found on a landowner’s estate when councillors went on a fact-finding mission led by Fife Council access team leader Alison Irvine.
The north-east Fife area committee unanimously approved changes to the core path network at Cults, near Cupar.
The committee was told Lord Cochrane of Cults had called for the diversion of a public footpath through his estate, amid claims his roads have been used for drug dealing, drug taking and vandalism.
Lord Cochrane, of Crawford Priory Estate, had complained to Fife Council that a recently-designated core path running in front of his house was an “invasion of his privacy” and was “completely inappropriate”.
He explained he was not against public access through his estate however, he highlighted incidents he said have been reported to the police and Fife Council.
They included:
* Illegal access, with motorbikes using this route as a racetrack
* Access by mini bikes and quad bikes, using both the road and the adjoining verges as racetracks or off-road areas
* Vandalism to properties, including two major fires, one of which set light to the Crawford Priory building
* Roads on the estate being used for drug dealing and drug taking
Updating councillors, Ms Irvine said a site visit had been carried out in January and this had proved “very useful”.
Asked by Howe of Fife councillor David MacDiarmid whether there had been any evidence of drug dealing or anti-social behaviour during the visit, Ms Irvine replied: “There was no evidence of drug dealing in this particular area. We’ve also been told that quad bike and motor bike activity has stopped.”
She concluded: “The overall sufficiency of the core paths plan for Fife would not be affected by the proposed diversion of this core path.
“Access rights and the claimed public right of way would not be blocked by the proposed change to the core paths plan.
“The degree of support from the consultees is sufficient to recommend that the diversion of core path 31 should be approved, provided it is linked to pedestrian improvements by the installation of a large kissing gate on the route of the current core path/public right of way.”
She said Cults Community Council were in favour of the proposed rerouting of the core path so long as it was linked to an improved public right of way.
Cupar councillor Karen Marjoram noted a gate at Clushford Toll had been padlocked shut for years.
Ms Irvine said there was no proposal to open the locked gate but access would be made by making an opening in railings.
It was also confirmed pedestrians could continue using the old right of way, while horses would have to use the redirected core path.