A Fife councillor has called for immediate action to be taken to clean up the former Co-op building in the heart of Kelty.
The former store has lain empty for three or four years and has become infested with pigeons and other vermin.
It is now so over-run with the birds they have sparked a plague of tiny beetles which have started to infest neighbouring homes.
Labour’s Alex Rowley, who represents the Lochs, told The Courier yesterday something had to be done about the problem and fast.
“The most immediate problem at the moment is the building is full of pigeons and goodness knows what kind of other vermin,” he said.
“What’s happening just now is that there is an infestation of what they call an Australian spider beetle. These bugs seem to come from the nests of the birds.
“It’s now affecting houses around about.
“A few people have had environmental health services out to treat their houses to get rid of these wee bugs.
“The bugs are coming from this building because of the amount of waste and vermin.
“Some people don’t even realise they have got an infestation,” he said.
“That infestation is just going to keep getting worse unless they go in and tackle it at source, which is that building.”
He has already written to the local authority’s environmental services team asking them to take a look, and officials have been out to Kelty.
One of the householders affected, Betty Campbell, said last night, “I have had them for about four weeks now.
“Every time you clean them up they just keep coming back.Disgrace”It’s a disgrace and we are sick of it.”
Planning permission was granted to build flats on the site.
However a fresh application was submitted to the local authority, this time for an old folks’ home.
That proposal was rejected and it is understood a third application is about to be put forward, this time for a shop and two flats.
“Enough is enough action needs to be taken immediately to get it cleaned out and these pigeons removed once and for all,” Mr Rowley insisted.
“The pigeons are a nuisance in the area. There are droppings everywhere.Vermin”If the owner is not prepared to get Rentokil, or somebody, out there to actually clear the vermin that are in the building then the council need to do it for them.
“We cannot just wait for another planning application.”
A spokeswoman for the council said, “We can confirm that any concerns raised regarding the structure of the building have been addressed.
“Routine monitoring takes place and fencing has been erected to secure the site.”
As for the insect infestation, Jim Lister, technical officer for pest control with Fife Council said, “Both our environmental health and pest control teams are working together to investigate the recent reports of insects in properties close to the old Co-op building in Cocklaw Street.
“Pest control officers have already started to visit private properties and our environmental health officer will report back later this week on their investigation.
“We will keep Mr Rowley informed directly of the work in hand.”