Residents fighting a Tentsmuir quarry proposal are preparing to step up their campaign.
Villagers in St Michaels are determined to prevent Breedon Aggregates from extracting 60,000 tonnes of sand and gravel a year from Kirkton Wood, south of Tayport.
The phased project would last an estimated 40 years and create three jobs, but locals are concerned about the impact the quarry would have on the Morton Lochs, biodiversity and road safety.
Following a meeting in St Michaels, attended by 55 people, the group has decided to start a petition and seek the advice of a planning consultant on procedural matters.
John Flegg, who organised the meeting, said campaigners would be appointing David Queripel from Montgomery Forgan Associates in Cupar and would be paying for his services out of their own pockets.
”We want to channel the local opposition into planning reasons for why this should be refused. We believe there are really strong planning reasons, and it’s not just a case of the local community doesn’t want it,” said Mr Flegg.
”Nobody wants a quarry in their backyard that’s understandable but sometimes they are necessary. But we believe this quarry is not necessary.
”There are five quarries supplying very similar sand in the immediate vicinity, one of which is mothballed because of lack of demand.”
Mr Flegg said the meeting at St Michaels Inn on Sunday was held to canvass opinion among the local community.
”We’re a small community and a good number of local residents turned up. We would now like to extend the campaign to Tayport, Newport, Balmullo, Dairsie and Leuchars because all of these communities will be affected by lorries going to and from the quarry.
”We feel very strongly that the area around here should be designated for tourism and for its environmental attributes. We feel this is one instance where there is a divergence between what the company wants and the quality of life of local residents and people visiting the area.
”The quarry would be there a very long time not just a couple of years, but 40 years.”
Resident Kenny Irons said Kirkton Wood was a haven for owls, red squirrels and badgers.
Breedon Aggregates have said they intend to plant trees and shrubs to help support local wildlife but Mr Irons said this would not be sufficient.
”We are concerned about the ecological side of this, and the fact it’s so close to Morton Lochs. They are going to be planting towards the end of the 40 years that’s going to be 40 years too late for the badgers, squirrels and owls.”
Mr Irons said there were concerns lorries exiting the quarry would be directed towards the village of St Michaels in order to avoid Tayport.
”The road between Tayport and St Michaels is overused as it is. It’s a bad road. Where I stay a cyclist was hit at the weekend by a driver going too fast. The more slow vehicles there are, the more people tend to get impatient and the more accidents that will happen.”
Tayport Community Council have no objections to the proposal. However, residents in other communities believe they will feel the impact as lorries are diverted away from Tayport.
Breedon Aggregates said they are willing to listen to residents’ concerns. Support services director Bob Gordon said issues raised at a public meeting in Tayport had already been taken on board.
He said: ”Points were raised and we changed the original concept. Now it’s back in public so people can comment on it. We are always open to discussion.”