A last-ditch attempt to halt the demolition of a Fife lifeboat station has been launched.
The Anstruther landmark is facing the axe as part of plans for a new purpose-built station further along the East Shore. The RNLI said the replacement would provide state-of-the-art facilities for the crew and accommodate a newer Shannon class lifeboat which is expected to halve response times.
The new station has been broadly welcomed but many locals are unhappy that the existing lifeboat house – which was built in 1904 – has been earmarked for demolition to make way for car parking.
The issue is expected to come to a head on Wednesday when Fife councillors consider applications for the new lifeboat station and conservation area consent to pull down the current base.
Both have been recommended for approval by planners. However, 38 letters of objection against the demolition have been lodged ahead of next week’s north east planning committee meeting.
Lindsay McKinstray, planning representative on the Royal Burgh of Kilrenny, Anstruther and District Community Council, said it could not support the application amid strong local feeling the existing station should be repurposed.
“There is a viable momentum from the community and the community council that discussions should be held with Fife Council, the RNLI and councillors that would see a waterfront area emerge which benefits all and is an asset to the local and wider community and visiting tourists,” she said.
“From our perspective, there is unequivocal support for the building of the new lifeboat shed and we support the continuation of this without hesitation.
“Ideally and surely a common sense approach could see more thought put into the landscaping and car parking, without rushing ahead with potential demolition of a building which could be another asset and source of income.”
Other locations along the coast were considered for the new station, including another site in Anstruther, Cellardyke, Crail, St Monans, Pittenweem and Methil, but the selected site on Anstruther’s East Shore was the only one which met all of the RNLI’s criteria and would ensure no restrictions when launching.
The proposed car parking to the west of the new station would result in 80 parking spaces in total, including 16 RNLI-only spaces.
A report to committee on Wednesday says the existing lifeboat station would need to remain in use until the replacement is up and running.
Taken in its own right, the application for the new station could have been approved by planning officials under delegated powers as it received fewer than five objections.
However, Wednesday’s committee will consider it alongside the demolition application since the former’s deliverability is dependent on the latter.
