Giant Lego-style bollards installed to deter anti-social behaviour in Fife will be ripped out after a furious backlash.
Outraged Methil residents couldn’t believe their eyes when Fife Council laid more than a dozen concrete blocks in a line outside their homes on Friday.
And they inundated local councillors with complaints, branding them an eyesore.
The blocks cost almost £5,000 to install and the council will spend another £2,000 taking them out again.
Beech Avenue householder Ian Ostler said: “Everybody’s calling them Lego.
“All we need now is for someone to paint them red, yellow and blue.”
He added: “They’ve become a tourist attraction.
“Folk are turning up in cars to get their photos taken with them.”
Methil ‘Lego’ bollards were to deter anti-social behaviour
The bollards were first mooted last June after some residents complained about anti-social behaviour on open ground near Mulberry Crescent, Alder Terrace and Beech Avenue.
A number of people reported youngsters on quad bikes tearing up the grass, as well as illegal dumping.
And it was feared it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt.
Ways of stopping bikes and vans from accessing the area in Methil were suggested during a site meeting, attended by around 20 local people.
Councillors, council officers and police also took part.
But many locals say they didn’t know about the meeting and those who were there claim they didn’t agree to “Lego” blocks.
Meanwhile, rather than deterring motorbikes, some riders see them as a challenge and are simply driving through the gaps between the bollards.
Ian said he and wife Elaine Calley had never been bothered by the bikers.
“Live and let live, I say,” he said. “It used to be a problem here but it’s died right down now.
“It’s certainly not worth the council spending thousands of pounds on.
“Our house faces directly onto these blocks.
“And if anyone in this block wanted to sell their house, the first thing anyone would ask is ‘why have you got those?’ Then they would go away.”
Elaine added: “We never asked for this. None of the residents in this street want them.”
‘It’s been agreed they will be removed’
Levenmouth area convener, Councillor Ken Caldwell, received a number of angry messages in response to a Facebook post about the new measure.
And he pledged to raise the issue at a meeting on Wednesday.
Afterwards, he said: “I am aware that anti-social behaviour is an issue right across Levenmouth.
“On this occasion we have taken account of the community’s concerns regarding the concrete blocks.
“These measures have proven to be ineffective.
“And it has been agreed they will be removed and alternative measures considered to tackle the illegal use of motorbikes and quads and illegal dumping in the area.”
Council looking at other ways to use the blocks
Fife Council’s Levenmouth community manager Dave Paterson confirmed the blocks cost £4,600 to install.
He said: “The area had been plagued by quad bikers for several years and besides the noise nuisance, residents were afraid it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt.
“There was also an issue of vans making access to the site to illegally dump waste material.
“We consulted with residents over what form the barrier would take and had a site visit with locals to discuss the layout and design.”
Mr Paterson said council officers will now look at alternative uses for the blocks.
“Once they are removed we will implement other approaches to tackle the concerns of residents.”
Those will include extra police and council patrols and the use of CCTV.
