A street which neighbours claim is so dark it is dangerous to venture out will get no new lights, Fife Council has insisted.
Since more energy-efficient lighting columns were installed in Cupar’s Newtown, residents have repeatedly complained they feel unsafe going out at night.
When one resident fell ill, it is alleged ambulance staff struggled to make out the door number.
However, in a bid to put an end to the saga the local authority has stated the new white lamps are actually better than the previous orange ones they replaced four years ago, and further expenditure cannot be justified.
Resident Brian Rollo said: “This is just not good enough.
“The street is really dark and we have numerous examples of people not being able to see to walk down the street or visitors being unable to read door numbers.
“It is a safety issue which concerns a lot of people here, not just a few.
“It’s time the council saw the light and realised they made a mistake in 2012.”
North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins said: “It is very disappointing that Fife Council cannot revisit this problem as it is clearly an issue for not just a few residents but a significant number.
“It is not only those who live in the street who have complained to me, but also people living in Upper Dalgairn who walk that way.”
Cupar councillor Karen Marjoram said council officers refused to see the impact the issue was having on residents, many of them elderly.
She said: “They need to take off their blinkers and see that there is a real need.
“I have never experienced, in the past five years, another case where a resolution could not be found.”
Ken Gourlay, the council’s head of assets, transportation and environment, said: “We’re sorry that we can’t get agreement with local residents in Newtown over the street lighting provision.
“It’s not uncommon for residents to respond to a change in the lighting provision and this issue has been raised a number of times now.
“Each time investigations have led to detailed responses being provided to Mr Gethins MP, Cllr Marjoram and others.
“In summary, the street lighting in Newtown meets the requisite standards, there is no specific dark area as alleged and unlike most of Fife’s lighting nowadays, the lighting at this location is not dimmed overnight.
“The council is challenged to achieve reductions in carbon emissions related to lighting infrastructure and to manage our budgets we need to reduce electricity consumption.
“The policy approach is to achieve these aims without compromising community safety and I am satisfied that the policy has been achieved at this location.”
