A potential stumbling block over car parking could yet hinder multi-million-pound plans for a new leisure and cinema complex in Kirkcaldy.
Proposals for the £10 million development on the site of the town’s former swimming pool on Kirkcaldy Esplanade were formally tabled by Mercat Shopping Centre owners LaSalle Investment Management in December, with an ambitious blueprint for a cinema, shops, bars, restaurants and leisure units expected to breathe new life into the town centre.
However, The Courier has learned that talks over car parking has provoked concerns from environmental health officials about the possible noise nuisance that could affect flat owners in the recently-developed Cannon Court block.
No new parking will be provided at the development, according to planning documents, and the intention as it stands is to use the existing Esplanade multi-storey car park and surface level car parks.
However, proposals to extend the multi-storey car park opening times beyond the current 10pm closure to midnight have generated comments from Fife Council’s public protection team.
Tracy Wyllie, environmental health officer, said she was “concerned” about the potential disturbance to occupants of nearby flats and has recommended that the applicants submit a full report examining the potential noise impact.
“This car park presently acts as a buffer for the adjacent residential flatted dwellings and should minimise noise from the proposal,” she said.
“However, at the same time, if patrons are exiting the car park after a late night film, traffic noise may be an issue for the flats.
“Traffic may be noisy both inside, exiting and on the road at the adjacent traffic lights. Residential amenity may be affected, particularly after 11pm.
“This noise issue may not only be restricted to weekends as cinemas often offer midweek deals to entice customers at otherwise quieter days of the week.”
Ms Wyllie added that if levels predicted in any noise survey are unacceptable then it may be necessary to refuse the application altogether.
In response, Bob Evans, a partner at commercial property agents Ryden, said he was “surprised” at the concerns, as use of the multi-storey car park has been a “key part” of discussions for some time.
“We clearly need to agree the potential to extend opening times but multi-storey car parks in urban areas are regularly open until midnight,” he said.
“Volumes of traffic on the local road network could not be controlled and I would not expect the operation of the car park into the evening would cause any impact to residential amenity at this particular location.”
Mr Evans indicated he would ask an appropriately qualified expert to consider the issues raised before committing to a full noise survey.
