Villagers are fighting proposals to build 76 houses in their community, amid fears about road safety and impact on the local primary school.
Avant Homes wants to build on the north-west edge of Strathkinness, at Nydie Mains Road.
A hearing was held in Strathkinness village hall to examine the case for and against the development before Fife Council decides whether to grant planning permission.
Strathkinness Community Council has objected to the scheme and made its case at the hearing to the council’s north east planning committee.
Chairman Robin Baxter claimed Stirling-based Avant Homes was “prepared to destroy the safe living environment of the site’s immediate neighbours”.
The proposed access road, he said, was too narrow and congested to serve the development safely and the prospect of additional traffic at the crossroads on the northern approach was “not a pleasant thought”.
He said: “At present some 40 village households feed into that intersection.
“Increase that by a further 76 and it increases the risk of accidents in that sector by 200%.”
He also said only a further 18 primary school children living in the new houses would breach Strathkinness Primary School’s capacity at its present roll.
He said: “In essence the village is unlikely to benefit from an increase in population.
“Most new residents will work and shop elsewhere.”
Strathkinness sits between two roads to St Andrews and Mr Baxter said: “We cannot alter the fact that two main thoroughfares bisect the village.
“We cannot alter the behaviour of certain motorists who pay no regard to speed limits or the fact that they are endangering people’s lives.
“However, we can continue to develop the village in such a way with family groups living in relatively secure cul-de-sacs to compensate for being on the direct roads from the north, south, east and west.”
No comment was made by Avant Homes’ agent Geddes Consulting yesterday.
However, it has stated that the principle of residential development of the site was acceptable and that it would help address the shortfall in housing land supply.
It also claimed there would be no significant impact on transportation, local infrastructure, education or landscape.
At the conclusion of the hearing councillors requested further information on various aspects of the development including the potential for flooding and road safety.
It is hoped that the planning application will be considered by the committee in June before a decision is taken later that month by the full council.
