Drawings presented to the public as part of controversial proposals to move a residential children’s unit to Kirkcaldy are not “detailed plans”, Fife Council has said.
Residents of the Raith Estate have claimed drawings displayed at a recent public meeting are proof the local authority has already decided to move the unit to the former Raith Gates care home.
Previously, a 343-signature petition was submitted to the council. It expressed concern that the proposals were earmarked for approval in a report apparently without consultation
At a recent public meeting attended by Fife Council officials, residents claimed “extensive and detailed” plans were revealed, leading to further concerns the proposed development could be larger than first thought, should it come to fruition.
Alan Ritchie, a local resident, said: “Site plans Fife Council say do not exist were blown to bits at a recent public engagement meeting.
“A resident produced an up-to-date set of extensive and detailed plans showing more of a village development, rather than the two smallish houses they say will be built.
“The council have been found out, rumbled as to what they are really up to and should now show a bit of humility and reveal to the concerned residents actually what they have in mind.”
Mr Ritchie continued: “The anguish and worry this is causing among the residents is becoming very evident with each passing day.
“The Raith Gates site is the wrong location for a looked-after children’s home.”
Fife Council has previously defended its choice of Raith Gates as a candidate site for the new facility, claiming the local surroundings and good transport links would be beneficial for the young people staying there.
The site was identified as the most suitable out of seven areas.
Although Raith Gates would appear to be the only option on the table, Alan Paul, senior manager with Fife Council’s property services team, said the graphics presented at the recent public meeting were not definitive plans.
“A ‘proof of concept’ sketch was produced as part of a feasibility exercise to see whether the proposed residential childcare accommodation could be placed on the site alongside other housing provision,” he said. “It does not represent a specific proposal for additional housing and it was explained as part of the consultation it did not form any part of the proposals on which we were consulting.
“We also confirmed that when proposals for the remainder of the site were developed, we would consult on these too.”