Campaigners against a massive expansion of Cupar signalled their intent to take the consortium behind the controversial masterplan for the town head on.
The Cupar North Consortium, comprising Persimmon Homes North Scotland, Headon Developments and Vico Properties, has submitted a planning application in principle to Fife Council for 1,480 new homes, with those behind the scheme suggesting it could bring more than 700 jobs to the town.
However, at a public meeting on Monday night, the Campaign Against Cupar North steering group urged anyone with an affinity with Cupar to fight the plans claiming they would rip the heart out of the town.
Gina Logan, a member of the campaign steering group, said they were looking for a minimum of 1,000 objections to get their point across.
“We really need numbers to come out and voice their opposition to this because it’s like creating a whole new town on the edge of Cupar,” she said.
“We want the town centre to develop but in Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline these developments on the outskirts have killed the town centres.
“It’s the scale of the development proposed that’s worrying, and it’s completely out of character.”
Alongside new homes, plans include a retail park, a new primary school, improvements to Bell Baxter High School, business and employment land and land for health services.
A much-mooted relief road has also been promised, although local man Ceri Williams claimed it could take up to 45 years for that to be completed, if ever.
“I can’t find a single reason as to why I would be in favour of Cupar North it just doesn’t tick any boxes,” he said.
“It doesn’t use any brownfield sites, it won’t relieve congestion in the centre of Cupar and it won’t provide 700 jobs.”
Despite opposition, David Wardrop, Cupar North Consortium’s planning consultant, said the fact the application has gone in gives Fife Council the chance to assess the development and allows the general public and statutory consultees to have their say.
He said: “A considerable amount of work has been undertaken to consider and fully understand all of the key aspects relating to the Cupar North development prior to the submission of our planning application and Environmental Impact Assessment to Fife Council.
“The consortium fully respect both objectors and supporters’ rights to respond and have worked hard to ensure that as much information as possible is made available to encourage the public to look through the plans and comment from an informed position.”
Mr Wardrop added that land at Gilliesfauld is “not included” in the application for 1480 units amid fears from campaigners it may have been.