A West Fifer fears locals are being put at risk from a flooded drainage pond.
Retired police officer Willie McLay voiced his concerns about the “crater” which during this week’s heavy rain has flooded to 7-8ft deep.
He said the problem, off Seafar Drive in Kelty, is “an accident waiting to happen” in an area heavily populated with young families.
And while a legal wrangle over who is responsible for the maintenance of the overflowing pond is worked out, Fife Council leader Alex Rowley said if there is a potential danger to the public the area has to be cordoned off.
Mr McLay was out walking his dogs when he became worried about the rising level of water accumulating in the pond on the housing development built by Lomond Homes Limited, which has since gone into administration.
The SUDs sustainable urban drainage system pond is designed to reduce the potential impact from surface water.
However, Mr McLay dubbed the pond as more like a large reservoir and highly dangerous.
“It’s a massive hole and if this keeps happening is very dangerous.”
Feeling his complaint “had been passed from pillar to post” by several organisations, he asked The Courier to highlight the danger zone so close to many homes.
“It should have a fence around it,” he said. “A child could fall in or even someone’s dog as it has a slippery grass banking all around it.
“It is very dangerous and preventable but it is just being ignored.”
The problem lies in who is ultimately responsible for the large pool of water.
Mr Rowley said he was advised the pond was not the local authority’s responsibility to maintain as it wasn’t included in works added to the list of public roads in 2007 as part of the Lomond Homes development transfer agreement.
He had been told the responsibility for management and maintenance of SUDs ponds is usually passed on to a factor by the developer.
However, what has muddied the water is the fact Lomond Homes Limited went into administration at the start of the year.
He believed responsibility may rest with the administrator.
But a spokesman for the administrator said: “We have never had any involvement with the Kelty site while Lomond Homes has been in administration.”
Mr Rowley said the current standing water level is abnormal and suggested it could be down to a blockage. He has asked for legal options available to the council to have the matter addressed, and for the area to be fenced off in the meantime if there is any risk of accidents.
A Scottish Water spokesman said: “We will look into this matter and discuss with relevant parties.”