Police are to put the brakes on off-road bikers causing chaos in Cardenden.
Locals believe it is just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt by motorcyclists speeding through the Den, which is well used by walkers and horseriders.
The Courier was contacted by a concerned man after he read about a police crackdown on bikers on Wemyss Estate this weekend.
Iain Johnston said Cardenden had suffered similar problems for a number of years and residents were constantly calling the police to tell them about the “dangerous morons”.
Mr Johnston, from Ian Rankin Court, which backs onto a bridle path used by the bikes, said: “The pathway is very well used by dog walkers, families, children on bicycles and by horses and is a beautiful walk through the woods, which are populated by a wide range of wild birds, including woodpeckers and owls, as well as deer.
“It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured and there is also damage to wildlife and habitats. The bridle path is only yards from houses and the noise and disruption is horrendous.”
Mr Johnston, who works as a consultant with an international healthcare provider, said the police had been very good at responding to complaints but the riders had proved difficult to catch.
“Word gets about that the police are paying attention, which can some sometimes make a difference, although there are still the hard cases who couldn’t care less about anyone other than themselves,” he said.
“Not only are they speeding on these tracks, they are also using public roads to gain access and we can be sure that none of these people have road tax or insurance, so anyone injured will be left with no recourse whatsoever.
“The sad thing is, there is an off-road motorbike track only a couple of miles away where they have all the necessary facilities and they are bothering no-one.”
He called for firm action to stop the dangerous activity before someone is seriously hurt or habitats irreparably damaged.
“The only way to do so seems to be to hit these people where it hurts: by confiscating their motorbikes,” he said.
Ian Laing, Fife-based wildlife crime officer with Police Scotland, said he would contact Mr Johnston to discuss his concerns.
“I will assess the nature of the problem to see if we need to take action,” he said.
“There is no way we won’t do anything if it’s as bad as he is saying but we will need to work out what a suitable response would be.”
Community police from Leven and Glenrothes will be at Wemyss Estate on Sunday for a day of action against off-roaders there.
They will go armed with a raft of legislation giving them the power to press charges, impose anti-social behaviour orders or confiscate bikes without negotiation.
The move follows countless complaints, as up to 30 bikes at a time tear through the countryside between the A915 Standing Stane Road and Coaltown of Balgonie each weekend, risking the lives of walkers and wildlife.
Fears have also been expressed for the safety of the bikers themselves, as the terrain would be difficult for emergency vehicles to negotiate should there be an accident.