Fife has again fallen victim to the dreaded Carbuncle Awards.
This year’s shortlist includes first-time nominee Leslie and 2009 ”winner” Glenrothes.
Leslie has been threatened with the unwanted accolade for its proximity to Skene Group’s hard rock excavations at Lomond Quarry.
Glenrothes is again in the running because it is ”still abysmal”, according to architecture magazine Urban Realm.
Local resident Graham King, who nominated Glenrothes, said it had not improved since its Carbuncle victory three years ago, despite the town clinching the top Keep Scotland Beautiful award just last month.
He said: ”Mutton dressed as lamb is still mutton.”
Urban Realm editor John Glenday described Leslie as a ”fantastic” place but said the blasting for dolerite rock had to stop.
He said: ”It’s something that is causing concern and I think there’s an opportunity to remedy that.”
Residents who live near the quarry say the explosions send shockwaves through their homes. They have formed an action group and Mr Glenday said he would be willing to get behind their campaign.
”I’d be happy to work with the action group,” he said. ”Pressure could be brought to bear upon Lomond Quarry to rectify it. Leslie is a fantastic wee place. It has a lot going for it, but it could be better.”
Yvonne Duncan from Lomond Quarry Action Group said: ”We welcome any support we can get because for us the blasting is horrific. Anything at all that highlights this is going to be a benefit for us.”
Local MSP Tricia Marwick said: ”I’m fully behind the community and the campaign against the blasting. However, Leslie is more than that and a lot of people in Leslie work really hard to improve their community.
”There are other ways of drawing attention to the campaign other than people from outside nominating the town for a Carbuncle Award.”
She added Glenrothes residents were proud of their town.
Skene Group also excavates sand and gravel at Lomond Quarry, but it is the hard rock blasting which is causing the most concern.
The issue has split opinion in Leslie.
The Courier spoke to local people who supported Skene Group because of the jobs created by the quarry and the company’s financial contribution to local projects.
A spokesman for Skene Group said: ”The Skene Group, which operates the quarry at Leslie, has always taken its responsibility to the local community very seriously.
”About 200 people are employed by the Skene Group in Fife, which makes a significant contribution to the local economy.
”More than £50,000 has already been donated to local organisations and projects including equipment for the school playground, the upgrading of the ball park and the Leslie gala day.”