People power prevailed at Fife Council headquarters when campaigners for a Kirkcaldy supermarket were granted their wish.
During a full council meeting on Thursday, councillors approved outline planning permission for a major store and petrol station at the derelict former B&Q site at the Esplanade.
Morrisons have pledged to invest £25 million in the store and create 330 jobs.
Peter Menellis from Kirkcaldy Needs Action Today (KNAT) told The Courier, “It’s excellent. We put up a good fight and at least the people have actually won this time, rather than the councillors.”
The proposal caused controversy because it was contrary to planning guidelines. As an “out of town” development, council officers feared it would have a detrimental impact on the viability and vitality of the town centre.
But despite a recommendation to refuse the proposal, it was backed by the planning committee.
After the council voted 36 to 18 in favour of the supermarket it will now be referred to ministers, who will determine if it is a matter for the Scottish Government to decide.
A key issue was whether or not the store could live side by side with the proposed expansion of Mercat Shopping Centre. Kirkcaldy area committee chairwoman Alice Soper was among those who believed it could.
“We see the town centre development as absolutely vital. We have given the positive view that we would like to see both,” she said.
A study of retail capacity had suggested that mid Fife would only be able to sustain a limited amount of supermarket floor space until 2015.
Neil Crooks argued that by the time the Mercat plans came to fruition there would be enough demand to support both developments.
“Please take it from all of us that is a critical part of the future of our town. If we make the wrong decision today we are condemning a big area of our town to dereliction.”
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Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy councillor George Kay lodged the successful amendment, and was backed by Bill Kay.
George Kay criticised Howe of Fife and Tay Coast councillor Donald Lothian, who had seconded John Beare’s motion to refuse.
“Unlike councillor Lothian, who had to make a special trip to Kirkcaldy to see this site, I have to pass it at least twice a day,” he said. “If I can take issue with what John (Beare) said about it being an unkempt site, it is a bomb site.
“It is something that, as a ward councillor, I am utterly ashamed of, that this is something that exists in my ward. I’m not just welcoming it because it’s £25 million or because of the 330 jobs. I welcome it as a catalyst because that’s exactly what this development is.”
He added that the store was needed because 800 houses had been built in the Seafield area without any nearby facilities.
Mr Beare said the development which had drawn 912 letters of support and 40 letters of objection was contrary to local and national policies.
Administration leader Peter Grant warned town centre businesses could lose trade, and future town centre developments be compromised, if the supermarket went ahead.
“This could significantly undermine the vitality of Kirkcaldy town centre and it might not get another chance.”
Willie Sullivan said town centres were suffering because of out of town retail developments.
“I don’t believe they want to build a supermarket there because they want to do Kirkcaldy a favour. They’re doing it because they want to make money.”