The north east Fife area committee departure hearing dealt with three out of four current applications submitted by James Oakden, of Dunbog Farm, for development in and around Dunbog.

Mr Oakden has applied to build a house west of the cottage at Dunbog, three low cost houses east of the Dunbog Farm cottages and a residential steading development of up to 12 houses at Dunbog Farm.

Neighbours have objected to the plans because of concerns over highway safety, flooding, landscape harm, sewerage disposal and the relationship to adjacent houses.

One objector Major Colin Innes, who also spoke at the hearing, told Fife Council there was a blind exit from Dunbog Road on to the A913 road while Dunbog Road itself was extremely narrow and lined by fine trees subject to a tree planning order.

"Thus widening of this road is not an option and we call upon the council to reject the planning applications for further housing at Dunbog on account of the dangerous access road," he said.

Major Innes said the steading development proposal amounted to a small housing estate to which street lighting, car parking and gardens would have to be provided.

"All these applications will destroy for ever the present quiet rural environment of Dunbog and the amenity of the local residents would be downgraded," he added.

Fife Council planning officers had indicated the Dunbog applications could come before the north east Fife area committee as early as August.

Committee chair Councillor Andrew Arbuckle, who also chaired the departure hearing, said he had asked that all the applications be able to be considered at the same meeting.