The results of a £100,000 traffic study are due out this month, but community councillor Ed Cook has expressed his fear that the survey could turn out to be "just another paper exercise".

However, Fife Council has assured motorists that the report will provide detailed proposals to alleviate the situation, with a view to revamping the notorious war memorial junction.

Mr Cook said: "Regardless of yet another survey into Cupar's traffic and parking problems, the community council has registered its increasing concern at the lack of progress in getting this major problem under control.

"I am aware that the report is due out in the near future, but in the last few years there has been little evidence that significant progress has been made in this respect.

"This is not the first time a survey has been carried out, and there is no guarantee the latest one will effectively address the concerns of the townspeople — or that it won't lead to yet another expensive in-depth study."

The war memorial junction is one of Cupar's congestion hot-spots, and Fife Council's Dave Frew said this area would be the focus of proposals to be released in the coming weeks.

Mr Frew, of the transport planning and development management team, said: "A preliminary design proposal is being produced to revamp the St Catherine Street and war memorial junction to make it more efficient.

"This will be available to local council members and the community council for consultation by December.

"A detailed design proposal of this technical scheme will be made available to the wider public some time in the new year."

However, Mr Cook said there were "several areas" in need of improvement, including Crossgate, where he says congestion caused by the bus stops and parking bays could prevent emergency vehicles getting through.

He added: "I am aware that local businesses are concerned that if parking arrangements on Crossgate are changed, preventing customers from parking outside their premises, their businesses will suffer.

"I do understand this, but based on that reasoning no-one would shop in Dundee or Edinburgh, where this sort of parking is not available.

"There are car parks in Cupar only a few minutes' walk from the shops - a lack of parking on Crossgate wouldn't cause me to drive to another town."

The community council has discussed the possibility of undertaking a survey to enable local people to have their say on the congestion problem.

A decision will be made following the publication of Fife Council's report.