Developer hits back as Fife villagers react to work starting on new homes

Residents of Ladybank have complained to Fife Council about Raith Developments beginning works without warning last Tuesday morning on a site west of Church Street.

At around 7.30am workmen appeared with diggers and erected fencing around a field popular with dog walkers.

It was to begin ground clearance works for what will eventually be a development of 60 new homes.

Residents who took issue with the sudden commencement of works behind their homes and contacted Fife Council.

Planning permission for 60 homes and a new access road was granted in 2004 to previous site owners Thistle Developments, who went on to build the access road but did not proceed with the houses.

Under Scottish planning legislation, work approved by a planning permit must begin within three years of approval. Officers advised Thistle in 2007 that the creation of the access road satisfied this criteria, meaning the permit remains valid even if the site changes hands.

Raith Developments acquired the site in recent weeks for a reported £2.9 million, according to documents lodged with the Registers of Scotland.

But those living nearby say they are unhappy at the way the company closed off the area without notifying or consulting them.

They also allege that site workers have chased children and dog walkers away using threatening and abusive language.

Pharmacist Ray Kelly, who lives close to the site, said he had spoken with an "aggressive, belligerent" worker when he approached the site on Tuesday.

Together with other villagers, Mr Kelly is considering mounting a legal challenge against Fife Council, arguing that conditions in the area have changed enough since 2004 to merit a fresh application.

He added: “I've lived here ten years and nobody ever told me there was any planning permission.

"My issue isn't the planning permission but that they didn't engage with people.

"People would be a lot more at ease if we were told what was going to be there and were given the opportunity for consultation."

Councillor David MacDiarmid (SNP, Howe of Fife and Tay Coast) said he had been approached by several residents.

He said: “I've never known for an application to sit for so long and for someone to appear out the blue to build these houses.”

"It's not the right sort of behaviour you would expect."

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Gordon Powell, director of Raith Developments, denied claims of aggressive conduct. In turn, he claimed that residents were not treating his staff with respect, taking photographs of them at work, forcing him to inform local police.

He said: "People have been aggressive and we have asked them to leave the site.

"We are more than happy to work with the community and I will always engage with anyone.”

A Fife Council spokeswoman said the building works have planning consent,adding: “A number of enquiries have been made about operations at the site and these are being investigated."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said kit received a report of a man displaying aggressive behaviour at a building site in Ladybank on December 15, and no further action from officers was requested at the time.

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