Kinghorn residents want independent survey in concerns over impact of new housing

The concerns come after Croft an Righ, which is located close to the proposed development site, suffered major flooding in August which saw several residents forced to leave their homes.

Months later, some are still waiting to return.

Developer, Gladman, has submitted plans to Fife Council for 140 new homes on land at Mid Mire, to the east of Red Path Brae. The company says it will enhance Kinghorn and tackle the town’s housing shortfall.

However, locals believe more houses will overload the drainage system.

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It is understood the flash floods last August damaged around six ground floor flats in Croft an Righ, with three properties still unoccupied.

One homeowner, who didn’t want to be named, said: “The water was up to my knees and all through my house.

"I had to strip out the floors and get big heaters in to dry everything out. Everything has needed re-done.

"Carpets, rugs, my couch, and a chair were all damaged by sewage water. I am still not back in my property – it is looking like two or three months before I get back in.

"I am really concerned about them building houses so close by on that field. The drainage can’t cope at the moment. The pressure more houses will put on the drainage system really doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Another local said: “We have concerns over the Mid Mire proposal due to the current infrastructure not being sufficient to deal with future flooding issues. If we have more heavy rainfall what impact will new builds have on the drainage system that is already at capacity?

“The system throughout Kinghorn needs to be inspected to ensure future developments will not cause more devastation for families.”

Alan McIlravie, provost of the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn Community Council, said a review of the town’s waterway systems is urgently needed.

He said: “As more and more houses have been built, they have exposed weaknesses in the town’s sewerage and surface water drainage systems.

"We have seen increasing instances of raw sewage on the roads, in gardens and even in houses, caused by the drainage system being unable to cope with heavy or prolonged rain.

"Much of Kinghorn’s drainage system is combined so whenever it is overloaded, sewage pushes back up the toilets into people’s homes as well as in the streets and gardens.

"We are calling on the developer to fund a fully independent survey of the drainage systems so that Scottish Water and Fife Council can determine what work is needed to install new pipes before any discussions about changing the status of the Mid Mire field.”

Ross Speirs, Fife Council service manager, said: "Any planning application for new development requires to be fully considered - this includes the sustainable management of future flood risk. Both SEPA and Fife Council's Flooding Team are consulted by the planning authority to ensure there is no increase likelihood of flooding or flood risk as a result of the development."

Gladman Developments was asked for a comment but has not responded.

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