New care village to replace Fife flats plagued by anti-social behaviour

Fife Council has approved plans for a new care village for elderly people in north-east Fife.

Councillor’s at the North East Fife Area Committee agreed to the change of use for the Mayview site in Anstruther from flats to redevelop the site of a current care home, Ladywalk.

The existing flats have caused conflict in the local community in previous years with complaints over anti-social behaviour and issues with drugs.

The council will demolish four blocks containing 44 flats to make way for the development.

The village will host a care home with 24 residential care spaces, and 12 extra care flats for older people in supported tenancies.

There will also potentially be two specific needs bungalows for tenants with physical disabilities, and hopefully a minimum of 20 properties for general needs tenants.

The development is part of a major regeneration project to transform the area.

David Heaney, divisional general manager (East), Fife Health & Social Care Partnership said: “This model represents a mixed economy of care and is working well in other areas of Fife.

"People can still retain their independence but have access to care staff who can offer appropriate contact and support if required. In effect, it is sheltered accommodation right next to a care home, so the homes are less isolated and the residents are still very much part of their community.”

Independent housing consultants, Arneil Johnson, were appointed in December 2019 to carry out a review of Fife Council’s policy and practice over the last 10 years.

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John Mills head of housing services said, “It is important for us to have clear intelligence as to why popularity and demand for housing at Mayview declined over time, and if housing management policy and practice was a contributing factor to this.

“We absolutely do need to take a ‘lessons learned’ approach going forward with decisions about the future design of housing in the Anstruther area as well as Fife wide.

"We are keen to establish this in the context of assessing housing led regeneration options and the extent to which this can be influenced by proposed investment, housing or neighbourhood management interventions.

“The review of the Mayview flats will be used to build a series of tools to inform future regeneration proposals which seek to find the most effective solution from an investment, customer and community perspective whilst improving the sustainability of housing assets.

"The proposed Anstruther Care Village is an example of regeneration that provides benefits to the local and wider community.

Officers said the existing flats became 'uneconomic' as many within the community did not want to live in the flats due to anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Bill Porteous said it has been a 'life of continued misery for decent tenants' living at Mayview due to the anti-social behaviour, and noted that it was 'ridiculous' this was still happening.

Demolition is estimated within 6 to 8 months.

> Hannah Brown is the Local Democracy Reporter for Fife & Angus

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