Row over ‘undisclosed political links’ as Fife names street after SNP founder

Cllr Altany Craik (Scottish Labour, Glenrothes West and Kinglassie) said council officers had not provided "full information" justifying the decision to name a street after author Annie S. Swan at a new housing development near Star.

A report presented to the committee in October suggested that Annie Swan Drive be named as such in recognition of the fact the writer and journalist wrote The Gates Of Eden while living in the village.

However, when the decision was reported in the wider press it was pointed out that Ms Swan was also a founding member of the Scottish National Party - a fact that Cllr Craik felt had been overlooked.

SNP founder, prolific author and activist honoured with street name...WHSmith confirms closure of Fife High Street store

He told a meeting of the Glenrothes Area Committee on Wednesday: "There was no reference in the report to the political connections (of Ms Swan).

"It might be something that was discussed but I'm not aware that was the case.

"When information comes to committee it should be full and it should have that (type of information)."

He added: "When it was presented as an author I was more than happy to support it but I didn't pick up on the political connection."

Committee convener Fiona Grant (SNP, Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch) noted that scrutinising "every single detail of every single person's life who might be proposed as a street name" was not always possible.

She added: "Whether it counts as full information is another issue."

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/nord/dm/FFP/V