Concerns about access and traffic issues were raised during public consultations in 2023, with over 200 objections and no supporting comments recorded on the local Planning Portal. When the planning application for the development was submitted to the North-East Fife Planning Committee in September 2024, it was refused on grounds of road safety and the “proper planning of the area”. Ground Developments Limited now intend to lodge an appeal against the refusal.
Plans to develop an old airfield site outside Crail risk creating a “death-trap” on a narrow local road, the local Community Council has warned. The former Royal Naval Air Station has fallen into disrepair and West-Lothian based Ground Developments Limited want to redevelop it with a mixture of holiday homes, leisure and commercial spaces. But the only access lies along a cul-de-sac which passes through the so-called “Denburn Narrows”, a traffic bottleneck with a narrow pavement next to a high wall.
David Jerdan, chair of Crail Community Council, said: “Most people agree that the old airfield has turned into an eye-sore and something needs to be done with it. But this is not the way. If we get much more traffic passing through the narrows, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets injured or worse. It’s a potential death-trap.”
Sarah Morrison, vice-chair of Crail Community Partnership, added: “Developing the airfield could benefit Crail greatly, but we first need a new access road in line with Fife Council’s own policy on cul-de-sacs. In addition, our Local Place Plan stipulates that no development should be permitted on the site until an alternative to the narrows has been built.”
The Community Council intends to appoint a professional team of a planning consultant, a traffic consultant and a legal advisor to represent them at any appeal and forcefully put forward the policy reasons why planning permission should not be granted. They need £10,000 to cover the costs. Crail Community Partnership is running this funding campaign to support the Community Council's action.
Ground Developments Limited has until the 19th of December to lodge their appeal. There is a very short time period to react to an appeal, so the Community Council is preparing this course of action in advance of the 19th December.
If no appeal is lodged then the donations submitted will be refunded.