A BOUNDARY change between Benarty and Lochgelly that was agreed in 2019 will remain in place after a line was drawn under the “controversial” issue at Fife Council’s meeting.
The neighbouring community councils fell out over the border dispute, with both laying claim to Glencraig, but a proposed review was narrowly rejected by councillors 30 votes to 28.
Benarty had said Lochgelly’s request for a change was an “insult to the memory of Willie Clarke” while Lochgelly said a ballot held in Benarty in December 2018 on the subject was “flawed and subject to interference”.
At the full council meeting on Thursday, Labour councillor Judy Hamilton moved for a review and said: “There are still people unhappy with the way the consultation was conducted, that it wasn’t proper or legal.
“A report came to my committee saying it was in favour of boundary change. After that we then received more representations from the public that it was not the boundary they wanted.
“It’s become steeped in controversy.
“I think we need a fair and open review and, whatever the result, everyone will know it’s been done properly and fairly.”
Morag Ferguson, head of legal and democratic services, said: “The consultation was carried out correctly last time although I appreciate there are still some parties who are dissatisfied with the outcome.”
Cllr Rosemary Liewald said the original request to change the boundary had come from a number of groups in Benarty in November 2018 who believed the line was wrong as it “cut in half the village of Glencraig”.
This was then agreed by the housing and communities committee, which Cllr Hamilton convenes, in February 2019.
Cllr Liewald said Glencraig was “never in any way part of Lochgelly” and that a consultation had shown there was a “massive public demand” for the village to remain part of Benarty.
Cllr Lea McClelland added that there was “almost party celebrations when Glencraig was given back to Benarty” and that a review was “absolutely inappropriate”.
The review was rejected by councillors. There were 12 abstentions.
The row has rumbled on for a while and, last year, a letter from Helen Ross, chair of Lochgelly Community Council, to Benarty Community Council said there were “spurious claims” that the boundary had changed.
She added: “The reality, as you know, is that at no point in the intervening years were boundary adjustments made.”
Lochgelly Community Council argued that “at an unknown date Fife Council moved the boundary between these two communities without proper process”.
Ms Ross said they believed that Benarty’s demands for a boundary change were “unreasonable” and that the committee decision in February 2019 had been “rejected” by Benarty Community Council and was therefore never ratified.
In the letter she said: “Please seek approval from your councillors to ensure that Lochgelly’s original boundary is reinstated at as early date as possible.”
John Purdie, the secretary of Benarty Community Council, said the letter had caused “anger” in the community and replied: “Benarty residents, led by the late Willie Clarke, along with Brian Menzies and several community groups, sought to right the wrong of Glencraig being divided between two community councils and campaigned to have the whole of Glencraig within Benarty, gaining unanimous agreement from the housing and community services committee.
“This campaign was based on community, not ‘spurious claims’.
“This high handed approach by Lochgelly Community Council is an insult to the memory of Willie Clarke and the hard work of campaigners who researched the subject and gained public support, including within Lochgelly.
“Glencraig is one village, and that village is within Benarty Community Council.”
Article originally appeared on Central Fife Times and Advertiser
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