COUNCILLORS are being driven parking mad by the lack of progress in resolving a long-running problem in Charlestown.

After years of complaints from local residents, funding was put in place last October with Fife Council agreeing to spend £58,500 on creating 16 extra spaces for vehicles at The Cairns.

Cars parked along the semi-circular street have created access issues, making it particularly difficult for larger vehicles, such as emergency vehicles or those delivering online shopping, to get through.

Cllr Brian Goodall said: "We did a great job at committee in agreeing the final bit of funding for this, and we're very grateful to housing for their financial contribution, but it's been an awful long time since the residents had any update on what's happening there and when work might begin."

The South and West Fife area committee was told that transportation services "haven't made any progress due to prioritisation elsewhere in terms of potholes etc".

Area housing manager Claire Mackinlay added: "As far as I'm aware there's not been any progress made with the plans or taking that forward at this point."

At an area committee in October community manager Alastair Mutch said the estimated cost of the 'one-off' solution had risen by £13,000, due to rising material costs, to £58,500.

With no start date in sight, Cllr Goodall said he was "very fearful" the cost would go up again, stating: "We don't have a bottomless pit of money."

A petition calling for something to be done was signed by 28 residents and in February 2022, two options were put forward.

The cheaper proposal, to create 16 parking spaces, was backed by both villagers and councillors.

It had been suggested that residents would have to contribute towards the cost but that was later ruled out with the council now picking up the whole bill.

In October the funding was secured with councillors agreeing a contribution of £36,000 from the area's capital budget.

Housing services put up £22,500.

Cllr Goodall said: "Is there anything we should be doing as an area committee, given that we were the ones that agreed the additional funding for this some time ago now?

"We really should be putting pressure on transportation to make this a priority and if they can't do it what's the alternative? Should we be looking at outsourcing?

"Is there another way to make sure this work happens in a timely fashion? It's certainly not been happening in a timely fashion up to now, it's been years since this issue was first raised.

"With inflation in the construction industry, I dread to think how the price might be increasing day by day."

The committee agreed to note their "disappointment" with the lack of progress and to write to transportation services.