SALINE is having to be very patient as it's now five years since a new pharmacy in the village was first proposed.

There's now renewed hope it could finally get the go-ahead after a series of rejections, appeals and delays proved a bitter pill for applicant Lisa Duncan.

Her latest bid was to be determined by the National Appeal Panel but it has, after the best part of a year without a chairperson, only just started working through a backlog of cases.

Lisa admitted the waiting times and hold-ups have been "very frustrating" but said the appointment was a step in the right direction.

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She told the Press: "At the minute we have not been given any timescales on when appeals will be processed but hopefully we’ll know more in the next month or so.

Dunfermline Press: If approved, the new pharmacy will be located within Saline Community Centre. If approved, the new pharmacy will be located within Saline Community Centre. (Image: Newsquest)

"Although frustrating for me it’s even more frustrating for the residents of Saline and Steelend who have supported the pharmacy application from the outset and now have to wait while the appeals process is completed."

Lisa first approached Saline Community Council with the idea in 2019 and received their backing for a community pharmacy.

The idea was to house it in the underused community centre on Main Street and hopefully breathe new life into the facility.

Fife Council granted planning permission two years ago but her initial application to the NHS Fife Pharmacy Practices Committee was refused.

Lisa's appeal was successful in June last year, prompting the chair of the community council, David Chisholm, to say: "It was a real David vs Goliath battle but the little people have prevailed."

However, that joy was shortlived as it was confirmed in September that Dears, who run the nearest pharmacy in Oakley, had appealed against the decision.

It's been a waiting game ever since with no chairperson to oversee the appeal.

A Scottish Government spokesperson confirmed that a new chair had been appointed to the National Appeal Panel and took up the position on March 11.

They added that the panel would work through the appeal cases in chronological order and report the outcome directly to the applicant and relevant health board.