A BID to change two new street names in Townhill has been thrown out despite developers saying they were a "disincentive" to possible house buyers.

Lochay Homes had asked that the chosen Euphemia Street and Wyse Witches Way could be looked at again as they were "not reflective of the modern, high quality development we are looking to deliver".

The streets are part of a new residential development at land north of Kent Street in Dunfermline, close to Townhill Country Park.

In a statement, Lochay Homes said: "It is abundantly clear that the chosen names represent a disincentive to parties looking for a new home in this area, that is not a position we, as the party investing many millions into the site/local area and delivering a range of employment, should be placed in by a process that has failed, to date, to consider the appropriate needs of the development."

Euphemia was chosen to remember Euphemia Sutherland who worked in mining at Townhill and was represented in an exhibition for International Women’s Day in Dunfermline.

Wyse Witches Way was named in remembrance of local women who were accused of withcraft.

The request was considered by members of the City of Dunfermline area committee who decided on Tuesday that the chosen titles should be kept, although there was concern that Townhill Community Council had been misrepresented when the initial decision was taken.

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Fife Council's Chris McMenemy told councillors that the developer believed the street names were "negatively impacting" on their investment.

"The report is not proposing any new street names," he added. "It just asks members to ask if street renaming is necessary."

Dunfermline North councillor Gavin Ellis backed a re-think, raising concerns about the original decision.

He said a former councillor claimed to have spoken to community council representatives, which they denied.

Cllr Auxi Barrera expressed her fears of the names being dropped after speaking to Euphemia's granddaughter.

She added: "It was agreed by council members a few years ago that Euphemia Street and Wyse Witches Way could be used as street names for the new development and nothing has changed regarding the relevance."

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Cllr Barrera continued: "The developer considers these names to be outdated and abstract. Are we discriminating all Euphemias because you believe it is an outdated name?

"We need to respect history, we need to respect women. If a woman doesn't do that, who is going to? Euphemia deserves a street and these wise witches deserve a street. Our job is to make sure that that happens."

Cllr Jean Hall Muir was against a re-think: "This is local history. We live in a free market. If you don't want to buy a house in Wyse Witches Way, that is your prerogative.

"You might not want to buy a house in Woodpecker Way because you got attacked when you were six. That is up to an individual.

"I think we want to live in a society, not just an economy, and I think this would set a terrible precedent if we were to respond to this seemingly small request.

"I think it opens the door for much larger, much more potentially negative impacts down the road."

Cllr Cara Hilton agreed, adding: "We are very poor at recognising the contribution of women in history in Dunfermline and the whole of Scotland. That really needs to change.

"The names were the names selected and these are the names that should be taken forward."

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An amendment to reject the proposed change was successful by a 6-4 vote.

After the meeting, Townhill Community Council chairperson Ronnie Cowan said: "I think irrespective of the names that were put forward, there should have been an appropriate consultation period.

"To make claims that the community council had been involved and to accept that to me is unacceptable. There should have been a proper consensus of opinion from the village regardless of the names that were chosen by Cllr Ian Ferguson.

"It think it is something that the council should learn from. That would be the best outcome of the whole scenario."