Concerns have been raised that a new supermarket could increase traffic in and around a busy school area in Dunfermline.

Budget retail chain Lidl recently announced its plan to open a store in Dunfermline on the site of a derelict hotel.

A community consultation was conducted to gauge support for the project and address local concerns.

A newsletter released by Dunfermline South Community Council notes that: “The overall response was positive, and it was agreed that the King Malcolm Hotel site needed to be redeveloped.”

A representative said: “It was a good turnout of people, with a good cross section of the population that came along. Most of them have the same concerns.”

Traffic

Residents raised concerns that traffic could increase in Pitcorthie when the store opens, as customers could try to avoid using the often-busy Aberdour Road.

A SDCC representative said: “You’re not going to come along Aberdour road and sit and wait at the traffic lights if you could cut in at Glen Nevis and come down Birrell Drive. People already use it as a rat run to avoid the traffic lights at the end of Aberdour Road, so we’re just concerned that might increase.”

Lidl said: “From experience with other stores, traffic increases only in the first few weeks after opening.”

SDCC is unconvinced with this response and plans to investigate further.

Another issue raised by residents was the difficulty that parents can experience due to high demand for parking during pick up and drop off times at the nearby Pitreavie Primary School.

Lidl have accepted that people will be able to use the car park for the purpose of dropping kids at school, because it doesn’t tend to coincide with a busy time for store use.

However, there will be automatic number plate recognition cameras to log vehicles which park for more than ninety minutes.

A SDCC representative said: “I think it’s beneficial because if you’ve ever seen Laburnum Road at nine in the morning, it’s an accident waiting to happen, and it has been for several years. Anything that takes parked cars off the road will be of benefit to the community.”

Double yellow lines on Laburnum Road and a proper pedestrian crossing were suggested by residents.

Deliveries

Residents were keen to know how close the delivery bay would be to existing houses, and how often deliveries would be.

Lidl confirmed that there will be one delivery per day, apart from one day per week when there will be two. The delivery lorry will remove waste from the store, meaning that a separate waste management company will not be needed.

Lighting and noise levels

Carpark lights will be turned off when the store isn’t open, apart from security lights at the back of the store. Lidl said that these should not affect nearby houses as they will be pointed downwards.

Acoustic fencing will aim to minimise noise levels from the store.

Timeline

The store is not likely to open until 2027, and is dependant on planning permission being given for the demo.