A FORMER Fife councillor had called for elected representatives to "not make promises they can't keep" amid an ongoing row over the future disposal of the Inverkeithing High School site.

In a letter to the Press, ex-Labour politician Garry Haldane slammed the SNP's David Barratt after he said he was "absolutely appalled" with a vote by "backstabbing" opposition parties against a proposal which, he says, would have seen them commit to spending cash on new and improved sports facilities in the town.

Mr Haldane said he was dismayed by the comments, stating: "Cllr Barrett is not in any position to say other Cllrs are backstabbing or be 'absolutely appalled' by any decisions from other councillors regardless of which political party they belong to.

"He should never be making promises to anyone that he can not keep and are outwith his control. How up his own backside is he, who does he think he is?" he said.

READ MORE: Fife Council agree six options for future at Inverkeithing

"He is not a naive councillor and to come out with nonsense like that is taking the public for absolute idiots. He knows how the system works. For him to promise for his area is absolutely nonsense. It is something he cannot promise.

Inverkeithing High SchoolInverkeithing High School (Image: Newsquest) "My mum always told me not to promise anything you can not deliver because it makes you look foolish.

"If he has an agenda then let him take it to his own party at Holyrood and see if they will stump up the millions of pounds to build a facility and the millions of pounds needed for its upkeep. Local councils budgets have been continually slashed year upon year by the SNP."

Mr Haldane said he was not against the idea of the provision of a sports hub.

"I believe everyone agrees that facilities, such as swimming pools, need to be built especially, when old facilities have been demolished," he added. "This kind of expense should be coming from the Scottish Government and not local councils."

Responding to the comments, Cllr Barratt accused Mr Haldane of "missing the point".

He said: "What was promised in 2020 was to bring back a paper exploring investment in the existing Inverkeithing High School site.

READ MORE: Inverkeithing United announce design plans for school site

"Further to this, I secured a £1million place holder sum in the capital plan as a political commitment to the project. The same was done for Abbeyview and Templehall Community hubs, with the budgets later increased to £9.5m and £15.3m.

"Funding these kinds of projects from Council resources is not unusual. The backstabbing isn't the failure to find the money but instead to consider spending that money outside of Inverkeithing, backtracking on agreements former Cllr Haldane's colleagues freely entered into.

"It is the consideration of closing another swimming pool without replacing it. More than that, it is the open disregard for Community Councils and community sports groups.

"The motion I moved mirrored a joint letter from six community councils including Inverkeithing, Rosyth and Dunfermline South. The campaign is still growing and other community councils are adding their voice to the call for the Council to develop plans for the Inverkeithing site.

"My motion to Cabinet was about bringing the council back to the original commitment of exploring investment in the existing site. It was about engaging with stakeholders on how we develop ambitious plans and looking creatively about how we fund them, in partnership with organisations like Inverkeithing United.

"And for standing up for these community organisations, former Cllr Haldane responds, "How up his own backside is he, who does he think he is?

READ MORE: Councillors want to keep community use in Inverkeithing

"I can understand why voters rejected him when this mix of personal attacks and ignorance of political and financial realities is his usual level of discourse."

Cllr Barratt said he could not deny that the level of funding required to match community aspirations will be a challenge.

"Last year, the Scottish Government's capital block grant was cut by around £600m, meaning less money for affordable housing, schools, hospitals and other projects," he added.

"Over the last decade, Scotland's block grant has fallen as a percentage of UK government spending. Despite this, local government spending in Scotland has increased by two per cent in real terms compared to an eight per cent fall in English local authorities.

"There is a clear commitment to invest in the existing site, and that's what the council should be exploring."