Travellers miss court appearance

Construction work on boundaries at the site is well under way

Eight travellers have been given a second chance to appear in court before a warrant is issued against them.

Fife Council claimed the four men and four women have breached an interim interdict ordering them not to carry out building work.

An application to turn the land, near Balmullo, into a camp for travellers is being considered by councillors. However, work has already started.

The eight defenders failed to appear at a hearing in Cupar Sheriff Court.

Local anger

Fife Council's solicitor Fraser Munro urged the sheriff to issue a warrant against Peter Brown, Agnes MacDonald, Alex Whyte, Donna Whyte, Peter McPhee, Stephanie McPhee, James Johnstone and Ashleigh Johnstone.

Sheriff George Evans turned down the request and ordered them to appear on 30 January.

He said that if they failed to do so then he would issue a warrant.

Local people have expressed their anger at the site, which is being built before planning consent has been considered.

Scores of residents turned up for a departure hearing at Cupar's County Buildings in December when the application was being considered.

They have accused the authority of not doing enough to prevent the work from continuing.