Regions plan 'will see Fife lose'

Tory and SNP councillors have clashed over city region boundaries

Some of the most deprived areas of Fife could miss out in the creation of city regions, the Tories have claimed.

There is concern that Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth would fall outside the regions for Dundee and Edinburgh which may result in money going elsewhere.

Conservative councillors have demanded to know where the city region boundaries will be drawn up in Fife.

The SNP said it was for the authority to decide and that no funding would be attached to the newly created regions.

Councillor Roger Guy, Conservative member for Cupar, told the BBC Scotland news website: "It is almost inevitable that government funds will be directed to those city regions. Quite a fair amount of Fife will lie in between.

"That will not be good for areas like Leven and Kirkcaldy and they are the most deprived areas of Fife."

He said his party was not opposed to the principle of city regions, but wanted the ruling coalition to clarify their position.

SNP planning committee chair, Councillor John Beare, responded by saying the Tories were demonstrating their ignorance of the "city regions" plan.

He added: "We in Fife, who are uniquely in Scotland, in two city regions, must propose to the City Region Authorities our boundaries.

"The Tories raise the issue of Levenmouth being in or out of any city region. Levenmouth area committee have indicated, unanimously, that they would wish to be in the Edinburgh city region to ensure that they will benefit form the economic strength of the city region."