Greens lament very ‘Lidl’ concern for saving our trees
Fife Greens have criticised Lidl’s decision to include the removal of more than 20 long standing trees in their proposals for a site in South Dunfermline. At a public consultation event in Pitcorthie on August 15th, members of the community quizzed Lidl PR and Planning staff on their plans to build a store on the site of the former King Malcolm Hotel.
The now abandoned hotel has sat derelict and fenced off since 2020, with no possibility of reopening. Security has been increased several times as problems with repeat intruders led to vandalism and fire raising. The Fife branch of the Scottish Greens were pleased to hear of plans for the site that would improve area safety, provide dozens of jobs and serve the community however, it quickly became clear Lidl didn’t much care for the surrounding environment they have deemed must make way for their plans to progress.
Ryan Blackadder of the Scottish Greens attended the event and raised the need to protect the trees on Laburnum Road as a priority. Disappointingly Lidl officials confirmed they had full intention to remove all trees on Laburnum Road and Queensferry Road for aesthetic purposes whilst Category A listed Trees on the Pitcorthie Road to the rear of the proposed store would remain.
Mr Blackadder said of the decision: “Whilst the demolition of the abandoned King Malcolm Hotel and the benefits of a Lidl store replacing it should be welcomed, the plans are not without fault. The grounds of the site are an overgrown mess and no one disputes Lidl’s need to remove bushes, shrubbery and overgrowth from the site. However, we believe the majority of the 15 trees on Laburnum Road – the entrance way to the Pitcorthie Estate – should remain in place and cause no concern to Lidl’s plans for a huge car park.”
“Residents in attendance raised issues surrounding parking and road safety, proximity to the adjacent Primary School and the expected increase in traffic to the area. Noise and light pollution were also raised and Lidl had suitable answers for them all, but when it came to protecting our trees the answer was an unsettling confirmation that they will make way for aesthetic purposes. 25% of the store’s energy will come from Solar roof panels but this hardly negates the damage of removing upwards of 25 trees which have stood tall for decades.”
“We are delighted the South Dunfermline Community Council are engaging on this matter and we will be writing to the local councillors for support also. If Lidl do decide to progress plans to purchase the site and submit planning proposals to Fife Council, we hope the planning committee apply sense to the application in line with their own 2024 Climate Strategy and the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). It can easily be determined that the store can be erected without needlessly destroying historic trees that provide badly needed environmental value and add all the “aesthetic” our community needs from a Lidl car park.