LOCAL residents in Cardenden have repeated their calls to Fife Council to build social housing on an "eyesore" site in the village.

The old Auchterderran Junior High School, latterly an education resource centre, has been derelict for years and attempts to sell to a private developer have gone nowhere.

Cardenden Community Council want action and said the longer the buildings on site remain empty and disused, the greater the risk of them being targeted by vandals or set on fire.

Secretary David Taylor said: "As far as the council are concerned it's not feasible to do anything with the site and they're trying to sell it for private housing but I don't think there's been much interest.

"We don't want it sitting there forever as a derelict site, it's an eyesore and we just want them to do something with it."

Back in 2019 the community council tabled a proposal calling for social housing to be built on the 3.5 acres site and, after their meeting last month, they've raised the issue again with Fife Council.

Mr Taylor added: "The biggest problem is there are two listed buildings on the site and I doubt if a private developer would want to take that on as it makes it more complicated.

"We don't what happened at Viewforth in Kirkcaldy or the Lundin Links Hotel, when an empty building was destroyed by fire, to happen here.

"There's been one or two attempts to damage the Auchterderran Centre with fire and that's the last thing we want."

Before the new Lochgelly High School opened in 1987, secondary education for children from Ballingry, Lochgelly and Cardenden was provided at Auchterderran Junior High School.

The buildings on Woodend Road then became a staff development and resource centre, for the council's education service, but it closed years ago.

Most of the buildings have been demolished with only the two category C listed school buildings and a huge pile of rubble remaining.

The community council suggested they could be converted into bedsits, to accommodate single adults, with one-bed bungalows built in the front section to accommodate couples, while two bedroom flats at the side of the site would suit single parent families.

Mr Taylor explained: "We've got the four affordable housing developments in the village that are almost complete and will make a great difference but what about the Auchterderran Centre?

"It's been empty and derelict for years.

"I'm sure if Fife Council went into partnership with a housing association – and they'd get money from the government – they could do something with it and create a social housing complex.

"We don't want this to drag on forever."

Michael O'Gorman, Fife Council's estates service manager said: "The Fife Housing Partnership has completed a number of developments in the area recently which offer a variety of affordable housing options and tenures.

"These have provided opportunities for existing residents and those who would like to move to the area.

"The Affordable Housing Programme is under regular review and is adjusted to meet demand and availability of sites.

"At this time the site is being offered for sale rather than being immediately allocated to support the programme.

"The council’s selling agents advise that currently there's interest in the site which is being pursued.

"Should that not result in a sale it will remain available for development by the partnership should they re-evaluate demand in the future."