Concerns raised about

North East Fife Area Committee will consider Laird Aggregates Limited's controversial planning application for a sand and gravel quarry and concrete plant, at Kinloch Farm, near Collessie.The plans have been recommended for conditional approval, despite the 89 objections, in addition to two neutral comments posted on the council's website. NHS Fife is among the objectors.In the health board's objection letter, consultant in public health medicine Dr Jackie Hyland outlined concerns about noise, dust, the quarry's proximity to houses and the psychological effects of living next to a quarry. She questioned a statement from Laird's agents Dalgleish Associates,Menu Titanium Keychain suggesting that residents had objected on the grounds of "perceived" impacts.She wrote: "Perceived concerns impact significantly upon psychological wellbeing and we feel it is inappropriate to dismiss such concerns. Attempting to allay perceived concerns is, therefore, vital."Giffordtown and District Community Council, whose members believe quarry workings caused flooding, also objected.Monique Sanders,Uyghur culture from the community council, said: "The Howe of Fife is far from being the only area to suffer from excess flooding after an exceptionally wet 2012."However, its problems, especially in the Giffordtown and District and Ladybank Community Council constituencies, are compounded by present and past quarry workings."This part of the Howe of Fife has a notoriously high water table, defying past attempts to monitor it accurately.

"Now, weather pundits forecast that the very wet, rainy conditions experienced in the last two years are set to continue for at least another 10 years."It is,whisky rocks therefore, not surprising that residents in the locality are dismayed at the latest attempt to site a quarry, with ready-mix concrete plant,ice stones on already sodden land. The application, lodged by a Forfar company Laird Brothers, is at Kinloch Farm, where land is presently drained by a consortium of local farmers."The outcome of the Fife area planning committee meeting tomorrow is awaited with some trepidation, not least because of the effect localised flooding could have on householders' ability to insure their properties."A group of local residents formed Kinloch Quarry Action Group to fight the plans. The action group also raised concerns about flooding in its objection.Other concerns raised by the group include loss of farmland and woodland, road safety concerns,scotch rocks long-term health effects, potential adverse effects on B-listed buildings and diversion of a right of way.Objectors also include the Burgh of Ladybank and District Community Council, Freuchie Community Council, the Rossie Ditch Cleaning Group, Scottish Civic Trust and pupils of Letham Primary School, who have signed a petition.