Contractors working on the £4 million Methil active travel scheme walked off on Thursday, as around a dozen people began a day-long protest.
Traffic was halted when protesters holding placards positioned a skeleton on a chair in the road to illustrate their concerns about the impact on local businesses.
They say the demonstrations will continue until officials agree to reinstate the removed roundabout.
Police briefly cleared barriers to allow vehicles through, but the protest resumed once contractors returned to work.
Methil protesters and police (credit: Fife Jammer Locations / Facebook)
Protesters blocked the road and set out traffic cones in front of vehicles. To keep warm, they lit a fire in a metal barrel, which led to a visit from the fire service and a warning about black smoke drifting across the carriageway and creating a hazard for drivers.
The demonstrations began five weeks ago, shortly after work on the active travel scheme started, with what residents say was short notice.
The scheme, which aims to encourage more people to walk, wheel, or cycle rather than using a car, involves widening footpaths and creating a segregated cycleway and footpath.
The cycle and pedestrian path will eventually run the length of Methilhaven Road and Sea Road. The roundabout is also getting replaced by traffic lights.
The protest was called at a public meeting on Wednesday night, as the temporary traffic lights are causing traffic and businesses are losing trade as customers avoid the area.
Methil road closed (credit: Fife Jammer Locations / Facebook)
They fear the situation will continue indefinitely if the traffic lights become permanent.
Graeme Dignan of Toll Auto Services told The Courier: “If they tell us putting it back will take x amount of time, we’ll have to suck it up.
“But at least it will be better for us in the long run. If they say they’re carrying on with the traffic lights, we’ll continue to protest.”
Councillors Tom Adams and Ken Caldwell now agree the roundabout should be rebuilt. They will push for a special meeting of the Levenmouth area committee to discuss the issue in full.
Andrew Latto from Parker’s Auction House declared: “If you won’t answer our question now, you will find out what the people of Methil can achieve without councillors.
“Once we have achieved it, you will have to stand down because that’s what the people will demand. It’s an absolute shambles for a cycle lane nobody wants.
“We have to cause disruption to be heard properly because they’re not representing us properly. We have to take it into our own hands.”
Methil protesters 2 (credit: Fife Jammer Locations / Facebook)
Mr Adams said in response: “I absolutely understand the level of anger that we’re actually making progress.
“Council officers will now take that back and convey that level of anger.
“There are some questions we couldn’t answer tonight because some are technical, but we’ll hopefully get the answers people are looking for.”
Fife Council transportation manager Mark Dewar said traffic lights are safer than roundabouts for pedestrians and cyclists.
“It is our intention to complete the signalisation part first, by the end of November or early December,” he said.
Replacing the roundabout would take until after Christmas to complete.
Plans for Methil’s active travel scheme were approved by councillors in 2024, following the award of Levelling-Up fund cash from the previous UK Government. The money has to either be spent by February or returned to the government.