
Alleged Polluted Well In Fifeshire
Yesterday, in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Sheriff Gillespie heard proof in a petition by the County District Committee of the Fife County Council against Lady Malcolm, at present residing in London, proprietrix of Kirkland Farm, Ballingry parish, for authority to close a well on Kirkland Farm, the water having been certified as unfit for domestic use. In the middle of August interim interdict was granted against the using of the water for domestic purposes. Since then petitioners averred that the water had been used by those resident on the farm. Mrs. Harley, resident at the farm, denied having used the water after end of August. They had obtained water for domestic purposes since then from Navity and Flockhouse. The former, however, was now dried up. It took them half an hour to go to Flockhouse, and the journey was through fields and over two walls. Mr. Duthie, sanitary inspector, spoke to Mrs. Harley telling him that she had used this water from the well at the farm, as she said it was the only supply. He warned her against it. The distance to Flockhouse was considerable, and two walls had to be crossed and a marsh, so that in the winter weather it might be impossible to go there. Mr. Paton, the farmer, stated that the occupants in farmhouses were warned against using the water. To close the well would be a great hardship, as they had no other source to water the cattle. A proposal was on foot to bring in a water supply for the schoolhouse at Flockhouse, and were a supply as proposed taken from Navity Hill it would pass the farm, and a splendid supply of water would be available then. His Lordship was inclined to think that the water had been used after interim interdict had been granted. He deprive Mr. Paton of the use of the well for watering his cattle. He continued the case until March to allow of respondent taking steps to substitute a new supply. If no definite steps were taken by that time, then it would be necessary for the Court to put its foot down firm.