Issue 25, April 2014

Post date: 03-Apr-2014 00:15:12

There's Gold In Them There Hills!

Exclusive Report

Gold in Saline Burn?

Scotgold Resources Ltd, the company mining for gold in the Trossachs National Park, has stimulated the search for gold in many of Scotland’s rivers and burns. One of the burns investigated has been our own Saline Burn and a surprisingly high level of this precious metal has been located in a stretch of the burn. This actual location will have to remain secret for the time being; the reason for this is that it is unclear who own the mineral rights to this particular section of the burn.

Dr April Fuller, a metallurgist from Stirling University, who has analysed the samples, stated “I am extremely excited about the fantastic amount of gold that these samples revealed”.

Dr Fuller added “The clear indications are that a commercial enterprise may well be viable now testing has proven the sample to be real rather than the so called fool’s gold”.

Peter Hart, the proprietor of Kirklands House in Saline, was asked for his views on these findings. He said "I intend to do some sampling by panning in the burn close to Kirklands. If we have a significant amount of the metal it is possible that I could introduce Gold Panning courses for tourists and locals".

John Crane, the Chair of the Community Council, and who has researched the history of the parish said "I cannot find any direct evidence of gold being found in the district but I have often wondered about the name Golden Grove that describes a small area adjacent to Cowstrandburn. Additionally, it may be significant that in the year 1153 David I granted a charter for the mining of gold in Dunfermline".

Gareth Turner, the Chair of the Saline Development Group and the President of the Horticultural Society said, "The River Black Devon runs through my property and in view of the close proximity of Saline Burn I will certainly be investigating the possibility of panning for gold in my back yard".

Could Saline become the future Gold Capital of Western Europe? Watch this space.

116th Fife Scout Group

Recently the Scout troop enjoyed its first camp of the year at Fordell Firs. Arriving on Friday evening after dark, the first task was to pitch the tents. The weather being windy did not help the novices but all was soon made snug for the night. After a supper of hot dogs and hot chocolate, the Scouts retired to the tents and cosy sleeping bags. In the morning the younger Scouts mastered the art of fir lighting before cooking their own breakfasts over an open fire. The older ones were introduced to methylated spirit stoves on which they cooked their own breakfasts. As this was an introduction to camping, it was all too soon to break camp, kit packed, tents down and camp site made tidy before heading for home.

The Cub Pack not so long ago spent an evening at Fordell Firs where they enjoyed various activities including caving. The evening was rounded off with hot dogs and a drink.

The Group is now actively recruiting members, both boys and girls, for all sections from the age of 6 to 18 years. So if you are interested in fun, games and outdoor activities, this is for you! For times etc, see back page of this Bulletin.

Peter Philp (Group Scout Leader)

Saline and Steelend Community Development Trust

Saline and Steelend Community Development Trust held its first Annual General Meeting on 6 March. Proceedings were overseen by Alan Fowler from Fife Voluntary Action. More than a third of the membership participated in the voting, either in person or by proxy, and the following Trustees were elected:

Gareth Turner

John Crane

David Chisholm

Kay Jackson

Ian Holmes-Lewis

Fiona Aitken

Two further Trustees, Marie Crane and Donald Murdoch, were nominated by the Community Council. Trustees will meet in April to select office-bearers but until then Gareth Turner, David Chisholm and Kay Jackson will continue in the posts of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

The Trust has received confirmation of a grant from the Colton Trust towards its public information boards and seats project, and the outcome of three other applications will be known shortly. Once funding is in place the Trust will work with other village groups to develop and implement the project.

Sadly the dispute between the Forestry Commission and its contractor for the Muirside Estate, which prevented the first stage of the Saline to Oakley path being constructed last October, has not been resolved. However, the Trust has been in touch with the Big Lottery and they remain keen to support the initiative. It is hoped that a way forward can be found. Meanwhile the Trust is representing Saline and Steelend in discussions with other West Fife communities about the planned Kincardine to Kelty path project, within which the Saline to Oakley section is an important element.

Membership of the Trust is open to anyone over the age of sixteen living or working in the Saline and Steelend parish, and is free. Membership meetings are held monthly. If you would like to consider becoming a member please email sscdtmembers@btinternet.com to obtain an application form.

Saline & Steelend Community Council

A well-attended Saline & Steelend Community Council meeting was held on Tuesday 25 March in the Saline community Centre with Cllr Bobby Clelland and Cllr Kate Stewart in attendance. John Crane presided.

Prior to the meeting proper, the Chair invited Linda Moyes, Chair of the Saline & District Heritage Society, to give a short presentation. Linda outlined current activities of the Society. These included the preparation of the museum with a First World War theme, the coach trip to the East Kilbride National Museum of Rural Life and the work being undertaken in the old cemetery. The Chair then invited Joan Featherstone to give an update on the Saline Environmental Group (SEG). Joan said that activities had been low key over the winter months but work had been carried out at the entrance to Saline Glen and planting work had been undertaken at the turning circle and other locations in the village. Joan said that the remaining five members of SEG had met for unofficial meetings and that an open meeting of SEG was to be arranged in the near future. Joan added that the SEG were cooperating closely with the Horticultural and the Heritage Societies. The Chair thanked Linda and Joan for their presentations.

Matters arising included the perceived dangerous Saline to Oakley Road. The letter received back from Fife Council's Transportation Department was discussed. This letter did not see any reason to undertake any specific road safety improvements on this road designated the C19. The meeting concluded that we should ask Fife Council to reconsider their decision. Concerning drainage problems, following our request Fife Council had unblocked the drain in the car park at the turning circle. Their Transport Department also agreed to investigate the water runoff from the field and asked if we could provide the name and address of the landowner. Muriel Phillips agreed to obtain this information and pass it to the Chair. There was no change from last month concerning the rail for the Community Centre steps, i.e. The Centre's caretaker had informed the chair that a requisition to fit a handrail at the entrance of the Community Centre had been raised by Fife Council. We will continue to monitor. Isobel Menzies and Irene Wardell said that they considered that the steps themselves should be remodelled in order to allow safety access. The Chair agreed to take this up with Fife Council but said that this would undoubtedly delay the fitting of a safety rail. As agreed at the last meeting, letters had been sent to the MP and MSP concerning the subsidence on the A823 Hill End to Powmill road. These letters were acknowledged and work to repair the road has commenced. We doubt that the two events are connected. Fife Council have been unable to contact the owner of the property with the overgrown garden. They have decided to clear the vegetation from the footpath and then endeavour to reclaim costs. They have made arrangements for someone from the Parks Department to visit and view the extremely tall leylandii trees located in the garden of the house in question. These are some 20m high. We will continue to monitor.

Cllr Kate Stewart reported that she was fully involved in supporting the parents and children of Crombie Primary School. The options of moving the children to Cairneyhill or Limekilns was still being debated and there were pros and cons on both sides. Kate continued by stating that she was also working with the War Memorial Trust in connection with a memorial at Carnock.

Cllr Bobby Clelland gave an update on the situation with the Blair House Opencast site. He said that the insurance company holding the bond was not cooperating with Fife Council. Fife Council had engaged an Edinburgh lawyer to represent them. The key date was 31 March this year. This was the date when the bond could be called in. Kevin Davidson asked if the bond would be sufficient to restore the area. Cllr Clelland replied that the land would be restored but not necessarily to quite the high standard called for by the conditions that granted the application.

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The Treasurer reported that there was no change to the finances since the last meeting. £2712.71 is currently held but only £470.17 is available to the Community Council with the balance ring-fenced for various projects. The Treasurer stated that at this stage we normally agree donations to the two village galas. Following a discussion Jim Hensman proposed that we donate the normal amount of £150 to each village gala. This was seconded by Dave Quinney. All agreed. The Treasurer said that she would arrange the audit of the account at the end of March.

The Secretary outlined planning applications received since the last meeting. The Secretary informed the meeting that, as stated at the last meeting, she had arranged for officers from Fife Council's Parks Department to visit the West Road Playing Field. It was obvious that the extremely wet conditions had rendered the field unsuitable for any regular sporting activities. The Parks Department officials said that remedial action would be undertaken in warmer weather when the field had dried out to some degree. The Secretary said that she had provided Fife Council with suggested locations for the posters highlighting the prohibition of the consumption of alcohol.

A planning application for a Memorial Garden on Bandrum Hill for the interment of ashes was discussed at length. A number of residents who live close to the site had specifically attended the meeting in connection with this matter. It was the strongly-held view of the meeting that the proposed car park access for cars would create a dangerous situation. The suggestion that people would be advised to drive into the car park from the north would not necessarily happen and it was considered that once a car park were established, people would use the facility for other purposes such as dog walking. It was agreed that the Community Council should formally object to the application.

The planning applications for large turbine at Muirside and Bogside were discussed. The community council had already agreed to object to the Muirside Turbine and a holding request had been submitted for the Bogside turbine. It was agreed that we should now formally object to this 413-foot turbine. It was noted that a Screening Application had been submitted for an 87m turbine on Cult Hill.

It should be noted that members of the public can object or approve of these applications either on line through Fife Direct or by e-mail to development.central@fife.gov.uk or by letter to Enterprise Planning & Protective Services, Kingdom House, Kingdom Avenue, Glenrothes, KY7 5LY. The communications should quote either 13/02440/FULL for Muirside or 14/00102/FULL for Bogside.

A number of people from the Curlin' Ha' Gardens area have complained about a noisy harris hawk that is kept in a local garden shed/aviary. The residents had contacted various authorities on the matter without any success. Cllr Stewart suggested that Sheila Carrabine from Low Valleyfield Community Council had had a similar problem and may be able to help. The Chair agreed to contact Sheila.

The Community Council agreed to write to Fife Council requesting a "No Fly Tipping" notice for the garage area of Curlin' Ha' Gardens.

A discussion on the annual bonfire and firework display was held. We had, for the last year or so, asked for volunteers to take over the organisation of this event but we have had no takers. Peter Ball said that as the numbers of school children had dwindled over the years and people were attracted to the larger Dunfermline firework display our village event had run its course. Jane Shaw said that the event was a waste of money and the noise of the fireworks upset people's pets. Joan Featherstone reminded the meeting that it had been well publicised that the community council would not be undertaking the organisation of this event and a deadline of 31 March 2014 had been set for new volunteers to come forward. It was the general opinion of the meeting that we should announce that The Community Council will not be organising the bonfire and firework event this coming year or in any future year.

The next meeting of the Community Council will held on 29 April 2014. All will receive a warm welcome.

NB

The Editor reserves the right to refuse, edit or factually correct all items submitted for publication. All views expressed in this Bulletin are purely those of the author of the item concerned and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Communications Group as a whole.