Issue 69 August 2018

Post date: 06-Aug-2018 23:28:05

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MATTERS

In spite of competition from fine weather and the World Cup, there was a reasonable attendance at the June meeting.

John Crane Trophy

David Chisholm reminded the meeting that it was two years since we lost John Crane. John gave a lot to our community and the award was created in his memory. David and Marie Crane were therefore eagerly anticipating attending the end of term event in the school and meeting the recipient of this year's award

North Road Playpark

Nicola Smith advised that work had finally started. This is welcome news and is a tribute to all who have contributed to raising funds and organising some very popular events. The group will now be putting their backs into raising funds to improve the Upper Kinneddar playpark. Hopefully, Fife Council will use their budget commitment to provide the match funding that the group will need to raise. Everyone should also aim to contribute to fund-raising events.

Steelend Playpark

There was also good news for youngsters in Steelend. It now looks like the Steelend Village Community Association has raised or been promised enough money to improve the Steelend playpark. The Association will now be working with children to finalise the plans.

Fireworks Night

A group has been formed to organise the event and met recently to agree a plan of action. Fife Council has awarded a grant towards the cost and thanks are due to our councillors. Nevertheless, more money will be required and hopefully people will give generously to fund-raising activities

South West Fife Community Plan

It looks like quite a lot of people have looked at the displays in Saline Golf Club and Steelend Club, and have posted comments.

Blair House Site Restoration

Plans have been revised to reflect the feedback from the consultation events and the work is ready to go to tender. There will be a fixed price for the works rather than competition and a small group is to be established to shortlist three companies who will be invited to submit their proposals. The tender documents will include the criteria that will be used in judging which company is awarded the contract.

Comrie Colliery

As referred to in the last issue, the Community Council has learned that there is likely to be an application to continue rock extraction on the site for 5-10 years. The Community Council cannot comment until an application is submitted but have drawn Fife Council's attention to current complaints from Kinneddar Park residents of dust being blown over their homes.

West Fife Villages Community Councils Forum

The meeting on 31 May referred to in the June Bulletin agreed that the Forum should continue albeit in a different form with more opportunities for groups and individuals. In the meantime, Tim Collins (Culross Community Council) and Sheila Carrabine (Low Valleyfield Community Council) have been appointed as interim Chair and Treasurer. A new constitution is to be drawn up and it is anticipated that the new Forum will be launched in November.

WILLOW HORSE

Many people expressed concern about the condition of the willow horse at the entrance to Saline, which was seen as a community asset. It has now been removed but, fear not, it will be returned. Saline and Steelend Community Development Trust is exploring the possibility of a permanent sculpture.

SALINE ENTRANCE SIGNS

Several people have remarked on the poor appearance of the village entrance signs. These require a good rub down and coat of preservative to bring them back to their former glory. If anyone is willing to help, please contact the Community Council.

WEST ROAD CLOSURE

A piece of good news is that Fife Council has decided to resurface the part of the B913 between the Drumcapie Plantation access track to the Bandrum access track in response to the concerns about the many vehicles inexplicably leaving the road. Thanks are due to Tom Dodds for constantly flagging up the problem. The works unfortunately require closure of the road, which was due to run from 6 to 10 August. This has now been put back to Monday 20 August until Friday 24 August. The road will be closed each day from 7.00am till 7.00pm. Alternative routes should be signposted via the B913 to the A907 at Gowkhall and then to the A977. No doubt local users will know of quicker alternatives.

116th FIFE SCOUT GROUP

In June the Beaver Colony held their annual summer outing which was to the Museum of Scotland. After travelling by train from Dunfermline to Edinburgh the Beavers walked up to the museum. Following a picnic lunch and a good look round the museum they walked back to the railway station arriving back in Dunfermline very tired but happy.

The Cub Pack have postponed their summer outing to the beginning of September which will be a fun day of various activities at Fordell Firs campsite. At the AGM two Cubs were presented with their Chief Scout’s Silver Award, the highest award in the Cub Section.

Two Scouts from the Scout Troop attended the Satellite Camp of the Blair Atholl International Patrol Jamborette where they had a most rewarding experience. Sad to report four Scouts called off at the last moment.

The Explorer Unit has been very quiet over the holiday period.

On 21 June the Group held its AGM. The main items were Lara Fisher standing down as Secretary and James Muir being duly elected as replacement, fees for the forthcoming year remaining at £20 per term and it was also noted that the Beaver Colony is desperately short of Leaders and is in danger of collapse. At the end of the meeting Lara was thanked for her services and presented with a bouquet of flowers.

Meetings restart on Thu/Fri 16/17 August at the usual times.

Peter Philp

Group Scout Leader

01383 852612

116th Fife Scout Group

Registered Charity Number SC031132

Editor's Note

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.

HIGHLAND DANCING CLASSES

The highland dancing classes in Saline Church Hall resume on Tuesday 21 August, 4.00-5.00/5.30pm, and then Thursday 23 August, 6.30-8.00pm.

New pupils are welcome. Please contact Betty on telephone 852610.

BADMINTON

The badminton groups are struggling for people to attend regularly; one session has already been discontinued as so few people turn up. Where are all the sporty or game for a laugh folks in and around Saline? It’s time to give badminton a go; it's not serious play and previous experience is really unnecessary. Racquets are provided and we meet at Saline Community Centre on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7.45pm. Please contact Betty on telephone 852610.

CARNOCK WOOD’S HUTTERS SELECTED

Over two hundred people attended the Carnock Wood’s Coming Alive event at the Vine Centre in Dunfermline in May.

They came from all over the country to listen to talks about the hut site and the way to get a hut.

There were workshops by eminent architects, planners, builders and philosophers. There was music, an artistic woodland, a café and an adventurous outdoor crèche.

There were stalls manned by the owners of other hut sites and suppliers.

There was even a (non-functioning) compost loo! The highlight was a double-decker bus which shuttled between the Vine Centre and the wood dropping off delegates for their guided tour of the site.

Everyone had a chance to ask questions and to decide if Carnock Wood or some other site was where they would like the chance to build their hut. In the end 41 people applied for the ballot which was held in the office of the Reforesting Scotland auditor on 3 July, using a random number generator. Of the twelve available sites, three went to local people, which will help to build links between the hutters’ group and the local west Fife community. There are also plans to build a school hut or outdoor classroom on the site. Meanwhile, everyone who uses the woods for walking, running and cycling will be able to continue to do so.

The new hutters will be meeting up in early September to meet each other for the first time and start working towards forming a group and signing a lease with Forest Enterprise Scotland which manages the woodland. Much still to do, but a couple of milestones passed!

Donald McPhillimy

carnock@reforestingscotland.org

CHURCH NEWS

A service of Holy Communion will be celebrated on Sunday 23 September at 9.30am and on the previous Wednesday 19 September at 11.30am. The Wednesday morning services continue on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. They are designed mainly for those unable to come on Sundays but all are welcome. Transport can be arranged.

Harvest Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Sunday 7 October at 9.30am. The church will be decorated as usual and a special offering given to an appropriate charity.

The All Age Sunday Club and the Monday Club (for children in P4-P7) will resume after the school begins the new term and details will be advertised.

The Coffee Morning continues every Wednesday from 10.00am-12.00noon and the Craft Group continues to meet every fortnight at 2-4 pm on Tuesdays (August 7 and 21, September 4 and 18). The Church Guild resumes fortnightly meetings on 10 September at 7.30 pm in the Church Hall. The Session starts with a short Communion Service followed by an informal look at the programme for the coming session. The Walking Group continue their fortnightly programme of walks on 11 August.

Special Events

Wednesday 26 September, Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Services. 10.00am-12.00 noon in the Church Hall (donations of all kinds welcome).

Friday 28 September, Quiz Night and Supper, 7.00 pm in the Church Hall (in aid of Church Restoration Fund).

A warm invitation is extended to be part of any of these activities. More information will be found on the church website

www.salineandblairingonechurch.org.uk.

SALINE & DISTRICT RURAL

On Wednesday 5 September at 7:30pm in Saline Community Centre, there will be a Craft Demonstration with Christine Turner. This is an open meeting so all are most welcome.

WEEKLY HEARTFULNESS MEDITATION

AT CHERRY TREE LODGE

Every Wednesday at 7.00pm.

Heartfulness offers a simple and practical approach to meditation and relaxation which is easy to learn and integrate into your daily life. You meditate on your heart. As you tune into your heart through regular meditation, you can find yourself more in touch with your feelings, more compassionate, less judgemental and better able to understand yourself and other people. Your intuitive understanding grows so that your decisions can be guided by a deeper sense of what is really right for you and this in turn can bring about greater confidence.

Sessions are free and are open to anyone interested. Any donations received go to support Heartfulness work.

To reserve your place or for more information, just call Mark on 01383 851059 or 07940 421038.

SALINE & DISTRICT HERITAGE SOCIETY

Plenty of visitors are enjoying our Schools in the District exhibition and we have a display of school photos through the ages so do come in and see if you can put names to faces. We will be taking part in Doors Open Day in September, more information next month.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2018

Fife’s Depute Returning Officer, Linda Bissett, intends to hold the next Community Council elections for the region on Thursday 4 October.

Anyone interested in standing as a candidate for their local Community Council will have to be registered to vote by 10 August, be 16 years or over, and have lived in the community council area you want to stand in for at least a year.

New electors should note that they are not registered to vote simply by completing and returning the recently circulated Household Enquiry Form, as part of the annual canvass, and should go online and register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Community Council elections are held every four years in Fife, giving local people the opportunity to have a voice in their neighbourhoods. This year elections are scheduled for 4 October. Fife currently has 85 active Community Councils out of a potential 105. And Linda Bissett is keen to encourage more people to make a real difference in their local areas.

A Community Council is a voluntary organisation set up by statute by the Local Authority – in this case Fife Council. The local authority is responsible for running the elections and dealing with the notification of election, nomination papers and the results. The Community Council is run by local residents to act on behalf of its area. As the most local tier of elected representation, Community Councils play an important role in local democracy.

GREAT BOOST FOR FIFE VETERANS

Fife Council has strengthened support for the armed forces community after an agreement was made with Fife Sports and Leisure Trust to offer 30% discount to its leisure facilities. Fife Sports and Leisure Trust will now provide a 30% discount on all charges at its facilities for all ex-forces personnel resident in Fife. Those wishing to take up this offer should go to the relevant Fife Sports and Leisure Trust facility reception and complete the Active Concessions form (available at all facilities), previous military service authentication must also be provided, this can be in the form of a Service Certificate or endorsement from a recognised body, eg Veterans First Point (V1P).

EASIER ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN FIFE

A new website to help people searching for social housing in Fife has been launched by Fife Housing Register partners. The site will make it easier for people to find out about the housing options available to them in Fife as well as give some advice to those in different housing situations such as:

• Preparing for a new home

• what you can do if you have too many or too few bedrooms

• dealing with rent arrears

• leaving armed forces

• if you were not born in the UK

The web site also allows you to:

• complete a housing options assessment to see what housing options suit your needs

• to apply to the Fife Housing Register for housing

• access other information on-line that could be relevant

The website can be accessed at www.fifehousingregister.org.uk.

Thank you

We are very grateful to Knockhill Racing Circuit for their sponsorship of this month's Bulletin

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS:

Saline Golf Club

We have free Wi-Fi and BT sports.

Food available Tuesday-Sunday.

Bingo every Tuesday, 7.30pm start.

Quiz night every Thursday, £1 entry.

Rainbows: Every Thursday 5.00pm-6.00pm, Saline Church Hall

Brownies: Every Thursday 6.00pm-7.30pm, Saline Church Hall

116th Fife Scout Group

Beaver Colony: Every Friday, 6.00pm-7.30pm

Cub Pack: Every Thursday, 6.30pm-8.00pm

Scout Troop: Every Thursday, 7.30pm-9.00pm

Explorer Unit: Every Thursday, 7.30pm-9.00pm

Carnock Community Centre, Camps Road, Carnock. Open to both boys & girls

Highland Dancing Classes

Tuesdays 4.00pm-5.00pm

Thursdays 6.30pm-8.00pm

Tel Betty on 852610

Sambangra Drumming Group

Tuesdays, 7.00pm-8.30pm, £2

Steelend Club

Adult Badminton

Mondays 7.45pm

Wednesday 1.30pm and 7.30pm

Saline CC T: 852610

Craft and Chatter

Thursdays 10.00am-12.00noon

Last Friday of month 7.00pm-9.00pm

Shieldbank Coffee Shop

Saline & Blairingone Parish Church

Afternoon Craft Group

Every second Tuesday. Everyone is invited to join with any sewing, knitting or craft - and enjoy the blether! 2pm-4pm, Saline Church Hall.

Shieldbank Riding & Vaulting Club

Telephone: 01383 852874 Website: www.shieldbank.co.uk Also on Facebook.

Riding lessons for children and adults of all ages and stages.

Vaulting (gymnastics on horseback) instruction for 5-20 year olds.

Everyone welcome.

Just call or email to book.

Shieldbank Coffee Shop

Telephone: 01383 852621 Also on Facebook.

Open Tuesdays to Sundays 9.30 am- 6.00 pm.

Craft Group meet here on Thursday mornings 10.00 am until lunchtime.

New: Group for Amateur Photographers meet on Friday evenings at 7.30 pm.

Saline & District Rural

Wednesday 5 September

7:30pm, Community Centre

Craft Demonstration with Christine Turner

Open meeting, all most welcome

Saline Horticultural Flower and Vegetable Show: Sat and Sun Sept 1st and 2nd – doors open 14.00.

This Community Bulletin is produced by Saline and Steelend Communications Group