Issue 72 November 2018

SALINE & DISTRICT HERITAGE SOCIETY

On 11 November, to remember the end of World War 1, the museum will be open to coincide with the Remembrance Service at the war memorial. Tina will have on display copies of her book The Men behind Saline Cenotaph, her account of the men who went to war, a considerable number of whom never returned.

Tina will follow this up with a talk during our next speaker event on Wednesday 21 November, 7.00pm for 7.30pm, in the Church Hall. Everyone welcome.

Saline School children have been helping us to illustrate our forthcoming Community Orchard walk leaflet by creating a number of wonderful drawings. We are delighted with them and it will be really hard to choose one, so thank you P5/6 and P6/7.

SALINE PRIMARY SCHOOL

We are back and refreshed following the October break or ‘Tattie Holiday’ as it may be known to some! Term 2 certainly looks to be as busy as usual with lots of things going on in and around the school. The nursery have started their Forest Walks with the children and staff from Inzievar Primary and the pupils in the school are continuing to work towards their Natural Connections and John Muir awards. The older children are continuing to clear the land opposite the shop as part of their Conservation element of the John Muir award, but no decision has been made from Fife Council yet on what will happen with the land in the long term. We are still hopeful!

Local resident Richard Smith joined P5/6 on a Fungi walk around Saline recently which was both informative and was thoroughly enjoyed by the staff and pupils. Thank you, Richard, for taking time to share your knowledge and expertise. The creative juices have also been flowing with local artists Clare Hebbert and Ian Holmes-Lewis working with pupils, staff and parent/carers on some lanterns as part of the community fireworks event. The results were fantastic and images of the workshops and the lanterns can be viewed on our school Twitter page @SalinePS – have a look!

Our after-school clubs have started with Enjoy-a-Ball offering sessions in our school hall on a Monday. These sessions are open to children aged 4-9 and they don’t need to attend Saline Primary School. If you would like further information, please contact our school office.

Next week sees the start of our pupil voice groups for this session where we will be focussing on becoming a Plastic Free school for single use plastic, Enterprise activities to develop skills for learning, life and work, a wellbeing group to look at how we can improve our school environment for good mental health and wellbeing, and a charity group to support those less fortunate than us and good causes. If you would be interested in supporting any of these groups in any way, please get in touch.

Finally, the P5-7 pupils are learning about the sacrifices made during WW1 and researching the involvement of family members and local residents. We would welcome any input that you may have (pictures, stories etc) and you could find yourself invited along to their annual tea dance!

December will see dates released for our P1-3 Nativity and we would welcome local residents that might like to come along so look out for further details.

Mrs Perkins

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.

OCTOBER COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT

A slightly smaller number of people than usual ventured out on cold, damp October evening only to find that the heating wasn’t working in the Community Centre.

AGM

The normal Community Council business was preceded by a short AGM to confirm the new Community Councillors in post and to elect officers. David Chisholm, Jim Currie, Donald Murdoch and Marie Crane were all reappointed to the posts of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Irene Wardell and Jean Morris also continue to serve and are joined by newly-elected Community Councillors Ann Killian, Alastair Hamilton and Ken Wcislo. Morag Aitken and Muriel Philips have stepped down and were thanked for their service to the community. In his opening remarks, David expressed his pleasure that unlike some Community Councils that struggle to attract members, Saline and Steelend has been able to fill nine out of ten of its places and continues to have monthly meetings that are regularly attended by 20-30 people. One place remains unfilled and David emphasised that the responsibilities of a Community Councillor are not especially onerous. He encouraged others to come forward for election or co-option. The open meetings, to which anyone can bring their concerns and ideas, complemented by the Community Bulletin, Village Website and Facebook page, ensure that the Community Council can confidently represent the views of local people.

Jane Roxburgh

People were saddened to learn of the passing of Jane Roxburgh, who had served the community for very many years. Whether it was the Scouts and Guides, the Church or the Heritage Society, of which she was a founding member, she gave her all. She will be much missed, and the meeting expressed its condolences to her children and other family members.

Street Naming & Seats

The meeting was very pleased to learn that Fife Council has waived its normal rules and accepted the Community Council’s suggestion that the cul-de-sac in the proposed new housing development behind The Glebe should be named (Jim) Hensman Place, in memory of our long-serving community stalwart. David also reported that Allanwater would be supporting an unveiling ceremony in its Views development on completion of John Crane Close in the New Year. Gareth Turner is completing the manufacture of three wooden benches to be placed around the village, part of the Development Trust’s Friends and Neighbours initiative, which would commemorate both John and Jim and also Bill Philips, longstanding member of the Horticultural Society.

North Road Play Park

The technical issues that had impeded progress on the new play park have been resolved. Fife Council have accepted the structural solution put forward by the engineer advising the group and the contractor will be back on site shortly. Nicola Smith and her Play Park Group colleagues were praised for their persistence.

Fireworks

Arrangements for the villages’ Firework Display at the Golf Club have been finalised. Generous donations from Bandrum Residential Home, Knockhill Circuit, Shieldbank Coffee Shop, Campion Homes and Kingdom Housing, added to the grant from Fife Council and money from raffle ticket sales, have ensured that the cost of the event is fully covered. Any profit from the event will be channelled into a fund to support future community events. There was consternation that Fife Council and Zurich have insisted that the Community Council take out additional firework cover for the public liability insurance we already have, at a cost of £174, despite the fact that the company providing the fireworks has complete responsibility for this element of the event and £10m of insurance cover in place for any single event.

Blair House Open Cast

The contract for this work is out for tender. Once the tenders have been checked for compliance, community representatives will be involved in the selection of the contractor.

South West Community Plan

David reported on his participation in the recent Fife Council visioning workshop for south west Fife. It had been very worthwhile and had a provided an opportunity for each community to consider its strengths and weaknesses and to consider the investment needed to bring about social and economic sustainability for the area as a whole. Tourism is seen as a key component in this wider strategy. Our immediate area scores well on residential amenity, and is rich in history and heritage, but lacks the services and facilities that visitors expect.

Saline Community Centre

Lisa Duncan, the person looking to establish a community pharmacy in Saline Community Centre, has obtained an offer of a lease on part of the building from Fife Council that will allow her to make a first stage submission to the Health Board. Many people now see how this might act as a catalyst for further investment to meet wider health and social needs, for example accommodation for a satellite surgery, alternative therapies, hairdressing, crèche, café, etc but the legal and financial mechanism for achieving this has still to be identified. If the community had a long term interest in the management/ownership of the building, it could obtain substantial funding to carry out repairs and adaptations to make the building more accessible and attractive, which Fife Council is unable to do. However, the Development Trust is reluctant to proceed to the second stage of the asset transfer process without being sure of the viability of the project and having a convincing business plan in place. The possibility of some form of partnership with the Council is being explored.

Roads and Traffic

Residents continue to be concerned about road safety on the stretch of Oakley Road between the two new housing developments. There have been reports of young children running out across the road from the occupied homes. There is scepticism that warning signs and traditional speed bumps will be effective. A more radical, but expensive approach, would be to create a single shared surface incorporating the pavements and carriageway, on which pedestrians have priority. Such approaches are commonplace in continental Europe and are increasingly popular in other parts of the UK. Varying patterns of material and colour of the surface induce feelings of uncertainty in drivers and slow vehicles down.

People were pleased to note that following the resurfacing of the West Road there had been no reports of vehicles going off at the bends just beyond the village. On a more positive note, Cllr Bobby Clelland was able to report that although the road up to Saline Cemetery is not in Council ownership, money has been found to repair it.

Act of Remembrance

It was agreed that Jean Morris would lay a wreath on behalf of the Community Council at the Act of Remembrance on 11 November at 11.00am. Irene Wardell is participating in the nation-wide bell tolling between 10.30am and 11.00am and others are being encouraged to join her. Beth Shaw reported that her husband will be the solo piper at 6.00am at Saline war memorial, as part of another nation-wide act of remembrance. After discussion it was agreed that the Community Council would pay for poppies to be laid on the graves of Saline’s war dead in the Old Cemetery. Jacquie Clapperton will coordinate this after the service at the war memorial, and tea and coffee in the Church Hall.

David also reported an invitation from Fife Council for one person to represent Saline and Steelend at a World War 1 Commemoration at Dunfermline Abbey Church at 4.00pm on Friday 9 November, followed by a Civic Reception at the Glen Pavilion. It was felt that this should be someone in the village with connections back to the First World War. Suggestions will be sought from the Heritage Society.

2019 Mini Festival

David reported that two Community Development Trust Arts Sub Group members, Ian Holmes-Lewis and Clare Hebbert, have put forward a proposal for a ‘mini festival’ in late June next year. Its physical focus would be Main Street, and events and activities would be spread between the various buildings along this route. The school could be the venue for a crafts show, the Church could host heritage displays, a revived art and photography show would be held in the Community Centre, bouncy castles and other outdoor play stuff could be on the ‘green’ between Upper Kinneddar and Oaklea, and finally the Golf Club would open its doors to provide food, drink and music, and the opportunity to be transported by tractor and trailer to the top of the golf course hill where tea and cake would be served while visitors enjoy the magnificent 360 degree panoramic views. Floral displays would be placed along both sides of Main Street to create a visual link from bottom to top. A sub-group composed of representatives of potential participating groups and organisations will be convened before Christmas to develop this theme.

(detail from a photo by Derek Robertson)

Street Warden

People at the meeting were concerned that Alan, our street warden, had come in for criticism on Facebook after he had filled more than 50 black bags with dropped leaves but had left some uncollected. It was agreed that Alan does a great job of tidying around both Saline and Steelend, and the last thing we would want is for him to be replaced. David will write to Fife Council to say how much he is valued.

Road Closure

Fife Council has notified the Community Council that a section of Oaklea will be closed 8.00am to 6.00pm between 19 and 30 November to allow work by Scottish Water. Access will be left for residents and emergency service vehicles but others will have to use alternative routes.

Brown Bins

Marie Crane drew attention to Fife Council’s intention to reduce brown bin collections from fortnightly to four-weekly during the winter period. Cllr Bobby Clelland explained that this had been trialed elsewhere in Fife and found to be successful.

116th FIFE SCOUT GROUP

The main event for the Beaver Colony this term is the District Beaver Christmas Party on 24 November in the Abbeyview Community Centre from 2.00 to 5.00pm. Meanwhile, they are continuing with their Challenge Awards and activity badges.

The Cub Pack is involved in the District Carol Service on Sunday 2 December in North Parish Church, Dunfermline, from 2.00pm to 3.00pm. The Cubs are also continuing to work on their awards.

Four Scouts and two Leaders attended the JOTA (Jamboree on the Air) camp at Fordell Firs where they made contact with several other Scouts from Britain and abroad. This activity will count to their World Challenge Award.

The Explorer Unit with somewhat reduced numbers are continuing with their Challenge Awards and forming links with neighbouring units.

All Sections are now planning their Christmas Outings.

Peter Philp, Group Scout Leader

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