Issue 77 May 2019

Post date: 07-May-2019 15:10:09

COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT

Attendance was slightly down for what turned out to be a productive meeting. David Chisholm started with the sad news of Isobel Menzies' death. Isobel had been one of the first people he had met when he moved here and she showed him her customary welcoming nature. She had served the community well and was one of the longest serving members of the community council. Testimony to the regard that people felt for Isobel was the tremendous attendance at her funeral service.

David also commented on the good turnout at the unveiling of the Rev Downie street nameplate and described it as a lovely event and a happy occasion. The Downie family had travelled from all over Scotland to attend and had been moved by the affection for their parents still shown by the community.

The meeting was pleased to see that Cllr Mino Manekshaw was back in harness following his eye operation.

Blair House Site Restoration

The contractor is now settled on the site and work has started. An exhibition of the final designs will be exhibited shortly. It is disappointing that vandalism continues to be a problem and it is important that information is given to the Police. Remember that vandalism costs eat into the budget for restoring the site.

Mobility Scooter Access to Saline Golf Club

The good news is that Fife Council has agreed to install the ramps requested at last month's meeting.

Pharmacy and Community Centre

176 questionnaires have been submitted and it is hoped that more will be sent. Almost all express support. It seems that some people have been concerned about security but it has been confirmed that the premises will be secure.

Saline and Steelend Community Development Trust has received encouragement to apply for funding of a feasibility study and business plan for the Community Centre. In the meantime, Moray Royles from City Architecture (architect for the new Kingdom homes) is preparing sketch proposals for discussion on how the centre can be developed.

Misbehaving Dogs

Fife Council has been contacted and advised that action can be taken but that clear details of where the problems are and when they occur are needed. The bottom line is that the first step should be to speak to the owners. If that doesn't work the council would need these further details. Importantly, one of the problems has been solved by someone speaking to the owners.

Possible Steelend Housing

A local resident felt that it was desirable that local people were active in identifying how best the area could be developed. That view is shared by the community Council and further discussions are planned.

Traffic

David Chisholm has contacted Michael Matheson, Transport Minister, regarding Fife Council's claim that nothing could be done about the community's suggestions on what could be done to address the many issues as they did not comply with Scottish Government rules. The response from one of Mr Matheson's aides was that, if Fife Council wants to introduce measures such as weight limits, they are perfectly free to do so. This is an issue for other communities and David will raise it with the West Fife Villages Forum.

Concerns have been expressed by Devon Place residents who are encountering problems in safely exiting due to parked vehicles blocking visibility. The possibility of parking restrictions was raised. A lorry parked on Loch Road also appears to be a problem.

Christmas Lights

The possibility of a grant from the Big Lottery is being explored.

Hotel Site

It has been established that HMRC has applied to liquidate the owners and it is anticipated that the site will be sold. That raises the possibility of 3 people looking for a plot getting together to bid for the site. Anyone interested?

Solsgirth

The consultation on the revised proposals for development on the former Solsgirth Mine site was poorly attended. This proposal is actually in Clackmannanshire but it is anticipated that Saline will be used for many needs such as our school and local businesses. This potentially makes these services more viable and might encourage new ones but the problem remains of pressure on limited community facilities.

Comrie Colliery

There was lively discussion about the proposed recycling of demolition waste on the former Comrie Colliery site. There have been a number of objections from the wider area but few from Saline and Steelend despite the Facebook comments.

The consensus view was that restoration of the colliery site was essential but that the objections raise understandable concerns, mainly traffic related. The applicant has now provided further information to Fife Council (available on Fife Direct) that provides more information. It was felt that the concerns could be addressed by strict conditions but that these should be legally binding and enforced. This will be stressed in the Community Council's response to Fife Council.

The condition of the A907 has justifiably caused complaints but is not entirely due to Caledonian Constructions activities. The applicant is committed to installing proper wheel washing facilities while Fife Council is believed to be willing to provide additional roadside drainage to alleviate the regular torrents of water that plague this road.

Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 28 May 2019 at 7.30 in Saline Community Centre. All welcome

JOIN the COMMUNITY

BULLETIN & WEBSITE TEAM

We are looking for 3 villagers who might have some fresh ideas and a little time to support the monthly production of our bulletin and e-bulletin for the Saline and Steelend Community.

Ian Holmes-Lewis (Web Maestro), Jacquie Clapperton (Bulletin Editor) and Mark Baugh (Comms Team Co-ordinator) have been producing the bulletin for the last 7 years and would welcome some additional support in making it happen. To give you an idea of what is involved a description of each role follows.

The web maestro maintains and improves the village website www.salinesteelend.org and uploads the e-bulletin each month and informs subscribers that it is available to read. Our future plans are to professionalise it into an e-zine in the hope that it will attract advertising revenue to contribute towards the costs of our paper bulletin. We need to make it more digitally friendly so it can be read on smart phones and tablets as well as desk top and lap top computers. We would also like to be able to support community groups in posting their own web pages and in maintaining them. Would you like to be involved?

The bulletin editor sends out the call for contributions to all community groups and local organisations every month and magically cuts and pastes it into a thumping good read. It requires an organisational skill under a tight deadline. The draft is offered to the bulletin review panel for proofing and then after any amends it is sent for print where it is picked up by our beloved distribution goblins and delivered to your local friendly distributor who puts it through your door. The editor also deals with and forwards community correspondence and queries that come in through our email address editorsandsbulletin@gmail.com - would you like to be involved?

The team co-ordinator has an interesting strategic overview of the whole process ensuring the right resources (people, financial, equipment) are in place when and if needed to provide a seamless communications platform service to the community. Strategically there is more we would like to do to streamline and enhance our services such as developing e-distribution.

Would you like to be involved? Just give Mark a call on 851059.

SALINE & DISTRICT HERITAGE SOCIETY

Sue Mowatt's talk on Dunfermline Abbey Graveyard was well attended and we learnt that there are actually three graveyards surrounding the Abbey.

Our AGM and final talk is on Wednesday 15th May, 7 for 7.30pm in the Church Hall and is on Manuscripts, Missals and Miscellaneous Rare Books from Dunfermline Library, by Sara Kelly. All welcome. Thanks to Barry Doyle for arranging all these wonderful speakers and we look forward to what he has in store later this year. And thank you everyone for attending our evening talks.

We are looking forward to a busy summer hosting visits to the village, graveyard and, of course, our museum. Keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for museum opening times.

BADMINTON

We welcome new players Monday and Wednesday evenings 7.45pm - 9pm in the Community Centre. We are a happy bunch of players, it is good fun and a great way to keep fit. Contact Linda 07840759384 if you would like to come along.

KIRKLANDS GARDEN

Charity Opening

Kirklands Garden is open again on 26th May from 2.00pm to 5.00pm Entrance: £5.00, accompanied children are free. The 2 - acre garden is spectacular in Spring with bluebells, rhododrendrons, trilliums, fritillaries and meconopsis (blue poppies).

Explore the woodland garden, the terraced walled garden, the bog garden and herbaceous borders. We even have a zany treehouse. Delicious cream teas with homemade scones and jam made from our own strawberries and raspberries are served in the marquee. A large plant stall with plants raised in the garden so you know they’ll survive in our part of Fife! If any village group would like a presence during the opening, either with a stall or leaflets please let us know - we would love you to be involved. We’re always looking for helpers too! Call: 852737 or 07787115477 or e-mail: gill@i-comment360.com.

Check out our Facebook page: Kirklands House and Garden, Saline where we post photos of the garden almost daily. Please come and support good causes. 60% of takings go to the Environmental Group who carry out sterling work around Saline, and Steelend to improve our local environment. 40% goes to Scotland’s Garden Scheme charities (Maggie’s, Perennial, Qnis, NTS)

WEST FIFE ORCHESTRA - INTERESTED?

Mr Douglas Reid from Crossford is looking for help with his ambition to establish an orchestra to play traditional Scottish and Celtic music. This would offer free tuition in a number of instruments should a project develop.

To get things moving, he is looking for volunteers to form a steering group and help with administration and marketing. If you are interested in helping or learning more about his project, he can be contacted by phone at 07539867265.

DUNFERMLINE TO ALLOA RAIL LINE REINSTATEMENT CONSULTATION

John Hosie has been appointed by Mark Ruskell MSP to conduct a listening exercise with communities and confirm their views on the reinstatement of this line for passenger services. Two public meetings have been arranged for 7pm in Kincardine Community Centre on 13 May and in Alloa Town Hall on 20 May. These meetings will be attended by the main stakeholders and decision-makers.

It is vital that the voices of communities feed into this process and that their needs, concerns and aspirations are heard. The second round for bids for cash from the Local Rail Development Fund need to be submitted by 25th June and, consequently, comments are essential if our communities want to access these funds.

While most people see this as a link westwards, it should be remembered that there would be potential to connect to the East Coast main line. Indeed, people seeking the reinstatement of the rail links to Leven and St Andrews have highlighted the importance of the Dunfermline to Alloa line. Please take the opportunity to attend one or both of these meetings to ensure that your views are heard.

If you want further information, John Hosie can be contacted at johngreenrail@yahoo.com

TAIGO STEAMS AHEAD

Cllr Mino Manekshaw reported to the Community Council on his attendance at a presentation by the Coalfield Communities Regeneration Trust. At this meeting, he was told by a senior Taigo executive that the company was committed to the project to manufacture trains at Longannet and that, while the company wished to build trains for HS2, this wasn't a determining factor in their interest in Longannet. We can only hope that many of the skilled jobs will be obtained by local people.

FOOD WASTE BAGS

Fife Council's Area Committee has agreed that food waste bags should be made available from Community Centres. Details have not yet been received on whether charges will be made or when the scheme will start so don't all rush out at once.

STEELEND GALA COMMITTEE

You are invited to two fund raising nights, Ladies Night and Prize Bingo in Steelend Club – see forthcoming events below for details.

Please note, the Gala this year is on Saturday 3rd August and forms are available in the club for the Gala Queen (age 9-15), Princess (4-8) and Page boy (4-8). Names must be in by Sunday 19th May, and will be drawn at prize bingo on 22nd May.

REV DOWNIE WYND

New residents of Rev Downie Wynd may wonder about their street name's origin. The following is Janette McNaught's talk at the recent naming ceremony. It should show why Mr and Mrs Downie and family were held in so much regard by people in this community.

The Reverend Alexander G Downie B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) came to Saline as minister in 1953 and he was a "batchelor" in the sense that he was single. Some of the young ladies in the village were delighted, so much so that when he came home to the manse sometimes there would be a jar of jam and some scones and pancakes on the doorstep! But to no avail Mr Downie only had eyes for his bonnie Jean from Rosehearty, so he married her and brought her back to Saline where they both worked tirelessly for the parish here and in Blairingone. The Downies had three children, Margaret, Sandy who was known as wee Sandy, and Alison. So the manse was a happy lively place to be!

Some of the highlights of Mr Downies life are remembered by people in the village some who were baptised and married by him. He loved the annual church "bazaar" which was held in the Community Centre. He would go round collecting bric-a-brac and home baking in his car for the different stalls and help set things up. He would purchase something from each stall in the afternoon and one year after he had bought a whole load of things he left them on Mrs Downies stall to collect later. When he went back for them they had disappeared. Mrs Downie had sold them again!

The Boys' Brigade company were very much in the forefront of his youthwork - he was their Captain and every year you could be sure that 1st saline BB would win the marching competition because The boys did figure marching every Friday for months! And they usually came top in the scripture exam as well!

Sunday school picnics were always a highlight. Two double-decker buses filled with children and families would set off from the church, streamers flying from every window, to one of the nearby farmer’s fields or Cochrane Park in Alva. Once settled, the minister delighted in comng round with a breadboard filled with lukewarm greasy scotch pies which the children and adults loved until one year some of the mums thought it unhealthy to have the pies - so no more pies!

Sandy Downie was a man of the people for the people and if he were here today he would visit every new home and family to welcome them to the village and wish them a long and happy life here in the Parish.

SALINE HORTICULTURAL SHOW 2019

The schedule for this year’s show is included in this issue of the bulletin (and is available to download as a PDF on the Horticultural Society page), so if you plan to enter and visit the show this year – Sept 7 - 8, which we hope you will, then please keep this copy in a safe place.

This year we have introduced a novice entry under each of the main show sections to encourage new exhibitors. You will find more information about this in the schedule. As has been said many times the committee can arrange the event, organise judges and provide tea and cakes, but we need the community to bring along their exhibits on the day to fill the hall and put on a show.

For 88 years Saline has had a successful annual show, lets make the 89th show a really good one. Looking forward to seeing you and your entries in September

- Gareth Turner.

SALINE GOLF CLUB

Fife Council have agreed to drop the kerb opposite the access slope to the Golf Club and we are very grateful for a £2000 award from Kingdom Housing towards replacing the slope. This means we have the required funds in place and the work will be done as soon as possible, thus enabling our members who arrive by disability scooter to get to the clubhouse safely without going on the public road. Many Thanks.

Golf and Social membership is available- just pop into the club for a form and hand in your details with your payment. Social membership is only £5 until August.

STREET CLEANING

Several people have been in touch with the Community Council regarding a rumour that our highly-regarded Street Cleaner, Alan Pettigrew, is being moved. The Community Council is trying to establish whether this is the case and have asked Cllrs Clelland and Manekshaw to investigate.. Alan is seen by many people as conscientious and hard working, and his deployment elsewhere would be a great blow to our community.

BULLETIN DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED

for the Allanwater & Kingdom Housing Developments

The Saline and Steelend bulletin helps to keep the community “in the know” and depends on the goodwill of over 25 volunteers to get the news to your door. We are asking for someone to volunteer from the new developments who would be willing to contribute less than an hour per month to deliver the bulletin. Interested?

Let Mark know on 01383 851059 or marklbaugh@aol.co.uk

SOCIAL GARDENING

@ Cherry Tree Lodge

Do you enjoy gardening – especially with others? We are looking to offer a regular social gardening space on a Monday morning from 9am until 1pm rounding off with a tasty nourishing lunch.

Tasks might involve maintaining the well-being, art and nature treasure trail we are building, tidying up flower beds, pond management, hedge trimming, log splitting (with a machine), maintaining the fruit garden, fruit tree planting, caring for the greenhouse, strimming…

Cherry Tree Lodge is a retreat centre, set in 7 acres, sitting on the edge of Saline. We are about nourishing mind, body & soil. We host a range of workshops and retreats around well-being, art & nature and you can find our retreat programme at www.cherrytreelodge.net/whatson.htm - take a look.

Interested? Call Mark on 851059 or 07940 421038 or email markandtill@cherrytreelodge.net

SALINE SCHOOL

All the pupils and staff at Saline Primary have returned after the spring break feeling refreshed and ready to tackle a very busy term 4! This term we have our P7s away to Lockerbie Manor on their week long residential experience with Inzievar pupils and P5 away on an overnight stay at Fordell Firs with two days of activities.

The P5-7s are busy learning their lines, creating scenery and learning the songs for their end of term show which is looking to be the best yet! We have also had a team from P5-7 working on a Goblin Kit Car with the valued support from two local residents and engineering experts, Andrew Pryce and Martin Klauz. A huge thank you to them for making this happen.

We are looking for sponsorship for the team to help with clothing if anyone can help please?

Our Junior Leadership Pathway pupils have been busy organising events for our Health activity week and have organised the Race For Life event in partnership with Cancer Research. This will take place at the large pitch beside the cemetery on Thursday 9th May from 1.30pm onwards. Come along and join in the fun!

Our recycling station is going well and we have another large deposit of crisp packets to return to Walkers crisps, a substantial amount of toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes, bottle tops and batteries. Send in your items or drop them off for us to recycle for you! Each class are also taking an empty black bag when we go out on our weekly outdoor sessions and will collect any plastic waste on our way. Last week P2 managed to collect 3 full bags from the field beside the school!

We are also finalising our last few outdoor activities which will see all the pupils from P1-3 achieve their Natural Connections Foundation Level award, P4 achieve their Level 1 Natural Connections Award and P5-7 gain their John Muir Awards. Nearly all of the P5-7 pupils have successfully achieved their Bikeability Level 1 and our P7s have started Level 2 before they move onto High School. Well done everyone!

CHURCH NEWS

Christian Aid Week 12 – 18 May. Christian Aid, along with many other agencies, contributed considerable sums in response to appeals for help in recent emergency situations - but support for long term projects; enabling local projects to improve health, education and living standards, initiated by local people, constitutes the main part of the work.

The work of Christian Aid goes on all year with a special publicity and fund raising effort during a week in May. This year the special focus is on maternity and child health care programmes in Sierra Leone - a country which has been described as the most dangerous place to give birth.

Communities and churches all over the country will be holding special efforts during the week - playing their part in this life saving work. In Saline we will be holding a ‘Christian Aid Day’ on Wednesday 15 May in the Church Hall from 10.00am - 2.00 pm . As well as the usual Refreshments there will be baking, produce, plants and bric-a-brac on sale. Donations of all kinds will be welcome.

Family Fun Day Saturday 25 May. In the Church Hall and grounds. Come and bring your friends and neighbours - special welcome to newcomers to the village - and enjoy a variety of games , bouncy castle, treasure hunt etc. and refreshments.

116th FIFE SCOUT GROUP

The Easter Break meant that the Group held no meeting for three weeks but have now returned for the summer term. The Beaver Colony has still to confirm a new date for the postponed Sleepover. The bug hunt on the last day before the holiday was a huge success but some of the bugs proved to be too swift for the Beavers.

Beavers will be taking part in The Jamboree on The Trail to be held at Lochore Meadows on 18 May (note new date). Planning is now going ahead for a joint trip with the Cub Pack to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on the 8 June. The Cub Pack have trip to Pets at Home on the 2nd May which will earn them the Animal Carer activity badge. For their Jamboree on The Trail they will be heading up Saline Hill on 9th May. They are also looking into an overnight camp in the summer months. The Cubs have the Mowgli Shield competition on 19th May so they are busy brushing up their Cub skills.

The Scout Section have their annual District camping competition on the weekend of the 4/5th May at the Nineacres camp site. Despite it being a young team we hope they do well and enjoy it. The Group Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 20 June at 7.30 pm in the hall at Carnock. Youth membership will be having hot-dogs and if the weather is good a variety of outdoor games.

Peter Philp - 01383 852612

THE LATE ISOBEL MENZIES’ POEM

The Paradise

Six miles west of Dunfermline Town

a lovely village can be found

It's the place where I've spent all my life

Known as the "Paradise of Fife"

as you turn round the golf course bend

The views in front there is no end.

The Ochil hills they look so braw.

whether sunshine, rain or thick with Snaw

In the village life there's plenty to do

go up to the golf club and get a meal for two

or the WRI, join this and you're never in

or the quiz nights you try hard to win

coffee mornings, Zumba, golf, Historic Group

you're spoilt for choice

and the choir practice if you have a good voice.

So this village is a good place to reside

and the people are brilliant you live beside.

photo: Elaine Laidlaw

SALINE BABY & TODDLER GROUP

Saline First Responders is to hold a Baby and Child First Aid evening on 9 May 7.30pm Steelend Club. This is an information sharing event.

What you will get is:

· CPR for babies and children

· choking for babies and children

· croup

· febrile convulsions

· Some general child / baby first aid information

A suggested minimum donation of £2 per person will be charged at the door, all of which will go to Saline First Responders. We need a minimum of 15 people to go ahead. Not only is this a great evening for parents / carers, anyone with young children in their lives can always benefit from some knowledge around what to do if something goes wrong.

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS:

Saline Baby & Toddler Group

Every Tuesday including school holidays

9.30-11.30 Saline Community Centre

£2.50 per family (doesn’t matter how many of you there are) that includes snack and juice for the kids and coffee / tea / biscuits for the adults

Saline Golf Club

We have free Wi-Fi and BT Sports.

Food available throughout the year at the following times:

Tue: 11.00am-2.30pm

Wed: 11.00am-2.30pm

Thu: 11.00am-8.00pm

Fri: 11.00am-2.30pm

Sat: 10.00am-2.30pm

Sun: 12.00noon-4.00pm

Golf Memberships available.

Junior Golf Membership only £10 per year.

Social Membership only £10 per year.

Bingo every Monday, 7.30pm start.

Quiz night every Thursday at 8.30pm. £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

Shieldbank Coffee Shop

Hot and cold drinks, savory toasties, baguettes, cheese tarts, scones, carrot cake etc.

Open Tuesdays – Sundays 09.30am-06.00pm

Craft Group, Thursdays, 10.00am-12.00noon

Photography: Friday, Fridays,07.30pm-09.00pm

Tel: 07792 759583

Shieldbank Riding & Vaulting Club

Everyone welcome (4 yrs plus) to learn to ride.

Weekly Horseriding Lessons offered

Bookings now taken for Summer Holiday Riding & Vaulting Courses

Equestrian Vaulting lessons for 5-18 yr olds.

Please call to book: 01383 852874

Adult Badminton

Mondays 7.45pm

Wednesday 7.45pm

Saline Community Centre. T: 852610

Craft and Chatter

Thursdays 10.00am-12 noon

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.

Steelend Gala Committee

Ladies night on Friday 17 May 8pm. £5 entry includes one cocktail.

Young Ladies under 18 are welcome entry £1.50 includes a mocktail.

Angel card readings and reiki sessions available, bottle stall, candles and much more.

Prize Bingo Wednesday 22 May 7pm entry £2.50 includes 2 books, tea and coffee.

Any donations for raffle or prizes will be greatly appreciated.

Saline & District Rural

Wednesday 5th June Community Centre. 7:30pm Demo of Cake Decorating

A warm welcome to all

This Community Bulletin is produced by Saline and Steelend Communications Group