Issue 78 June/July 2019

It has become more and more challenging to obtain funding for the Community Bulletin and is taking up an increasing amount of time to fundraise. The bulletin is becoming more and more popular and has needed to increase 50% in size, proportionately increasing costs. We have taken the decision to move to move to e-distribution of the bulletin by December 2019, and are taking into account GDPR issues.

NEW POLICE NEWSLETTER

Our Community Police Officers for Ward 1, PCs Kevin Chandler and Ian Fraser, have produced a quarterly newsletter for the West Fife and Coastal Villages. It can be read on the West Fife Villages website.

Of particular interest to our community is the widespread concern about speeding and poor parking. Police will be increasing checks over the next months so beware.

Kevin and Ian can be contacted by email at WestFifeCoastalVillagesCPT@pnn.police.uk. If you don't have Internet access, call 101 and the call handler will pass your message to Kevin or Ian.

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.

SALINE & BLAIRINGONE PARISH CHURCH NEWS

Church Services at 9.30am will continue as usual over the summer months. There will be provision for children in the hall during part of the service.

The end of the regular Sunday Club session will be marked on Sunday 23 June. The service will be followed by a Church Family BBQ in the hall and grounds.

A Service of Holy Communion will be celebrated on Sunday 30 June at 9.30 am.

The Wednesday Coffee Mornings (10.00-12.00) continue over the summer.

The walking group programme also continues and further details can be found on the church website or from Stewart Millar or Peter Philp.

The Church premises will be open to the public, coinciding with the Museum in the former session house, on Sundays 10.30-12.30, Tuesdays 18.00-20.00, and Wednesdays 10.30-12.30. Visitors are welcome to come and learn something of our history and present life, or just take the opportunity of spending a time of peace and reflection.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MATTERS

There was a decent attendance on a typically dreich evening, brightened up by some new faces. David Chisholm welcomed them and hoped that they would continue to attend.

In his introductory remarks, David referred to his and Donald Murdoch's attendance at a visit from residents from Saline, Michigan, USA organised by the Heritage Society. This had been a pleasant experience and he hoped that there would be more visits. Visitors to the Church Hall will have noticed the flag left by the guests who had gone back to the States with heritage material (plus souvenirs from their visit to the Glengoyne Distillery!) He also noted that new residents had participated in the recent Fun Day organised by Saline Church and praised the quality of photos posted on the Community Facebook site.

Traffic Issues

The previous issue referred to the Scottish Government's response to Fife Council's attitude to our requests for speed and weight limits on some local roads. Cllr Manekshaw has raised this with Transportation who had responded that the Council can only take forward projects based on proven need. As our views are shared by other West Fife villages, David Chisholm will be taking this matter up with the West Fife Villages Forum to establish whether a co-ordinated effort is required.

Regarding last month's reference to complaints about a lorry parked on Loch Road, it appears that the driver has received Facebook and face-to-face threats. This is an over-the-top reaction which is not warranted by the situation. [Please see letter later in this issue. Editor]

Several people were concerned about children running across Oakley Road from the skateboard area to the new houses, using a gap between the hedge and the temporary fence along the Kingdom frontage. A new fence will be installed when the roadside path is constructed but, in the meantime, Kingdom Housing will be asked to extend the temporary fence to block off the gap. However, it is also vital that parents remind their children of the dangers of running on to the road.

Jean Alexander advised that there are only four Speedwatch volunteers available, which limits their availability, and they are desperate for others to join. A new police officer has been appointed to support the group.

Council Garage Sites

As reported previously, Saline and Steelend Community Development Trust has expressed an interest in taking over the sites with a view to modernising the garages to enable some to be used by community groups and for use by small local businesses. A Phase 2 bid is currently being prepared.

Christmas Lights

This proposal needs a ‘champion’, supported by a small team, to take forward. Is there anyone out there willing to volunteer?

Mobility Scooter Access to Saline Golf Club

The ramps have been marked out and the access to the Golf Club car park will be resurfaced in June. The Club is also considering applying for funding to install an electric car charging point. The Club has made significant and welcome changes over the last year or so and is a valuable community asset. Please consider making more use of it.

Hotel Site

The Community Council has established that there are three limited companies involved in the Kelcon Group: Kelcon Property Group (in administration), Kelcon Construction (winding-up order issued) and Shellabear Timber Manufacturing. All three companies' accounts for the year to June 2018 are overdue for submission to Companies House and could therefore be subject to a compulsory strike-off.

The Glebe

The April meeting learned that the site is now being marketed as five individual plots – three for offers over £100,000 and two for offers over £80,000 - and there was concern that this would create difficulties regarding the planning conditions/obligations imposed for the whole site. Whilst Cllr Manekshaw had been assured by planning officers that the existing conditions would apply, there are doubts about the practicalities of leaving individuals to meet collective requirements such as roads, services, wheel washing and the outstanding Coal Authority survey. Indeed, should the purchasers of the plots wish to materially amend the house types already approved, they would need to apply for planning permission afresh.

Possible Steelend Housing

There has been no response from Kingdom Housing yet but it appears that Fife Council sold off more land than realised when disposing of Steelend Community Centre. However, the new owner is amenable to approaches from any potential developers of the adjacent land.

Acquisition of Saline Community Centre

The Scottish Land Fund has provided details of possible funding sources for a feasibility study and business plan, and an application is currently being prepared. Moray Royles of City Architecture has prepared some interesting sketches on how the centre could be re-configured to make it more attractive. In the meantime, please remember to post your views on the proposed pharmacy to NHS Fife.

Comrie Colliery

Fife Council has been advised that the Community Council supports restoration of the site but has stressed the need to ensure that activities are properly controlled with reference to the points raised at the last meeting and by objectors.

Food Waste Bags

It has been established that these can be obtained free of charge from Oakley Community Centre. Cllr Bobby Clelland pointed out that bags should be left untied (this helps the composting process) and that it was acceptable to wrap potato peelings in old newspapers.

The Big Lunch

David had obtained the information pack for the Big Lunch Initiative produced by the Eden Project. The intention is for communities like ours to host a street party where people make or buy food to share with others. The date of the national event has already passed but there could still be an event later in the year, maybe at the same weekend as the Horticultural Show. Beth Shaw undertook to raise the idea with the Rural.

VE Day Celebrations

The West Fife Forum has raised the possibility of all the villages in West Fife collaborating in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020.

More information will be provided when available.

Fireworks Display 2019

Thanks are due to our three councillors for approving a grant of £600 towards this year's event. Other sponsors are being approached but there will still be a need to raise more money through a raffle. Volunteers to sell tickets, possibly on a street to street basis, are required. Can you help to put on another great show? If so, please contact David Chisholm (david.chisholm47@btinternet.com)

Date of Next Meeting:

Tuesday 25 June at 7.30pm in Saline Community Centre. All welcome.

SALINE GOLF CLUB

Due to requests, breakfasts are now being served on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9.00am. No need to book, just pop in.

Regular events are the Monday night cash bingo (over 18 years only) at 7.30pm, and the Thursday evening quiz starts at 8.30pm. New teams most welcome.

The Saturday Monthly Quiz is on 8 June and is £2 per person – why not get a team together and join us?

The next show is a Beatles, Wings and Paul McCartney tribute on Saturday 29 June at 8.00pm. Tickets are only £10 and are available from the bar.

Golf and Social Memberships are available. Pick up a form from the entrance hallway or the bar.

116th FIFE SCOUT GROUP

The proposed Beaver sleepover will now be held after the summer holiday. In May, the Beaver Colony successfully took part, along with other Colonies from Dunfermline District, in the Jamboree on The Trail (JOTT) with walks in and around Lochore Meadows. They also had fun evening ‘pond dipping’ in Carnock Burn followed by a play session in the park in Carnock.

The joint trip with the Beavers and Cubs to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh is now booked for 8 June.

The Cub Pack have been very busy over the past month with various activities. To earn their Animal Carer Activity Badge, the Cubs visited the Pets at Home store in Dunfermline. For their JOTT the Cubs had an enjoyable walk over Saline Hill. On the evening of the European Elections when the hall was unavailable, the Cubs went to the Carnegie Swimming Pool in Dunfermline where they all passed the Stage 2 Swimmer Activity Badge.

A Patrol from the Scout Troop attended the Gibb Bugle which is the District’s Annual Camping Competition. Though they didn’t win, they enjoyed themselves and gained valuable experience.

The Group Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 20 June at 7.30 pm in the hall at Carnock. As this will be the last meeting for this session for all Sections, the youth membership will be having hotdogs and outdoor games, weather permitting.

Meetings for the new session will start on Thursday 22 Aug for Cubs, Scouts and Explorers and on Friday 23 for Beavers all at the usual times.

As we have vacancies in all Sections, new members (both girls and boys) are very welcome to join.

Peter Philp