Issue 60 September 2017

Another hurdle has been cleared in the journey to build huts on the edge of Carnock Wood to the south of Saline and Steelend. The details of the planning permission can be viewed at http://planning.fife.gov.uk/online. The reference is 16/03759/FULL.

Reforesting Scotland spokesman Donald McPhillimy commented, “As this is the first hutting site to be approved in the modern era, the planners, not surprisingly, went through our application with a fine tooth comb. We had to make a few changes and it took longer than expected but we now have full planning permission. Our next step is to promote the opportunity widely, hold a ballot if necessary and select the group of people who wish to have a hut at Carnock, two of whom will come from the local area.”

Of the thirteen huts permitted, ten will be built by families or individuals from the south of Scotland plus two from the local area. The final hut will be an outdoor classroom for the use of local schools.

Donald McPhillimy continued, “This is a lovely site for hutting and we are excited that it is the first of what will be many in Scotland. It is currently well used by walkers and we don’t want this to stop. Walkers will continue to be welcome and we hope that the hutters and walkers will get along well together. When we are ready, we will be advertising the opportunity to become a Carnock hutter in this Bulletin and around the local area.

It is possible to register an interest right now by e-mailing me at donaldmcphillimy4@gmail.com. This will put you on a mailing list for further information”

Perthshire Open Studios will be taking place from 2 to 10 September; over 140 artists and venues throughout Perth and Kinross-shire will be open, displaying a wonderful variety of artwork. Liz Harvey's new studio at Crook of Devon will be open (Venue 59), please join me for arty chat & cakes by the river! Details of opening times at www.perthshireopenstudios.com.

CHURCH NEWS

Special services this month include Harvest Thanksgiving on September 24.

The Church Guild meets for the new session on Monday 4 September and will continue to meet every fortnight.

The Sunday Club (all ages) meets during the Sunday morning service and the Monday Club (for P5/6/7 pupils) starts a six-week programme on 4 September.

The Coffee Morning continues each Wednesday at 10.00 am in the Church Hall and the Craft Group on every second Tuesday from 5 September at 2.00 pm in the Hall.

Special events this month:

Wednesday 27 September: 10.00 am -12 noon in the hall the Coffee Morning will be in aid of Macmillan Cancer Services (part of the national effort). There will be a Bring and Buy stall; all donations will be gratefully received.

Friday 29 September: Quiz Night in the Church Hall. Tickets £5 (includes light supper). Proceeds to the Church Restoration Fund.

Sunday 17 September: The Church will be open 11.00 am-3.00 pm as part of West Fife Open Doors, together with The Heritage Museum and Old Graveyard.

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 & DISTRICT HERITAGE SOCIETY

Our speaker events are due to start soon with the first on Wednesday 20 September at 7.00 for 7.30pm with James Waugh on Knockhill and Steelend: Its Pits and People followed by an extra one on 26 September when our American researcher, Jean Coker, will be giving a talk on Old Saline Cemetery: History, Family, Sadness and Surprises. The full list will be distributed shortly. Entry is £1 for members/£2 for non-members. Membership is only £5 per year, so why not join?

The alternative route from the Core Path to and from Bandrum and the Brightside cafe is ready to be walked - it is marked with a sign post at the top. Still a couple of finishing touches are needed such as a gate at the top and more steps at the steep bit but thanks are due to Bandrum for making this possible and all the hard work from Barry, Donald and Alistair. It is a lovely path especially when the sun dapples the fallen leaves but walkers are to be responsible for their own safety because of the steepness in places. We now have two core path circular walks by Steelend and Saline, both taking in sites of historical interest.

The dig on the remains of the old coffin house at the corner of the church will be starting soon - local school children will be helping Dunfermline Young Archaeologists in the coming weeks. If you notice them working away, you are welcome to come and see what they have found.

Finally, both the church and the museum (including graveyard tours) will be taking part in Doors Open Day on Sunday 17 September 11.00 am-2.00 pm. This is the first time we will have participated in this event so please spread the word.

116TH FIFE SCOUT GROUP

All Sections have now returned to normal meetings after the summer break.

The Beaver Colony has now reached full capacity and we have a short waiting list which we hope to be able to accommodate in the next few weeks. Since returning the Beavers have participated in an outdoor bug hunt, making the most of the light evenings.

By the time you read this the Cub Pack will have participated in the Farm to Fork Food Trail courtesy of the Tesco store in Dunfermline. In September they will be taking part in the Dunfermline District 5-a-side football competition.

The Scout Troop along with the Explorer Unit are well into the planning stages for their two-day overnight expedition to be held during the October school holidays.

The whole Group are looking forward to taking part in the District Scout Sports Day to be held at Pitreavie Stadium on 17 September. Here's hoping for a day of good weather.

All Sections of the Group benefited from the recent grant awarded by the Co-op Community Fund. This was for the replacement of camping gear, such as tents, cooking stoves and first aid kits.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MATTERS

David Chisholm welcomed a very good attendance to the August meeting. Two new matters were added to the agenda; a planning application for five houses off The Glebe and the run-down appearance of West Fife compared with the St Andrews area

John Crane Award

David Chisholm had attended Saline Primary School's prize giving ceremony at which the award had been won by Cailyn Symons. David and Marie had subsequently met the new joint head teacher of Saline and Inzievar Primary Schools. They were pleased to note Saline' School's commitment to citizenship. It is also good to hear that a deputy head for Saline Primary School has also been appointed.

Street Naming

The fairly recent survey on the village Facebook page attracted a number of suggestions that were passed to Fife Council. The council asked that these be reduced by the Community Council. As most nominations were for the Rev Sandy Downie, this information was passed to Fife Council. Many thanks to all who took the trouble to respond.

Hotel Site

The concerns about safety appear to have been addressed but the developer's intentions are less clear. Jim Currie had been able to establish that the owners are Kelpin Construction who are currently developing a site in Springburn, Glasgow. As the company seems to be concentrating on that site, it looks like development in Saline will have to wait.

Main Street Telephone Box

Cllr Manekshaw described how Blairhall was about to use its redundant telephone box as a base for a public access defibrillator. It is understood that the West Fife Villages Community Planning Group was considering applying for funds to provide defibrillators for those communities without one and to provide first aid training to complement this. It was felt that this might be a good use for the box and that there might also be potential to use it as a community information point.

Playpark Group

There is concern that the drainage problem on North Road has still not been resolved. Fortunately, the Playpark Group has been given an extension to the timescale for spending the contribution from the Participatory Budgeting event.

The Group continues to raise money and had held a successful event at Saline Golf Club. Thanks are due to all who worked hard to make this and the other events so worthwhile

Fife Council has been contacted following rumours that the Steelend playpark has been condemned and might not be replaced. The Council has yet to respond but the meeting was unanimous that Steelend children need a playpark and that, if necessary, pressure will be put on Fife Council to deliver an improved facility.

Traffic and Road Safety

Transportation was contacted re the disabled parking bay on Oakley Road. It was confirmed that the bay was for the school and the markings have been repainted. It should be noted that Transportation reacted quickly and that the repainting had been carried out prior to the report in the Dunfermline Press.

People have complained about the camber on Oakley Road around the Allanwater/Kingdom Housing Association developments and of a pothole on the bend near Kinneddar Lodge. Transportation was contacted and confirmed that the camber is within acceptable limits and that the pothole will be inspected.

The bends beyond West Road continue to be problematic with several more vehicles leaving the road on a regular basis. There does not appear to be a clear cause although many suspect speeding. However, drivers have reported ABS lights flickering at moderate speeds while a recent victim said that the back end of his van went out of control at a relatively low speed.

Community Action Plan Review

David Chisholm reported that he and Donald Murdoch had met Lesley Campbell who had co-ordinated the original Action Plan preparation. Following this, a bid for Scottish Government funding had been submitted to update the Action Plan, obtain a business plan for a possible community takeover of the Community Centre and for a sum of money to kick start priorities in the revised Action Plan. However, the Scottish Government fund was grossly oversubscribed and David recently heard that our bid has been unsuccessful. However, other opportunities are being investigated.

One possibility being investigated is a Scottish Government fund administered by the Community Learning Exchange. This can be used for visits to examine good exemplars in other communities and is seen as relevant to the possible acquisition of Saline Community Centre. Watch this space.

Friends and Neighbours Project

This initiative by the Community Development Trust has generated a lot of community involvement and the lantern parade was especially popular. To build on this, Ian Holmes-Lewis has been trying to raise funds to hold a music event in Saline and Steelend. This is obviously a lot of work to raise the necessary cash and, in the short term, a Walking the Wizard event will hopefully be held as a “starter for ten”. This would commemorate the importance of Michael Scot, the Saline Wizard. The Community Council has agreed to contribute. Watch the Bulletin for further details

Proposed Housing Development next to The Glebe

An application for the erection of five houses has now been submitted. The Community Council has accepted the principle of housing on the site but has concerns over several issues. The Community Council also notes the Scottish Government's Places, People and Planning initiative and feels that new developments should comply. (See separate article on Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP letter)

Bin Collection Calendars

Fife Council has advised that it will no longer provide household with a bin collection calendar. These can be downloaded online at www.fifedirect.org.uk/bincalendar. Paper copies can also be obtained from Oakley Local Office at a cost of 25p. The Community Council is concerned about those in the community without internet access or who are unable to travel to Oakley so the possibility of incorporating monthly details in the Bulletin is being explored.

Bus Changes

Saline and Steelend have additional services in Stagecoach's new timetables. The 6 is unchanged but new services 86 and 86A have been introduced. The 86 leaves Steelend turning circle at 4.50 am and travels to Ferrytoll via Saline (4.53), Oakley, Dunfermline and Rosyth Marine Harvest. The 86A leaves Saline turning circle at 7.00am, Steelend at 7.03 and then follows the 6 route as far as Dunfermline then Marine Harvest and Ferrytoll. Return services are at 6.00, 8.00, and 10.00pm from Ferrytoll. This service is the result of Fife Council receiving Scottish Government funding to improve access to jobs at Marine Harvest but will eventually need to be commercially viable to survive.

Next Meeting

Tuesday 26 September at 7.30 in Saline Community Centre. All welcome.

PLACES, PEOPLE AND PLANNING

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP contacted the Community Council to advise of the Scottish Government's Places, People and Planning package of proposed changes to the planning system. The Government has now published a position statement setting out the proposals that ministers propose to take forward. This includes Community Planning and Spatial Planning; an enhanced role for communities, home building and infrastructure; and leadership and resources. The position statement can be examined at beta.gov.scot/policies/planning-architecture.

The Government is now required to consider the impact of its proposals on the environment and is inviting views on its Strategic Environmental Assessment Report. This paper and online survey can be obtained at consult.scotland.gov.uk.

TEMPLE PATH

The July Bulletin advised of improvements to the core path adjacent to Saline Golf Course. These have opened up some attractive views, provided benches in attractive locations and removed obstructions to easy progress. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, people were advised to cut through the golf course. The golf club's insurers have required that public access is not encouraged. Consequently, walkers are advised to follow the original route.

Following approaches from Saline and District Heritage Society, the owners of Bandrum Nursing Home have agreed to people cutting through their woodland and access road to Cowstrandburn. This will create a circuit from the Steelend to Cowstrandburn core path about 400 metres south of the turn off to The Temple. A route has been waymarked through the woodland but please note that it is steep in parts and walkers should be suitably shod and fit. Use is at the walkers' risk.

One benefit of this route is that the hospitality at the Brightside Cafe can be enjoyed. This is a welcome addition to catering facilities in this area and prices are reasonable. Please take advantage of its availability.

POLICE SCOTLAND IS LOOKING FOR YOUR VIEWS

Police Scotland, Fife Division would like to know what issues you think we should prioritise, nationally and in your local area, as well as best methods for communicating with you.

Your views are important to us. We are committed to using this information to help shape our policing priorities and deliver them through continued commitment to working with partners and communities. We will do this through analysing this information and data from a number of other important sources.

What you tell us will also influence how we communicate and engage with you and your community going forward. Any of the questions which refer to your local area, for the purpose of this survey, should be considered the area you live in.

We value your opinion, please be assured that the information you provide us with, will be treated with the strictest confidence and anonymity. The data you provide will be used to shape local and national policing priorities going forward. We will not share your personal data outside Police Scotland.

We would encourage you to complete a short online survey entitled Your View Counts. It should take approximately five minutes to complete and can be accessed by clicking on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CXH85XJ

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS:

Saline Golf Club

First Saturday of each month: Family Night, 5-7pm

Tuesdays: Bingo Night, 7.30pm

Thursdays: Quiz Night, 8.30pm, entry £1/person

Sky TV and free Wi-Fi. Associate membership £10 per annum, £4 concessions

Q’zine Catering: also available for all functions.

Steelend Miners’ Club

Wednesday 27 September, 7.00 pm: Prize Bingo in aid of Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party. Any donations for prizes or raffle would be very much appreciated.

Sunday 1 October, 2.00-4.00 pm: Kids’ Afternoon Club. £1 entry, plus 50p for a burger or hot dog; £2 adults. A fun afternoon with games and activities.

Sunday 15 October, 2.00-4.00 pm: Vintage Afternoon Tea, tickets £5 on sale in the club.

Friday 20 October, 9.00 pm: Carly Schiavone (a great vocalist), £3 entry plus supper.

Please come along.

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

Community Council Meeting

29 August, 7.30pm

Saline Community Centre

Highland Dancing Classes from 22 Aug

Tuesdays 4.00pm-5.00pm

Thursdays 6.30pm-8.00pm

Tel Betty on 852610

Adult Badminton from 21 Aug

Mondays 7.45pm

Wednesday 1.30pm and 7.30pm

Saline CC T: 852610

Saline Smilers (Toddler Group)

Tuesdays 9.30am-11.30am during school terms

Saline Community Centre

Craft and Chatter

Thursdays 10.00am-12.00noon

Last Friday of month 7.00pm-9.00pm

Shieldbank Coffee Shop

Sambangra Drumming Group

Tuesdays, 7.00pm-8.30pm, £2

Steelend Club

Saline & District Rural

Wednesday 4 October

Community Centre, 7:30pm

Speaker from Poppy Scotland

Open meeting - all welcome

Saline & Blairingone Parish Church

Afternoon Craft Group

Every second Tuesday from 5 September. Everyone is invited to join with any sewing, knitting or craft - and enjoy the blether! 2pm-4pm, Saline Church Hall.

Shieldbank Riding & Vaulting Club, North Road, Saline, Fife KY12 9LN

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

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.

This Community Bulletin is produced by Saline and Steelend Communications Group