Minutes Blairhall

L.C. referred to a discussion, omitted from the minutes, regarding a new start time for meetings. It was agreed by all members that all future meetings will begin at 6.30pm.

Minutes proposed by Louise Cruickshank and seconded by Marion McGaughay.

Police Report

Received copy of the ’Police Newsletter’ and an email from Insp. Mitchell regarding ’bogus workmen’ activity in L & B’s area.
The next ‘Police Community Meeting’ will be held in Blairhall New Community on Wednesday, 3rd November, 2010, at 7 pm.
M.B. spoke about the continual problem of vehicles speeding through the village and was afraid that someone may be killed if nothing is done. M. McG. referred to the lack of ‘20 mph’ signs and the signs on the roadway are being worn away. Vehicles entering School Place ignoring the ’no entry’ signs.

Matters Arising

M.C. contacted Fife Council regarding the storm drains in South Avenue and was told that these are the responsibility of Scottish Water, but they will check the ‘gullies’.
Still the problem of water seeping through the surface of the roadway in Rintoul Avenue nr the junction with the top road.
Gala Committee going well, have approx. 27 members.
Have still not received any complaints regarding the Bus Service.
Cllr Clelland said that F.C. are reviewing the situation of free transport and bus passes.
Further to the proposed work in High Valleyfield Woods, M.C. reported said that the number of trees to be felled has been reduced.

Proposed Development Castlehill

Cllr Clelland and other Cllr’s met with representatives of Barton & Wilmore at their presentation for the proposed development. Now proposed approx thirty houses to be built, but Transportation Service have identified various issues of concern. No planning application has been made as yet.

Blair House Opencast

Cllr Clelland reported that the work site has been established and work has started on the new road from the site. The company is keeping the main roads clean.
Any complaints can be addressed to the Liaison Committee, members include Cllrs Clelland and Walker, and representative of Saline/Steelend Com/Council and Oakley Com/Council.
He continued to say that although Blairhall, Carnock and Kincardine do not have representation on the ‘Trust’, this does not stop them or other groups from these villages putting in an application which will be decided upon by merit.
M.B. asked Cllr Clelland if there would be lump sum paid into the ‘Trust’
Cllr Clelland this is this not the case, when the coal is sold, the amount of 25p per ton of coal sold will be paid into the ‘Trust’.
There is sixty-seven conditions to which the Company has to adhere
L.C. asked how long the work would last and Cllr Clelland replied the mining work
18-20 months and restoration a further year after that.
Further from Cllr. Clelland, coal being transported from the site has to turn west and there are certain restrictions on time of travelling. For example the lorries cannot travel 20 minutes before schools go in and 20 minutes before they come out. The route will still be west along the A907 passed Oakley and Blairhall.
Concerns were raised re the Kincardine Bridge being closed for a certain amount of time. Cllr. Clelland replied that the work should being done now, but was put back and may make matters worse for Kincardine the traffic will be going right along the High Street to the roundabout and over the new bridge and back over the old bridge. When the old bridge closes this may cause problems through Kincardine.

Comrie Collery Site.

From Cllr. Clelland, this site is not at the planning stage yet. The proposals he has seen are for three different phases of opencast because it is a large site.

Correspondence

Fife Council Licensing Board are conducting a review of the consuming of alcohol in designed public places until 19th December, 2010.
M. McG. received letter from the ‘O.A.P.‘s’ in Blairhall, requesting a donation toward their funds.
Newsletter from the Fife Elderly Forum Executive.
The Association of Community Councils Conference is being held in Glasgow on the 25th November, 2010.

Treasurer’s Report

Balance not available. Received application form for Floral Enhancement Grant.

AOCB

M.B. commented that the hedge beside the A.907 requires cutting as it is obscuring the vision of vehicles coming out from Comrie Cottage and the Farm. He has already witnessed a ‘near miss’ at this location. M.McG. said that the part of the hedge nearest this exit had been cut and Cllr. Clelland said it was the responsibility of the farmer.
Cllr Clelland with M.C. and M. McG had walked through the village today identifying environmental issues and will arrange a meeting on site with John McQueen of Fife Council to try and resolve these.
M.B. remarked that the embankment in South Avenue at the Kingdom housing scheme requires attention. Since planting out it has become very overgrown and untidy.
Attention was also brought to an article in the ‘Dunfermline Press’ regarding the ‘Recycling Project’ in the village. Members where upset about the negative comments made, putting both the children and the village in such a ‘bad light’ completely overshadowing the good work these children had done. M.McG will contact the source of this article to ascertain what exactly was said to the ‘Press’ and if necessary invite them to the next Community Council meeting.

Date of next Meeting

Tuesday, 16th November, 2010, at 6 30pm within Blairhall New Community.

Blairhall Community Council

Minutes of Meeting

Tuesday, 14th September, 2010

Present:- Marion McGaughay, Muriel Colver, Louise Cruickshank, Hilda Clark

Apologies:- Jim Anderson, Murray Baxter, Mags Lawrie, Jayne Clouston.

Marion McGaughay, Chairperson opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

Minutes Ratified

Minutes from the meeting held on 18th May, 2010, to be ratified, as no quorum for the meeting of 15th June, 2010.

Proposed by Louise Cruickshank and seconded by Hilda Clark.

Police Report

Received S.W. Fife Police Comm/Engagement Newsletter in which there is details of the forthcoming “Police In The Community Programme - 2010”, for members of the community. The programme is on Monday evenings and starts on 1st November, 2010 and runs through to Monday 7th December, 2010, from 6.30pm - 8.30pm at Inverkeithing High School. Applications can be downloaded from the front page of Fife Police website
A rear window of the Leisure Centre, Rintoul Avenue has been smashed, reported to the Police.
There has been another break-in at Blairhall Primary.
In Wilson Street, outside the Community Centre, children have been causing annoyance to residents, reported to the police.

Matters Arising

The Childrens’ Amenity Fund - The Gala - an open meeting was held and well attended. There is to be further meetings to appoint officer bearers.

Further to the complaint re the lack of street lighting in Wilson Street especially opposite the Community Centre. Reported to Fife Council who are aware of this, have informed Scottish Power who are responsible for connecting up the new lights.

The changes to the Bus Service (reduced to 2 buses now running 10 minutes past and 15 minutes to the hour) have not received any complains as yet. Low liner buses have been introduced which is an improvement. (Watch this space).

Correspondence

During the summer break, received an email from Transportation Services stating they are proposing to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulations to impose a 20 m.p.h. speed limit in Blairhall. ( This has been passed).

From Cll. Clelland he has reported the condition of the Play Park to Steven Cowen, (Fife Council Area Parks Officer), requires maintenance attention re weeds and the surface of rubber blocks worn down.
Further to the Play Area, the meeting with Alan Seith and Peter Howden had to be cancelled.

Correspondence received from NHS Fife regarding:
Spiritual Care Committee.
“A New Beginning”
Dunfermline & West Fife CHP Website Manger’s Group
British Sign Language Bill Consultation

From Cllr. Walker details of the £170,000 Grant awarded from WIAT.
Valleyfield Woods has been awarded the highest amount of this funding, around £135,000, to allow woodland management plans to be carried out.

From Iain Grant, Election Services, Fife Council is to undertake a Review of Polling Places and Districts.

Development Services, Fife Council are to have a Review of Supplementary Guidance on Affordable Housing. Details on www.fifedirect.org.uk

Fife Police Authority are looking for “Custody Visitors“.

People as being invited to join the ‘Childrens’ Panel’.

Castlehill Development

Presentation held in Community Centre regarding the above development.
Lomond Homes now propose to build 45 sustainable houses, keep an existing large shed and converted for community use. Have entry on to cycle path. Are to put in a planning application soon.

Proposed Opencast Mining - Comrie Castle and Saline

With regard to the Opencast near Saline, UK Coal has now sold this operation to Scottish Coal and will be known as Scottish Resource Group.
A ‘Trust’ has been set up. M.C. contacted Cllr.s Clelland and Walker to ask why a representative from Blairhall had not been invited to join the Trust as traffic from the opencast will effect Blairhall.
They replied that although they have a great deal of sympathy for this situation, it has already been agreed under the Section 75 that they will be the only 2 Cllr. reps., there will also be 1 representative from Oakley and 1 from Saline Community Councils and 2 from Scottish Resources Group will make up this ‘Trust‘. Both Cllr. Clelland and Walker assured that they would make themselves available to Blairhall Community Council to discuss any issues with this opencast.
Members were disappointed Blairhall had not invited to join the ’Trust’.

With regards to Comrie Colliery, there is a planning application proposal for the ‘reclamation and extraction of coal and red shale by surface mining methods, restoration and re-profiling of existing colliery bings and associated contaminated land and the formation of ancillary haulage road, staff and storage facilities’.
As this had been discussed at a previous meeting where it was agreed not to object to this work being carried out, MC replied to Development Services giving the observations of the Community Council. No further update.

Treasurers Report

Have received the annual grant from Fife Council of £387.10p, this includes the refunding of the £35.00p paid to ’Data Protection‘

A.O.C.B.

L.C. reported problems with blocked drains in South Avenue, her back garden is continually being flooded. Have called out Scottish Water, but they state that Fife Council is required to clear the storm drains.

Members were reminded that all nomination papers are to be return by Thursday, 16th September, 2010. Sadly, members Jim Anderson and Mags Lawrie are not standing for re-election to the Community Council.

Date of Inaugural Meeting

Tuesday, 19th October, 2010, at 7pm within Blairhall New Community.

Blairhall Community Council
Minutes of Meeting held Tuesday, 18th May, 2010

Present:- Marion McGaughay, Muriel Colver, Mags Lawrie, Louise Cruickshank, Hilda Clark, Jim Anderson, Murray Baxter.

Apologies:- Jayne Clouston

Marion McGaughay, chairperson, opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

Minutes Ratified

Proposed by Murray Baxter, seconded by Louise Cruickshank

Police Report

Received S.W. Fife Police Comm/Engagement Newsletter. M.C. attended the Comm/Engagement Meeting in Oakley, reported the complaint of vehicles speeding through the village, especially East Avenue/South Avenue and Rintoul Avenue between entrance A907 to roundabout at Woodlands Terrace. Did not receive enough votes to be one of the police priorities for the next two months, but will receive police attention..
There has been another break-in at the School, but thanks to the vigilance of a passer-by, police informed and 4 youngsters detained.
The next Police Comm/Engagement Meeting will be on the 7th July, 2010, at 7 pm, within Oakley Centre.
(Due to the refurbishment of Oakley Centre, the September meeting will probably be held in Blairhall, date to be decided)

Matters Arising

Complaints the B9037

There is still tree foliage obscuring drivers vision, contacting Transportation Services.
Due to building work at local farm, complaints re the state of the road, covered in mud. Contact farm owner.

Childrens’ Amenity Fund - M.L. still endeavouring to trace committee members with little or no help from J.R. Cllr. C. has advised not to dissolve this committee, but try to find two signatories and interested parties, where upon hold an open meeting, hopefully with the constitution. C.H. gets bank statements, all in order.

The goal posts and nets have not yet been delivered.

Lomond Homes now ‘building to order‘, and more houses have been built and appear occupied at Comrie Castle. Checking the number built and believed sold re the conditions of the ‘Section 75’ agreement.
Invite Alan Seith, Lomond Homes, to next meeting.

From M.McG., in the Community Centre, the kitchen and the plaster work has been completed, but there is still work outstanding. Computers are now up and running.
In August Oakley Centre closes for refurbishment (lasting approx. 19 weeks), Blairhall will be used to accommodate staff and groups especially with refurbishment of High Valleyfield Centre overlapping.

Further to the proposed amalgamation of the Centre Committees, M.McG. attended a meeting where J.McG. (standing in for D.G.) said the whole idea was nonsense and would never work, no further update.

M.L. asked what was happening re the let of rooms in the Centre with regard to M.C. The Community Council are now allowed to use the small ground floor room at the rear of the Centre, but not the Hall or the Lounge even if they are unoccupied.
The ‘Forum’ has left the Centre and is now holding their meetings in Comrie Centre.

Cllr. C. has it now in writing that alcohol is allowed in the Centre at organised events.

Any Other Business

Received a ’thank you’ letter from the O.A.P.’s for the donation from the Comm/Council.

M.B. complained about the state of the strip of land at the rear of the gardens in South Avenue and the dire intrusion of weeds from this land into the gardens. Asked if a letter be sent to local landowner John Devine explaining the situation which is causing great annoyance to residents.

Received a complaint regarding the lack of street lighting in Wilson Street outside the Shop and the Changing Rooms since new poles were erected. The lights were attached to the original poles and were not replaced on the new ones. Contacting Fife Council.

Received correspondence from N.H.S. Fife

Date of next meeting

Tuesday, 15th June, at 7 pm, within Blairhall Community Centre.