Bad News.

More bad news on the local economic front.

"WORKERS AT the latest firm to be hit by the credit crunch are to be offered help to find work elsewhere, Fife Council has confirmed. Nearly 100 jobs are to go at multi- national cabling company Oceaneering Multiflex in Rosyth, in a shock move revealed on Wednesday. The worldwide economic downturn, as well as an increasingly competitive market, have been blamed for the decision."

Here's hoping they get new jobs soon.

Fife's Great Flood.

It would appear that someone in Fife Council was a tad optimistic when it came to deciding how much they should budget for dealing with the consequences of flooding.

"FIFE COUNCIL spent its entire flooding budget in just one week when watercourses across the kingdom burst their banks in August. The immediate response to the incidents between August 8 and August 15 cost the local authority £150,000, while dealing with the immediate aftermath amounted to a further £300,000. Extreme rainfall on Saturday August 9, and again three days later, saw 211.1 millimetres of water fall on Fife—the highest amount recorded for 60 years."

Given the size of Fife, and the increasing problems which will be caused everywhere because of the consequences of global warming, Fife Council may have to increase the budget for next year ... and the years after.

In For A Poundbury.

In case you missed this ....

"A DOZEN members of staff from Fife Council have just taken part in a £2400 trip to Dorset to attend a training event at the Poundbury sustainable urban development developed by Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall on the outskirts of Dorchester. The group travelled south last week for the two-day trip, described by a senior planning official as being part of the council’s “commitment to developing the skills and knowledge of its staff.” Yesterday the move was questioned by north-east Fife independent councillor Mike Scott-Hayward, who said that, while some sort of council fact-finding visit might have been appropriate, the high number of people who travelled and the apparent absence of any councillors on the trip was not acceptable. “Who is ruling the roost here?"

Carnegie wouldn't mind, but Fife's planners have a terrible track record of performance as he has previously and often highlighted, and Fife Council is making cuts to its budget which are hitting a lot of vulnerable people very hard.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom.

The speculation continues about the acquisition of the former Motorola and Hyundai plant at Dunfermline by US based company Zoom Diversified. But, why is there so little information about the company on the web given that its plans will costs millions of pounds to deliver? It all seems very strange to Carnegie.

"HOPES are still high that the former Hyundai plant in Dunfermline will be taken over by American firm Zoom Diversified. The Press revealed in July that the company had been in talks for months over a move that could bring hundreds of jobs to West Fife."

Welcome to Fife.

As long as you can speak English ... or Polish. What about other ethic groups ... mandarin Chinese anyone?

"Welcome to Fife ... This booklet is for you if you have come from another country to live and work in Fife. It will also be useful for you if you are moving from within the UK. We have tried to provide information about services, websites and organisations that you may find useful. The booklet also provides telephone numbers that you may need and gives basic information about your rights and responsibilities while you are in Fife. The booklet is currently available in English and Polish."

歡迎到鼓笛

(That's 'welcome to Fife')

Not Another One.

How are you coping with your three Fife Council bins? Well hang on to your hat ... you could end up with a FOURTH one.

As if three wasn't enough, and even more hard labour for Fifers who basically end up doing most of the work involved with recycling domestic waste these days.

But what colour will the new bin be? We've got black, blue and brown already ... pink anyone?

Let's Party ... in 2010.

Carnegie is all for having a party but is he the only one who questions whether we should be spending £2.4 million on a year of festivals? Couldn't we spend the money better in other ways?

"Fifers are set to celebrate after Councillors backed plans for a year long programme of festivals and events making 2010 a Celebration of Fife. More than 3,500 people in Fife over the period January to June this year, as part of a consultation on developing a Cultural Strategy for Fife, have highlighted the importance of Fife's unique culture and lifestyle and the need to celebrate this particularly at community level whilst raising the profile of Fife in Scotland and the UK. Members of the Housing and Communities Committee agreed to support a year of celebration in 2010 subject to further consideration to secure an additional £1.5M towards a proposed £2.4M of funding as part of the budget setting process for the Council in 2009/10."

And what exactly is the significance of 2010 anyway?

Spooky.

Even more strange goings on in Fife ...

"A ROSYTH man is in a state of shock after stumbling across what he believes is the ghost of an old miner while out walking with his family in Blairadam Forest, Kelty. John Wilson (32), a joiner, of Daniel Place, had the spooky experience while visiting the forest with his wife and three children when they stopped near an abandoned mine to take family photographs. Mr Wilson said, “I put the pictures on the computer but never looked at them for a year. "It was only when I went to sort them out a week ago that I noticed something odd."

Odd indeed.

Planning To Fail ... Officially.

Carnegie wished he could see he was surprised by these figures for Fife. He wasn't.

"PLANNING DECISIONS taken by councillors across Tayside and Fife were overturned almost 100 times on appeal in 2007/08, new Scottish Government figures show. The annual report from the planning appeals directorate suggests householders and other would-be developers are more willing than ever to challenge the rulings of elected members ... Directorate reporters handled 1279 appeals from across Scotland, upholding 477 of them (37%) ... Developers seeking to overturn the refusal of planning permission was by far the most common reason for an appeal, followed by attempts to have enforcement action ordered by councils cancelled. There were 15 successful appeals out of 33 in Angus (45%), 23 of 52 in Dundee (44%), 30 of 79 in Perth and Kinross (38%) and 29 of 85 in Fife (34%)."

Fife Council has an appalling track record of defending its planning decisions. These figures bear that out. They really need to get their house in order.

Mystery Solved?

It would appear that the great Dunfermline UFO mystery as highlighted by Carnegie may well have been solved. In reality, it was ... a birthday party lantern.

Only in Fife.

"WILL a Dunfermline woman’s 40th birthday celebrations put an end to growing speculation over a “bright orange flying saucer with flashing lights” spotted in the city last weekend? You decide. Rose Goldie and her family, who live in Rose Street, launched 10 red and white love heart shaped sky lanterns – a birthday present from hubby Alan – from their front garden over last Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. But the burning question is: were the giant lanterns – measuring 4ft by 2ft – the cause of much excitement across West Fife?"

The Fife Bridge.

Carnegie thinks that the Bridge will always be known to Fifers as the Fife Bridge. That's what it should have been named. The Scottish Government got it wrong ... again.

"TRANSPORT MINISTER Stewart Stevenson yesterday announced the new crossing over the upper Forth will be known as the Clackmannanshire Bridge. The name was decided following a public consultation launched in January, with the £120 million crossing due to open on November 19. Mr Stevenson said, “I am delighted this landmark project for Scotland is just weeks away from opening. “This impressive new bridge will bring economic benefits to communities across Fife and central Scotland—opening up access, easing congestion and improving safety.”

Justice?

Carnegie was interested to see what sentence someone would get for deliberately driving a van into Dunfermline Police Station.

"A FIFE man who drove a van into the foyer of Dunfermline police station has been sentenced to two years’ probation. Scott Robertson (36), of Golfdrum Street, Dunfermline, was also ordered to carry out 200 hours’ community service and pay compensation of £7000."

Is that it?

Paying The Bill.

And the big cheeses at the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) have done it again.

"THE cost of vital repair work on the Forth Road Bridge has risen by £5 million but there are signs that further corrosion in the main cables could be halted. The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) estimated in June that work to strengthen the deck and erect temporary bridges over the carriageways would cost £8.7 million. However, the tender submitted by Balfour Beatty – described as the most “economically advantageous bid” – is for £13.7 million."

How could FETA be £5 million pounds out on an estimated bill of £9 million? Bit of a cock-up somewhere thinks Carnegie.

Professor Munster.

So the former Chief Constable of Fife Police is to become a Professor.

"FORMER FIFE chief constable Peter Wilson has been made an honorary professor at Dundee University. He played a key role in setting up the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, which unites academics at 12 universities—led by Dundee—to develop police policy and practice."

Carnegie still thinks he looks like Herman Munster.

Spinning Fife.

It would appear that a piece of spin by Fife Council, involving a trip by local school children to the QE2 whilst it was berthed in the Firth of Forth recently, went badly wrong.

"A DREAM visit to the world-famous QE2 turned into a nightmare for young West Fife prize-winners despite Fife Council having claimed the day had given them “treasured memories for years to come”. Ten kids, including Phillip (6) and Hannah (11) Holland, from Rosyth, and Chauntell Cousin (11), from North Queensferry, won a council-run competition for a VIP tour of the vessel and a buffet lunch aboard before it set sail on its final voyage from Scottish waters last week. The authority was quick to issue a self-congratulatory press release the next day proclaiming, “Youngsters enjoy the VIP day of their lives and say farewell to the QE2”. On the release council transport boss Dr Bob McLellan said, “The youngsters really enjoyed their day and it will hold treasured memories for them for years to come.” However, red-faced PR staff at Fife House quickly changed their tune when they actually discovered how the kids had got on – after issuing their release. The kids didn’t get a whole tour of the ship and there was no buffet lunch meaning the whole day was a big let down and leaving both the Holland and Cousin families furious."

Tut, tut, tut. Fife Council getting its facts wrong, that could never happen.

That Sinking Feeling.

"THE OLD Course at St Andrews is predicted to crumble into the North Sea by 2050, according to an environmental expert."

Makes you wonder what will happen to other coastal areas in Fife if the dire prediction comes to pass.

Free Meals?

When is a free school meal not a free school meal? ... When the Scottish Government doesn't give you any extra cash to pay for it which seems to be the position which Fife Council finds itself in.

"NEW plans to provide free meals to primary children could cost Fife Council an estimated £2.5 million. However, the Council's administration have insisted the local authority will be able to afford the new move, which will come into play in 2010.Last week the Scottish Government announced that following successful pilot projects, one of which was held in Fife, all primary one to three children will be entitled to a free lunch every day."

If the Scottish Government want free meals they should at least give councils the money to implement it without having to cut other services.

Nuts.

And it gets even worse ...

"NEARLY 2,000 bolts which help hold up the Forth Road Bridge may have to be replaced after several were found to have cracked nuts. Laboratory tests are being carried out to determine the cause of the problem, which is believed to be a world first on a suspension bridge."

The fact that the problem is a "world first" is probably not unrelated to the fact the Forth Bridge is the only one run by FETA.

Education, Education, Education?

Cuts of £8 million don't seem to sit very well with the importance being placed on the role of education by our politicians. We all want to see greater efficiency on public services, but in a teaching environment that is very difficult without impacting on educational attainment.

"FIFE Council's Labour leader, Alex Rowley is calling for schools, teachers and parents to fight back against further cutbacks in education as it emerged this week that the Kingdom's schools are to be forced to make almost £8 million in savings over the next three years."

Bad News.

Not such good news from Cemtron. Fingers crossed they can sell the business without more job losses.

"NEARLY A quarter of the workforce at Cemtron were made redundant yesterday less than a week after the Dalgety Bay firm went into administration. In a gloomy day for west Fife, administrators Tenon Recovery announced that despite 25 inquiries for the business already having been received, the decision had been taken that 41 jobs out of a total workforce of 153 would have to go with immediate effect."

Bolts And Nuts.

Carnegie isn't surprised at the latest news about the Road Bridge given the appalling track record of the big cheeses at the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) when it comes to looking after the Forth Road Bridge.

"AN INVESTIGATION is under way to find out why cracks have appeared in nine heavy-duty nuts on the Forth Road Bridge. The news comes amid reports that the wet summer has caused setbacks to the dehumidification project which it is hoped will halt corrosion in the bridge’s main cables. Eagle-eyed workers on the bridge spotted the damage in nine of the 1888 nuts that are used to attach the steel ropes which hold up the roadway to the main suspension cables. The discovery was made during a routine inspection and four of the cracked nuts on the west cable have already been replaced, with the remaining five being replaced over the coming year when access platforms will be put in place as part of the ongoing work being carried out on the main cables. Consulting engineers FaberMaunsell have been appointed to investigate the cause."

The members of FETA should just resign and let someone else take over.

39.1%

"ALL FOUR local authorities in Tayside and Fife have beaten the national average for recycling, new figures show. Between April 2007 and March this year, councils across Scotland recycled 31.7% of the 3.4 million tonnes of waste collected, an annual rise of 3.3%. The total municipal waste produced showed no change on the previous year. Environment secretary Richard Lochhead described that as a “great leap forward” although the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said more effort was needed to hit the 40% target by 2010. Fife had one of the best records—39.1% of rubbish recycled—while Perth and Kinross was on 35.9% and Angus on 34.7%. Dundee recycled 33.0%, the highest figure of the big four cities."

Fife leads the way yet again. Carnegie is just off to the recycling point.

Go Forth.

It would appear that Alex Salmond MSP has persuaded some middle eastern bankers to give him the money to build the new Forth Bridge, at an estimated cost of £4 billion. Watch this space.

"FIRST MINISTER Alex Salmond confirmed yesterday that the Scottish Government is to press ahead with plans for a new Forth bridge, despite the present financial crisis. At more than £4 billion the replacement road bridge is by far Scotland’s biggest single capital project. Finance secretary John Swinney is due to make an announcement to Holyrood on funding for it before the end of the year. Yesterday at question time Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie sought assurances that the giant project would go ahead as planned."

Cemtron.

Bad news from local business Cemtron.

Carnegie seems to think that last time he commented on the business it was trying to bounce Fife Council into granting a planning approval for housing on the site of its factory in Dalgety Bay so that it could relocate to the Lexmark factory near Rosyth.

It would appear the company had other reasons for selling up. Here's hoping something can be salvaged from their receivership.

"MORE THAN 150 jobs at a Fife electronics firm are under threat after it was announced yesterday that the company had gone into administration. Dalgety Bay operation Cemtron is one of the country’s largest electronic manufacturing businesses. Recent trading losses and funding difficulties have been blamed for the decision to place it in administration. Cemtron employs 153 people and has a turnover of about £16 million."

Dunfermline Is Not Alone.

Carnegie reads that Dunfermline is apparently the beach head for the forthcoming alien invasion.

"A BRIGHT orange flying saucer with flashing lights... Don't tell members of one Dunfermline family there's no such thing as a UFO. For they've seen one - and have a four-minute film to prove it. David Hill (39) and partner Elizabeth Cameron (33) were mesmerised on Sunday night when they witnessed what they described a hovering UFO above their house in Arthur Street at about 8.15pm. But they still had the presence of mind to call on their neighbours and dash for Elizabeth's digital camera to capture the excitement on film."

The footage is worth a look. Do you believe?

It's A Date.

"IT IS official—the long-awaited Glenrothes by-election will be held on Thursday, November 6. Prime Minister Gordon Brown broke the news to Scottish Labour MPs last night at their first parliamentary group meeting since returning to Westminster from the summer recess. The writ formally moving the election date is expected to be moved in the next few days."

Carnegie thinks that the Labour Party will have a very hard time holding onto the Glenrothes seat. They have already probably lost it given the economic situation. We shall see what happens on 6th November.

Bon Voyage 2.

Carnegie was there ... or at least as close as he could get given the major police operation which descended on Dalgety Bay and which seemed to be aimed at stopping as many people as possible getting anywhere near the Forth to see the QE2 head off into the proverbial sunset. The mist didn't help either, but it was a little piece of history which will never be repeated.

Next time any Fifer boards the QE2 it will be in Dubai.

"A NURSE from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee who was born the day the QE2 launched 41 years ago yesterday said goodbye to the famous ship from Dalgety Bay as it left Scotland for the final time. Alison McIntosh (41), of Blairgowrie, was at the town’s St David’s Harbour, joining thousands of spectators along the banks of the Firth of Forth who flocked to catch a last glimpse of the vessel throughout the day."

Longer Life.

More good news for Fifers.

"FIFERS CAN EXPECT to live two years longer on average than they did a decade ago, new figures from the General Register Office for Scotland have suggested. Statistics for 2005-7 revealed that the average life expectancy at birth in Fife was 78.2, 24 months more than the 76.2 recorded in 1995-7."

Battle of Kingseat 2008.

"WEST FIFE’S two MSPs are at loggerheads over a move to redraw the border that divides their constituencies. And the tiny village of Kingseat is the battlefield in their boundary skirmish. The village is at present represented by Dunfermline East Labour MSP Helen Eadie. But Lib Dem Jim Tolson is arguing that it should be in his constituency, Dunfermline West."

Carnegie thinks that some of Mrs Eadie's comments were a bit below the belt.

"But that’s not how Mrs Eadie sees it ... she blasted, “This has really got more to do with Jim’s energy to pursue matters that are unimportant to his constituents but he doesn’t take on the big issues that are so important to his constituents. He prefers just to let them lie.”

Hang on Helen, haven't you recently dabbled in issues around the regeneration of the Rosyth waterfront despite it not even being on your patch? In fact it is on Jim Tolson's. The reality is that there needs to be parity between constituencies as regards the numbers of voters for Parliamentary purposes. Not changing things just because Mrs Eadie doesn't want things changed isn't really on, especially given the amount of housebuilding that has taken place near Dunfermline since 1999. We will see that the Boundary Commission come up with.

On Track.

Good news for local commuters.

"THE commute to Edinburgh for West Fifers should be a little easier this winter with the announcement of 500 extra seats on peak-time morning trains. Fife Circle passengers have long endured packed trains and standing room only but there will also be two new services and faster trains to the capital."

With extra services for the early birds amongst you Fifers.

"There will be two fast Edinburgh to Inverkeithing to Kirkcaldy services per hour and more seats on heavily used south Fife services and more early morning trains to the capital. These include two new services, the 5.55am from Markinch to Edinburgh via Dunfermline, arriving at Waverley at 7.06am, and the 6.27am from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh via Dalgety Bay and Inverkeithing, which gets in at 7.16am."

Not So Bright Idea.

Carnegie had never realised that having a holiday in Bulgaria could be so productive as regards coming up with new policies, but clearly for Labour MSP Helen Eadie that was the effect.

"A LABOUR MSP is seeing red over the sequence of traffic lights and wants changes to stop ‘amber gamblers’ and improve road safety. If given the green light, Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie’s suggestion would do away with the amber light and copy a system she saw on holiday in Bulgaria. However, transport experts say it would cost a fortune while Dalgety Bay race ace Gordon Shedden said it would cause “carnage” on the roads."

Carnegie says that just because they do something in Bulgaria that isn't a reason for doing it in Ballingry. This is one set of ideas that should be confined to the dusty bin.

School For Sale.

Got a spare half a million to spend? Fancy your own school?

"FLUSH with success after flogging off old public toilets at auction, Fife Council is now selling a school to the highest bidder. Unfortunately it’s not in Dunfermline’s eastern expansion and won’t solve the ‘third school’ problem – but it could pour £500,000 into council coffers. Parts of the old Inverkeithing Primary School, off Roods Road, are over 130-years-old but it could be converted into flats after going under the hammer in Glasgow this Wednesday."