Bin Them.

Carnegie never ceases to be amazed at the pure badness of some of the citizens that live amongst us.

"Firefighters have warned about the dangers of setting fire to dustbins after a spate of incidents in Fife. In one fire in Kirkcaldy on Tuesday, the blaze spread to the owner's house. In another, in Dunfermline, severe damage was caused to a gas pipeline."

Carnegie doesn't know what possesses these people to do what they are doing. But the sooner they are found and dealt with the better for everyone.

Goodbye Mr Wilson.

"FIFE'S police chief Peter Wilson has retired after a 35 year career. Mr Wilson (54) was appointed Chief Constable in 2001, having previously been Deputy Chief Constable of Grampian Police.He began his career with Edinburgh City Police in 1973."

So Fife's top cop has gone, but is someone taking over from him? Mr Munster no more.

The "Temporary" Chief is Norma Graham.

£1.45 Million.

That's a lot of money.

" FIFE’S COUNCILLORS claimed a total of £1.45 million in salaries and expenses during the last financial year. The amount is an increase of £329,538 on the previous year but includes a month’s allowances paid to former councillors who stood down prior to the local government elections last May. The region’s 78 members now receive an annual salary instead of a basic allowance, as well as telephone allowances and the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred when on official council business. "

Carnegie doesn't think it is worth it. Would you miss anyone if the number of Councillors was reduced from 78 to something less?

Fife's A Beach.

Carnegie reads that, "FIFE WAS riding on the crest of a wave yesterday after four more of its seaside locations were granted designated bathing beach status. Leven, Kirkcaldy (Seafield), Kinghorn (Harbour) and Tentsmuir Sands can now boast of having water fit to swim in, and The Courier understands there could be further good news for Leven and Kirkcaldy when the annual Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are announced tomorrow. Two Fife bathing beaches— Roome Bay at Crail and Pettycur at Kinghorn—were among six the panel was asked to consider withdrawing the designation from because of low usage, but the minister accepted the recommendation that they should be retained.

Congratulations to Fife. Carnegie likes walking along beaches. It reminds him of his time in the US.

Superfast No More.

So, sad news about the ending of the Superfast Ferry service, but was it Carnegie or was there always a fundamental contradiction between the name of the company and the fact that it took 18 hours to get to the Continent?

"SCOTLAND’S SEA link with the continent was in doubt last night as ferry giant Superfast announced it is to pull the plug on the flagship service between Fife and Zeebrugge. Launched after years of campaigning, careful negotiation and a £10 million public subsidy the maiden voyage in May 2002 was hailed as a “dream come true.” But last night that dream lay in tatters as efforts got under way to try to find another operator to take over the route. A statement from the Attica Group, the parent company for Superfast Ferries which operates the service, confirmed that the last sailing from Rosyth will be on September 13."

Whatever the reasons for the ferry service's withdrawal we should be careful about pouring even more public cash into a business which fundamentally couldn't make a big enough profit, or indeed even a profit, to keep it going. One mistake we can learn from. Repeating the same one all over again would be foolish and costly.

Gord Help Us.

Carnegie doesn't expect special treatment for Fife just because our current PM, Gordon Brown, is himself a Fifer, but there are times when being near the PM's patch means that Fife loses out because our Gordon can't be seen to be avoiding the issues just because it happens to be on his patch.

The proposed closure of Post Offices in Fife is a case in point.

"ANOTHER 42 Scottish post offices have been earmarked for closure, with services in the Prime Minister's constituency among those facing the axe. In the latest round of cuts announced yesterday, four post offices were singled out in Gordon Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat. There are 21 post offices in Mr Brown's constituency. The latest proposals are part of UK-wide cutbacks and will affect the North-east, Tayside and Fife. There are 374 post offices in the area covered by the announcement."

There are major questions about the need for so much Post Office rationalisation and about how much it will actually save, but sadly Fifers will lose out yet again as a result of a government policy being pursued by a government lead by one of its own.

Tesco Town?

Carnegie wonders what the long term impact of this planning approval for Tesco in Dunfermline will actually be?

"SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has been given the nod to set up shop in Dunfermline city centre. The green light came at a meeting of the City of Dunfermline area committee on Monday. Concerns had been raised prior to the meeting about the impact on the city centre economy but councillors believe the benefits far outweigh the risks."

Here's hoping that the Councillors are correct, but can Dunfermline sustain four large supermarkets or is the town in danger of becoming overshopped? Tesco are trying to take over the world.

Getting Greener.

Carnegie reads that Fife's recycling rate has now reached 37.5% with Fife now ranked the sixth best area in Scotland for recycling, with Clackmannanshire and Moray leading the way on 42.9%.

Pat on the back for Fife Council, but then again given that its the people of Fife who are doing most of the basic sorting work these days as regards processing domestic waste how about a Council Tax refund?

Weighty Problem.

So, Carnegie sees that our politicians have finally woken up to the problem that is Fife Council's Planning Department.

"CONCERN is growing in West Fife that the council’s planning department is struggling to cope under the “sheer weight” of applications being submitted. Dunfermline and West Fife MP Willie Rennie is concerned that major developers may pull out of the area because of delays in the process caused by a shortage of experienced staff. But the council has said things are improving and more officers have been recruited to pick up the slack."

Carnegie isn't sure whether it is "weight" of applications or the more likely scenario of a chronic and long standing lack of resources which has been highlighted previously and manifested by Fife Council being unable to defend a whole series of planning refusals. They should sort it out.

Better Late.

Carnegie says better late than never.

"THE PRIME Minister’s wife, Sarah Brown, officially opened the new office of Fife’s Labour MSPs in Methil yesterday. Councillors and community activists were present, as Mrs Brown cut the ribbon at the Wellesley Road address, which will house two constituency staff and act as a base for Claire Baker and John Park."

They were all elected over a year ago, so what exactly took them so long? And why Methil?

Good News?

After months and months of disruption ...

"FOR THE first time since February motorists using the Forth Road Bridge can this week make the crossing without having to negotiate roadworks. After the tolls were abolished in February the toll plaza had to be removed and a new road layout put in place that would allow traffic to flow as freely and safely as possible onto the bridge. The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) took the opportunity to upgrade the infrastructure on either side of the bridge and a programme of improvements is now substantially complete. Some traffic cones will remain in place on the A90 approach until a new system of signs is fully operational, but the remodelling of the former toll plaza is now complete ..."

Until the next time.

Time for Change?

Carnegie is glad to see at least one of our councillors getting back to the bread and butter issues affecting the voters.

"HARD-PRESSED motorists are being stung by Dunfermline’s car park machines, says a senior Fife councillor. Licensing chair Andrew Rodger is unhappy that when he comes to the city for meetings he has to pay over the odds to park his car because the machines do not give out change."

The Council officials response that people should remember to carry change so they can park without forfeighting cash by overpaying really is a bit rich. But is it only Independent Councillors that have the inclination to ask these obvious questions?

Trainspotting.

Carnegie didn't realise this past time could be so dangerous.

"ARMED police swooped on a group of trainspotters who were using a high-powered camera near Gordon Brown's home, it was reported today. Police were concerned they were spying on the Prime Minister's North Queensferry house. But the group of six, who call themselves the Steam Boys, were in fact waiting on the top of a hill for a locomotive to cross the Forth Bridge."

But was Broon Fae Fife even at home at the time?

Right Path.

So, good news for Fife's cyclists with a part of the Fife cycle path between Dalgety Bay being upgraded.

"ACCESS TO Fife’s coastal areas has become even better with the opening of the upgraded cycle route from St David’s Bay to Inverkeithing. The £155,000 project consisted of widening, surfacing and lighting an existing track to make it more attractive to users. The route is now more open."

Mr Carnegie says "on yer bike".

Slam Dunk.

So, Carnegie asks 'what happened to progress?'

"Old fashioned slam-door carriages will be used to ease overcrowding on a busy commuter route, ScotRail has said. The company has appealed for six old carriages to be hauled by a locomotive on the Fife circle line between Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Edinburgh. The solution has been reached because the new Stirling to Alloa line will take some freight off the Forth Bridge. Labour MSP Claire Baker has warned that a need to manually close doors could significantly increase journey times."

Is it just Carnegie or is hard to view having to use old railway rolling stock on the Fife Circle Line as anything other than a backwards step? Why shouldn't ScotRail use some nice shiny new trains or are they just trying to save cash? Why don't we go the full hog and wheel out a steam train to run on the line?

AS-Dalgety Bay.

Interesting development in the press about the presence of ASDA in Dalgety Bay.

"AN INDUSTRIAL estate in Fife has been sold to the property holding company of Asda for nearly £9 million. Donibristle Industrial Estate in Dalgety Bay was sold by Stockland Halladale to McLagen Investments for £8.95m.Stockland Halladale originally acquired the 11.7-acre site from BAE Systems for £1.8m in 2005 and subsequently sought, and was granted, detailed planning consent to build a supermarket on a 5.12-acre part of the site. Construction commenced in June 2007 for the standalone supermarket, which will be occupied by Asda, with premises extending to 37,000 sq ft and car parking for around 300 vehicles.David Lockhart, executive chairman at Stockland Halladale, said: "We have exited and profitably disposed of the development realising enhanced value."

It appears that Dalgety Bay isn't a "Tesco Town" anymore. It's now an ASDA town.

Un-Strategic.

It would appear that Councillor Bob Eadie is trying to get his name in the papers by complaining about plans to shake up strategic planning, despite the fact that the previous Labour administration in Fife supported the move, as did Councillor Eadie's own Labour MSP wife, Helen Eadie.

"A councillor has warned that the city regions process, whereby the Kingdom’s strategic planning will be tied in with Edinburgh’s and Dundee’s, could be “the thin end of the wedge”. Labour councillor Bob Eadie fears Fife’s police and fire services could be merged with other areas by Scottish ministers as the next stage. He also accused the SNP and Lib Dem council administration of not defending Fife’s interests. However, Mr Eadie’s comments have been dismissed by Fife’s planning chair John Beare, of the SNP. He pointed out that it was Mr Eadie’s own party that was behind the planning shake-up when it was in power at Holyrood and that his wife, MSP Helen Eadie, had voted for it."

Er ... bit of an oversight that Councillor Eadie seemed to forget Labour's role in the change he is now opposing, but clearly the Eadies don't talk over the dining room table about strategic planning issues. "How was your day in the Parly, Helen?"

Tourism Distraction.

So, "THE NUMBER of people who visited Fife last year dropped by 1% to 677,603, although some attractions in the area showed strong individual growth ... The statistics for Fife have thrown up a mixed bag, with, for example, the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum in Dunfermline seeing an incredible 138.9% increase in visitor numbers, partly attributed to the removal of entrance fees."

So fewer tourists, but more for Mr Carnegie's birthplace, albeit that Mr Carnegie is not sure he entirely approves of it being "free," not very capitalistic.

Fine?

"POLICE cut antisocial behaviour and vandalism by almost 20 per cent in just one year by handing offenders £40 on-the-spot tickets. Fife Constabulary officers have issued 1,872 fixed penalty tickets since May 2007 for offences such as breach of the peace, vandalism, noise disturbance, urinating in the street or drinking in a public place."

Good to see that Fife's finest managed to get their proverbial finger out and fine a lot more people than they did in the early stages of the exercise, as highlighted by Carnegie.

House?

Carnegie reads that Fife is booming in population terms, but that the newcomers may have nowhere to live, "AN ECONOMICS expert has warned that the new Fife Structure Plan is in danger of “seriously underestimating” the future need for housing in Fife. Economic consultant John McLaren said Fife’s population was projected to grow by 10.7 per cent from 2006-2026 – which is higher than previous long-term projections of 9.1 per cent for 2004-2024 and 1.3 per cent for 2002-2018."

Interesting development given all of the well documented problems in the past that have been caused to Fife Council by its Structure Plan, but Carnegie can't help but ask the question who would stand to gain from Fife Council being forced to release land to build more houses? Yes, new residents would gain, but the main beneficiaries would be house builders.

Over to Fife Council to weigh up the evidence, including any existing releases of land which haven't yet been used by developers in Fife, in deciding whether to release even more land for housing.

Rainy Days.

Its nice to be nice, especially when its about your own college.

"CARNEGIE COLLEGE has been praised in the Scottish Parliament on its “very good” inspection report. Dunfermline West MSP Jim Tolson has tabled a motion praising the staff, students and principal and highlighted the wide range of learning programmes from access to degree level."

A pat on the back for Carnegie College, its staff, students and all those connected with such a commendable endeavour. However Carnegie notes that "While some (colleges) were in deficit, Carnegie College had an operating surplus of £657,000 and total reserves of £4.6 million."

It's good to see that the College is being so well run, and planning for a rainy day is usually commendable, but £5 million will cover a lot of rainy days. Maybe it's time to start using some of the cash kept in reserves?