Named And Shamed.

You might want to have a look at the website below next time you decide to nip out for a pizza. Then again given some of the problems detected you probably won't want to.

"MANY of Dunfermline’s best known eateries have fallen foul of a new food hygiene regime with restaurants, hot food takeaways, bars, cafes, stores, a hotel, a golf club and a bowling club all failing the test.Environmental services inspectors have slapped an ‘Improvement Required’ notice on a long list of West Fife premises whose food safety standards are not up to scratch. A council ‘name and shame’ web-site makes it clear to customers just what is happening behind the scenes at the places they and their family go to eat – and the reports are not for the squeamish. Dirty kitchens, broken fridges, food past its sell-by-date, raw meat dripping on to ready-to-eat meals and other hazardous practices liable to lead to food poisoning are all highlighted."

Strike It Unlucky?

Carnegie asks "What is a hot spot not? ... It's not a good spot."

"Scientists monitoring a beach in Fife for radioactive hotspots say they have discovered seven contaminated areas."

Fat's Not Fife.

It's official.

"A NEW report has revealed over seven per cent of Fifers are obese. But, according to this research, the Kingdom is still considered to be one of Scotland's least overweight areas - despite earlier studies revealing that Fife's primary ones are the fattest in the country."

Things aren't as bad as we perhaps we originally thought. Good news for a change. Pass me that bacon roll.

Bon Voyage ... Again.

Carnegie thought Fife had already said the final goodbye to the QE2 but apparently not.

"LARGE crowds will gather along the West Fife coast to witness a spectacular farewell to the world’s most famous cruise liner. Fireworks, water displays and a flyover by aircraft from RAF Leuchars will mark the final voyage of the QE2, when it drops anchor near the Forth Bridge on 7th October. And free entertainment and viewing points will be set up along the coast so people can bid the 70,327 tonne ship farewell before she becomes a floating hotel in Dubai. Fife Council has secured 20 VIP places for youngsters to step aboard the ship for a tour and lunch before she sails into retirement, which they will offer in a forthcoming competition."

Splashdown?

Carnegie thinks there are very long odds on Dalgety Bay ever getting a swimming pool.

"A FEASIBILITY study for a swimming pool in Dalgety Bay is under way – but the likelihood of one going ahead is slim. The Dalgety Bay Community Council, via Fife Council’s community services department, has contacted the Melbourn Trust Hertfordshire, to find out more about the community pool it runs in the town of Melbourn. The purpose of the investigation is to get a more accurate indication of public sector support, the economics of local swimming pools and an understanding of the demographic make-up of the area and then compare that information with Dalgety Bay."

Bridge.

It is sad that someone recently lost their life in a road accident on the Forth Road Bridge, but it is amazing that the fatality is the first given the volumes of traffic which make use of the route.

"The motorcyclist who died after a crash on the Forth Road Bridge was the first fatality the bridge has had in its 44-year history. Naval officer Alex Comrie, 48, was driving to work in Edinburgh when his silver Honda was involved in a smash with a white van and blue car. Fife Constabulary and The Forth Estuary Transport Authority said there had been crashes on the bridge slip-roads."

Carnegie send his sympathies to Officer Comrie's family.

Ferry Expensive.

"HOPES THAT a new Rosyth to Norway ferry would be running this year have been scuppered by the withdrawal of Superfast’s Zeebrugge service. Fife was dealt the blow yesterday with news that the planned link between Norway, Shetland, mainland Scotland and continental Europe had failed to secure Euro funding and will not now be operational until next year at the earliest. A “technicality” in the application for Marco Polo funding for the Norshukon Link had sunk hopes that Rosyth would welcome the new route this year—compensating for the gap left by the final Superfast sailing this weekend. While the formal detailed evaluation is still awaited, the Norshukon Link consortium believes it was not selected for funding simply due to a technicality in the application."

But Carnegie thinks the central question remains. Should anyone be subsidising a ferry service that fundamentally hasn't been able to wash its face? Even one run by the legendary Marco Polo?

How Much?

So exactly how much will the proposed new Forth bridge really cost? It would appear that no-one really knows.

"THE new Forth Road Bridge could be the most expensive bridge in human history, an MSP has claimed. Current estimates put the cost at £4.2 billion. But Green MSP Patrick Harvie, convener of the Scottish Parliament's transport committee, said a much longer bridge between Germany and Denmark had been costed at £3.4bn. He asked Finance Secretary John Swinney at the committee: "Is this the most expensive bridge in human history?" Mr Swinney said the estimated cost was at 2016 prices and also included the extensive road network leading to the bridge. But he agreed to provide the committee with any appropriate international price comparisons officials had made. Mr Swinney also said the new crossing was needed despite evidence that decay on the existing road bridge was slower than first thought."

If Mr Harvie's logic is correct then the new Forth bridge should be cheaper than £3.4 billion. Good news for everyone even the Greens.

Last Crossing.

Carnegie reads of the end of an era.

"SCOTLAND WILL bid a sad “bon voyage” to the final Superfast sailing between Rosyth and Zeebrugge on Saturday. The withdrawal of the only direct ferry route between the country and mainland Europe comes only 15 weeks after Superfast Ferries made its shock announcement that it was pulling the plug on its flagship service. It is all so different from the optimism felt only six years before when it sailed off on its maiden voyage from the Rosyth port following years of campaigning and negotiations. It is thought Superfast’s parent company, the Attica Group, made the decision based on a failure to build up the freight side of the business and the rocketing price of oil."

Sad. But the Superfast ferry never really lived up to its billing, given that it took it eighteen hours to get there.

Reckless.

And he was done.

"A FIFE man has been found guilty of deliberately driving a van into the foyer at Dunfermline police station ... Jurors heard Robertson was not happy about the way police had handled a series of complaints he made to them ... Robertson was remanded in custody."

Hit And Done.

"A jury heard yesterday how a student crashed into the foyer at Dunfermline police station with such force the tow bar on the van he was driving embedded itself in a brick wall. Scott Robertson said he had no recollection of being at the police station until he woke up in an observation cell in a blue overall. He said he thought a dodgy gearbox might have caused the accident."

It all seems very strange to Carnegie. Who would want to drive at a police station deliberately?

Dalgety Ray (2).

So, if you see any men wearing strange suits in Dalgety Bay you will know what they are up to.

"DALGETY BAY residents will find out the extent of contamination by radioactive waste following further monitoring by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) this month. Sepa plans to undertake a new survey following the results of previous tests and discussions with the Defence Estates Agency. Work will take place from 15th-19th September and will be carried out by contractors Nuvia. The survey will extend further east and west than on previous occasions and will include the new harbour and sandy bay west of the sailing club, as well as a significant part of the foreshore behind Sealstrand."

Dog Days.

This is one of those ... it could only happen in Fife stories.

"OSCAR the dog is feeling above par after an unlucky 13 golf balls were removed from his stomach. Owner Chris Morrison (48) was stunned on making the discovery after hearing rattling from the five-year-old labrador’s stomach. Oscar hoovered up the balls over a period of several months on walkies at nearby Pitreavie golf course. One of the balls had even turned black through decomposure."

You couldn't make it up. But will the golfers want their balls back?

Open House.

"MANY BUILDINGS and gardens across Fife will open their doors to the public again in September for the annual Doors Open Days event. The free event gives Fifers the chance to take a closer look at 69 of the Kingdom's finest and most interesting properties, old and new. Doors Open Days will be taking place in Fife on three Sundays througout September beginning on September 7 when there will be 18 venues and events across West Fife."

It's worth a visit.

Race For Life.

A big pat on the back to all of those involved. Well done to you all.

"A 24-HOUR fundraising party in Dalgety Bay to remember loved ones and continue the fight against cancer is set to smash the £80,000 barrier. The cash raised at the ‘Relay for Life’ event, organised by the local Cancer Research UK branch, was more than double their target. A delighted Lyn Gorton, the chairman of the town’s Relay for Life committee, said, “It’s the largest relay in Scotland and for just our second attempt it’s phenomenal."

Old Dunfermline.

Carnegie likes old snaps of his home town.

"DUNFERMLINE folk remain fascinated by their photographic past. Following on from three sell-out performances of 'Old Dunfermline on Screen', a brand new selection of slides and films has been put together for two further screenings of this popular production next month.The glimpses from a bygone age will be shown in the Carnegie Hall on September 24 and 25.Chairman of Dunfermline Heritage Trust, Craig Lindsay, is confident that these shows will be just as popular."

Carnegie will be dropping in.

Blue Badges.

Carnegie thinks that this is a difficult one.

"THE ENLARGED Kingsgate shopping centre has been condemned for charging for the use of its disabled parking bays. A disabled person, who did not want to be identified, criticised the disabled parking facilities at the shopping centre. And a leading disability worker was also critical, and claimed the introduction of charges for the disabled came without warning."

The disabled clearly have to make more use of their cars to get around than others, but is the fact that one shopping centre doesn't provide free disabled parking bays really make much difference? Anyone who takes a stroll along Dunfermline's main shopping street will find it littered with cars with blue badges in their windows and the disabled get to make more flexible use of other parking areas and indeed on street parking than anyone else. Carnegie thinks that the lack of free parking bays in one place really won't make much of a difference.

Swoop.

Very cosmopolitan for North Queensferry.

"BAD boy rapper MC Harvey was quizzed by armed police while making a raunchy video near Gordon Brown's Fife home. The controversial So Solid Crew star was being filmed romping with model Clarita De Quiroz on the bonnet of an Aston Martin under the Forth Bridge. But he was forced to stop the early hours shoot after police patrolling near the PM's North Queensferry home swooped."

But trust Fife Constabulary to get in the way. Carnegie awaits the video with interest.

Schools Out.

Carnegie reads that the Scottish Labour Party has wasted no time in selecting its candidate for the forthcoming Glenrothese by-election.

"THE rector of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's old school was confirmed as Labour's candidate for the crucial Glenrothes by-election last night after his main rival was excluded from the selection process. Lindsay Roy, 59, took over at Kirkcaldy High School this year after it was dubbed a failing school by HM Inspectorate for Education (HMIE). Stiff competition was expected from Kay Morrison, a local councillor, until members of the party's Scottish Executive Committee excluded her from the final shortlist of three presented to constituency members.Labour has denied she was blocked because she may have beaten Mr Roy, who many people suggest is the Mr Brown's favourite in the by-election caused by the death of John MacDougall."

Carnegie will be interested to see what the outcome is, after what will probably be a very long campaign. But Mr Roy only just came back from the summer holidays and now he's off again. That's teachers for you.

Oscar Win.

And another achievement for a Dunfermline primary school.

"A WEST FIFE primary has been named the best local school in Fife. And broadcaster Shareen Nanjiani was on hand at a swish Oscar-like ceremony in Glenrothes to hand over a trophy to Townhill School headteacher Mrs Christine Pirouet and depute Mrs Janine Bunyan. Mrs Pirouet, who has been head for just over four years, said, “It was a great night done in true Oscars format.”

The Chosen One.

Carnegie reads that Labour has lined up three candidates to contest the Glenrothes by-election. But who will be the chosen one?

"Two Fife school teachers and a parliamentary researcher are battling to become the Labour candidate in the forthcoming Glenrothes by-election. Kirkcaldy High School rector Lindsay Roy is up for the nomination, along with Colin Davidson, a teacher at Bell Baxter High School, in Cupar. Kezia Dugdale, who works for Labour MSP Lord Foukles, is the third contender. The by-election came after death of Labour MP John MacDougall. The candidate will be chosen later."