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.