West Fife Villages Home

NEW Consultation on proposals for rezoning school catchment areas

Fife Council have announced that the formal consultation regarding the proposal to rezone the secondary catchment areas has commenced.

The consultation went live on April 17 and interested parties can review the document online at www.fifedirect.org.uk/dunfermlinecatchmentreview and complete the online consultation form at the same address.

The consultation relates to proposals to rezone the catchment areas of Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, Queen Anne and Woodmill High Schools.

Parish Church News

Culross and Torryburn Parish Church serving the villages of Culross, High and Low Valleyfield, Newmills, Torryburn, Shiresmill and Blairhall.

Services for Sunday April 15th will be held in High Valleyfield Church at 9.45am followed by refreshments, and in Culross Abbey at 11am. These will be led by Rev. Liz Fisk. At these Services an important Edict will be read concerning the election of a Nominating Committee viz.: On Sunday 22nd April there will be one Service only, this in High Valleyfield Church at 9.45am to be followed by refreshments, then at approximately 11am, the congregation will be asked to nominate candidates for consideration of forming the Nominating Committee for our new Minister. Please note that persons nominating candidate(s) must first obtain their agreement.

Coffee mornings with home baking are held in High Valleyfield Church each Tuesday morning 10 – 12. All welcome to come in for a blether with like-minded company. The Kids Club meets also in High Valleyfield Church each Thursday 5 – 6.30pm, details from Rae Hunter tel. 881754.

Thinking of getting married? Then why not have your ceremony in beautiful and historic Culross Abbey. Experienced Wedding Coordinators will work with you to advise and help to make your ‘Special Day’ really special. See www.culrossabbey.co.uk or ‘phone June Laird on 01259 731431 or Moira Watson on 01383 880633 for more information and to arrange a meeting.

Villages guide available as E-Book

The 2018 West Fife Villages Guide has been launched - and for the first time it’s available as an E-Book which can be downloaded to various devices.

Produced by West Fife Villages Community Planning Group, the 52-page print version of the booklet is also available from various outlets.

The E-Book has added features, including links to various places of interest and local businesses.

The E-Book will be updated during the year to promote the area and businesses which can have their details listed without charge.

Produced in Adobe pdf file format, the E-Book can be downloaded to phones, tablets and computers. It is a comparatively small file - just under 2MB - so should download fairly quickly.

Our thanks go to the Big Lottery Fund and also to the Colton Trust, Comrie Colliery Environmental Trust and the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative.

The print booklet and E-Book were launched in Culross Abbey (pictured).

Planning Group chairman, Allan Arbuthnott (third from right), presented a bouquet of flowers to Marie Crane (second from right), whose late husband, John, chaired the group for many years and was one of the main drivers of the E-Book.

A minute's silence was also observed for Jim Hensman, a long serving member of the group, who sadly died the day before the launch.

Download here

Woodlands Group gains charity status

The West Fife Woodlands community group has become a registered Scottish Charity Organisation.

Who are we, what we do and where we do it?

The group which was started in 2006 by just two people has now a membership of over 50 members from all walks of life with 25 active members regularly participating on the Monday morning ‘workout’ activities.

Kincardine Bridge works

Amey advise of essential upcoming works they (on behalf of Transport Scotland) are planning to undertake to refurbish the two viaduct spans of the A985 Kincardine Bridge, south of the Swing Span.

This will consist of resurfacing, re-waterproofing, concrete repairs and joint replacement.

Amey are currently planning to commence these works in mid-February 2018, subject to budgetary allowance. Alternatively, this next phase of bridge deck refurbishment will be postponed until late March/early April 2018.

Trails leaflet unveiled

Saline and District Heritage Society has unveiled its latest trails leaflet round Saline and Steelend.

The latest leaflet gives walkers info on two routes that both start in the car park in Steelend although they can be followed in reverse from Saline.

The first route follows the signposted core path towards and turns off towards The Temple with spectacular views to the south. It skirts the bottom of Saline Golf Club before exiting to the B914 road to Saline.

The second route follows the core path as far as Cowstrandburn and returns to the route to The Temple via Bandrum. Users can then either return to Steelend or take the Temple route.

Pupils visit Community Orchard to celebrate Blossom Day

The community orchard at Valleyfield Woodland Park, now in its second year, has been celebrated with the holding of a Blossom Day.

Pupils from St Serf’s, Culross and Torryburn primary schools returned to see how the trees were progressing after they and four other local schools planted the trees back in February 2016.

Grants for paths on offer

Paths for All is offering grants of up to £1,500 to help community groups improve, maintain and promote their local community paths.

Does your group have a great idea for a community paths project but doesn’t have the money to carry out the work?

If the answer is “yes” Paths for All can help.

Click link for details http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/pfa/support/community-path-grants.html

Shiresmill Therapy Riding Centre Needs You!
Volunteers Urgently Required – Can You Help Us?

Shiresmill Therapy Riding Centre has been helping children and people of all ages with physical, learning, social and behavioural disabilities for over 30 years.

Since 1996 it has been based at its present location, a beautiful, peaceful spot above High Valleyfield Woods.

There are indoor and outdoor arenas, as well as a wonderful Sensory Park that’s constantly being developed and improved for the enjoyment of our riders and ponies.

The aim of LEADER is to support local, rural community and business networks, and farms diversifying their activities.

West Fife Woodlands based at Shiresmill near Blairhall was presented with the “Community Path Group of the Year” award at the “The Surgeon’s Halls” in Edinburgh.

This award was made at the Paths for All 2016 Volunteer Awards Ceremony which was attended by Minister for Public Health and Sport, Aileen Campbell MSP.

West Fife Woodlands was commended for developing and maintaining a network of paths in 112 acres of woodland with 1,600 volunteer hours expended during the last year.

West Fife Schools Pipe Band are currently recruiting tenor drummers, snare drummers, bass drummer and pipers. Any children currently being educated in the West Fife area aged 8 - 18 years are eligible to join us.

We have a dedicated team of experienced tutors who specialise in teaching children.

No previous experience necessary; drums and uniform are provided. We practice in Rosyth, Fife, and perform throughout the area.

Please contact wfspb@gmx.com or message us on Facebook for more details.

West Fife Woodlands were Highly Commended in the 2016 Scottish Finest Woods Awards ‘Community Woodland’ competition for promoting Healthy Lifestyles, on Friday 24 June at the Royal Highland Show.

The Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards recognises, celebrates and commends the dedication and commitment to the creation and management of Scotland’s finest woods.

More

Longannet Power Station formally closed on 31st March after ceasing to output to the grid on Thursday 24th March. It is the last of the coal-fired power stations to close in Scotland.

It first began generating electricity in 1970 and once fully commissioned, was the largest coal-fired station in Europe. Prior to its closure it was the third largest, after Belchat? in Poland and Drax in England. However with its installed generating capacity of 2,400 megawatts it remained the highest of any power station in Scotland.

Check out Saline, Steelend and Communities' new website

Blairhall Community Council minutes

Oakley and Comrie Community Council (PDF file)