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| In
Brief |
Lastest news from West Fife Rotary Club
Torryburn and Newmills Community Council minutes
Carnock and Gowkhall Community Trust Newsletter
(PDF file)
West Fife & Coastal Villages Community Council Forum
Kincardine History Group meeting dates
Saline and Steelend newsletter (PDF file)
Cairneyhill Community Council minutes
Check out Saline, Steelend and Communities' new website
Blairhall Community Council minutes
Oakley and Comrie Community Council (PDF file)
The newly formed Saline
and District Heritage Society
have set up their own website.
Click here to visit the site
Church News
Culross and Torryburn Parish Church serving the villages of Culross, High and Low Valleyfield, Newmills, Torryburn, Shiresmill and Blairhall. John Robert Crane BEM
“John was born illegitimately in 1942 in Sheerness, Kent. He was adopted into a loving family and he said that was one of the best things that ever happened to him. John’s father worked for the Admiralty and the family moved to various parts of the country, including Almond Bank, Perth. Whilst working in Portsmouth, John was on detached duty in Aultbea, a small village on the west coast of Scotland. He met Marie who was on holiday. They were married in 1972 and John took up a post in Greenock where their daughter, Fiona, was born. This was followed by a three year appointment in Barrow-in-Furness and eventually, on request, a transfer to Rosyth in 1977. Their second daughter, Morag, was born a year later. Local impact in Airspace Change Programme Edinburgh Airport has announced an Airspace Change Programme. Woodlands 'highly commended'
The Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards recognises, celebrates and commends the dedication and commitment to the creation and management of Scotland’s finest woods. Longannet Power Station closes By John Le Marie
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. Valleyfield Estate
Community Orchard Bennet House: A Study House in Culross
The building in question is Bennet House, a house which sits directly opposite The Bessie Bar Hall in Culross and has its origins in the late 16th/early 17th centuries. Bennet House has been unoccupied for around 20 years and the damaging effects of Scottish weather, combined with a lack of regular maintenance and upkeep, have taken their toll on the building. 'Friends of Bandrum' Most people will know of Bandrum Care Home, tucked away in the woods at Cowstrandburn, but how many appreciate that with 120 staff it is far and away our largest employer, or are aware of the considerable investment made in recent years to upgrade and extend the range of accommodation available for more than 80 residents from across the age range and with a wide variety of care needs? Fife Council Planning /Community Council Focus Group Back in August, and in response to concerns raised by Saline and Steelend Community Council and many other groups about the functioning of the planning department, Fife Council arranged an ‘engagement event’ to listen to the criticisms that people have. The meeting was attended by representatives of community councils from across Fife but interestingly the majority were from central and west Fife. Calling all local businesses Saline and Steelend Community Council heard a presentation by the promoters of the proposed Muirmealing Solar Farm and the lack of objections to it. Consequently, there is a good chance that approval will be given. It also noted that there is a similar applications near Blairhall while there is another in the pipeline near Comrie Colliery.
A Tesco grant funding scheme for community greenspace projects has been launched. Solar farms for West Fife Villages? Given the past summer, people would be justified in thinking the last place for solar technology would be the West Fife Villages. Well, they're wrong. Have your say Chair of Saline and Steelend Community Council, David Chisholm, recently attended a meeting with Planners to discuss community councils' concerns about service delivery. Fife Leader funding “Leader” is a European grant scheme administered by Fife Council that can give awards to projects that address deficiencies in rural communities such as the West Fife Villages. Details of what will be eligible are not yet available but are likely to include works relevant to us. The council's funding team has a database of community groups throughout Fife and keeps them up to date on funding opportunities. Funding updates will be posted as they become available but, if your group wants to be included on the council's circulation list, contact Patricia Galfskiy (patricia.galfskiy@fife.gov.uk)
Strategic Plan review NHS Fife and Fife Council have launched a consultation to seek the public’s view on the Strategic Plan for Fife (2016-19).
Saline’s David Quinney MBE 1945-2015 It came as a shock for Dave’s friends and neighbours when we learnt of his sudden death from pneumonia on 18 September.
Book review…
Compiled, Transcribed & Notated by S.E. Murray This is a remarkable book that provides us with a window into the life of Saline folk during the 16th and 17th centuries. Welcome Home to Dunfermline Whatever your views on the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, it is a fact that countless historical artefacts and manuscripts are located outside their countries of origin. Acquired by either fair means or foul, very few find their way back home.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it - Kelty and Saline to Join? by John Crane One of the proposed changes takes the Saline and Steelend community council area out of the West Fife & Coastal villages ward, and places it in a ward with Kelty and Ballingry. This would split Saline and Steelend from our close village neighbour, Oakley, located only a couple of miles south of Saline. Official opening of woodland path
Attending were representatives of Fife Council, local MSP Cara Hilton, MP Thomas Docherty and other representatives from West Fife Woodlands, Valleyfield Heritage Project Group, Forestry Commission Scotland, Paths for All, ScotWays and the Scottish Ramblers Association. In addition, there was a good attendance by members of the local community. Use it or lose it - Saline Golf Club An extremely well attended open meeting was held on Monday evening, 16 June in Saline Golf Club. The Club Committee had called the meeting in order to bring the club's financial situation to the attention of members. The Committee had called on the services of a professional auditor who had analysed the clubs statement of accounts that had been compiled by Alan Monk, the club's treasurer.
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John's death marks the end of an era of dedicated service to the West Fife Villages community. Even in the latter stages of his illness he was anxious that his work could carry on. He also prepared notes for his funeral and these follow. Friends have filled in gaps but the words are essentially John's.
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.
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.
Did you know that it only takes five trees to make an orchard? We have many more than that here! 
The National Trust for Scotland will be working on an innovative project in Culross this summer, restoring an historic building and in the process helping people find out how conservation skills are put into practice. 
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has put forward proposals that would reduce the number of councillors the county has by six, and would also change the boundaries of certain wards. 
A formal opening ceremony of the Blairhall to Balgownie Woodland Path took place recently, with the ribbon cutting taking place at the newly erected bridge over Grange Burn.