Not Christian
Sir, — I read with interest the story on the front page of the Fife Free Press about the planned closure of the Old Kirk and also the continuing letters over the last few weeks about the union between St Andrews and St Johns Churches.
I have no doubt there will be more letters over the next few weeks about the closure of the historic Old Kirk from people on both sides of the debate. I believe this is something to be welcomed as this is a country that advocates freedom of speech. However I would like to point out that although people's personal opinions are entitled to be heard in a forum such as this, I do not feel that the amount of "mud slinging" that has been becoming increasingly prevalent in these letters is something to be encouraged.
I myself am a member of St Andrews Church and am deeply saddened about the loss of the church building that I have grown up in. I think the members of this congregation are entitled to be upset by their loss, whether they are regular attendees at worship or not. Let us not forget though, that the congregation of St John's Church would have been equally upset had the decision gone the other way. It is not the fault of that congregation that the decision has been made in favour of one building over another.
As Christian people we are encouraged to "Love thy neighbour as thyself" and I am surprised and saddened by the amount of bitterness that appears to exist within our community. It does not give a good impression in any way of churchgoing people and at a time when congregations everywhere are in decline I feel that this kind of behaviour does nothing to further our cause.
The loss of the Old Kirk building is a sad one and no doubt the congregation will feel the pain of it for some time to come, but as with the union of St Andrews and St Johns, hitting out at other churches will not change the decision, nor will it, I fear, make anyone feel better in the long term. — Yours, etc.,
DIANE KINNEAR

Self destruction
Sir, — So what on earth is the Church of Scotland playing at? In recent weeks, we have learned that the church intends to close down two of its buildings on the bogus grounds of 'finance', something that reminds me at least of the bad old days of Thatcherite monetarism.
Leaving aside the consideration that we now have two fine architecturally sound buildings being allowed to go to rack and ruin and to become the target of vandals and the haunt of drug addicts and alcoholics, what sort of Christian message is this sending out to Kirkcaldy?
Would you patronise a department store which was closing down all its branches? Seldom has there ever been an organisation so hell-bent (if you pardon the imagery) on its own destruction as the Church of Scotland has been for the past 30 years.
In the particular case of the Old Kirk, which has been there since 1244 and which was, as I recall, designated as the "principal place of worship" several years ago at the time of union of the Old Kirk and St Brycedale, there is the additional point which Kirkcaldy Presbytery must answer.
Is what they are attempting to do legal? It is certainly immoral, and incredibly foolish. — Yours, etc.,
DAVID W. POTTER,
12 Hendry Road, Kirkcaldy.

Living in past
Sir, – Why is that every time an elected representative enters into the discussion in support of the swimming pool, their arguments descend into a warbling rant?
First, we had Alice Soper rambling on about the Whyte House, which had nothing to do with the debate. Then, Peter Grant interjected with his belief in the (still) 'silent majority'. And in last week's Fife Free Press, Cllr Ian Chisholm topped them all, proving that it is still possible to live in the 1970s and get away with it!
I'm not sure which episode of The Broons he was reading when he talked about 'all the citizens of Kirkcaldy and its outlying villages and towns taking a trip to the bus station then a wee walk to the pool'.
I'm also not sure where he gets his facts about 'one third' of households not owning a car, as that would put Kirkcaldy at more than twice the national average as defined by the RAC.
Cllr Chisholm, we can only conclude, is drawing on the same market intelligence that Fife Council has been using to justify the development of the swimming pool.
The Council has still been unable to produce any information to substantiate whether its £15m investment will be anything other than a big white elephant and see an appropriate return on investment; or what the effect of any new development will have on retail trade on Kirkcaldy High Street.
It also has no information to back up its much-publicised claim to prove that shoppers will transition to other car parks when Tolbooth Street eventually closes.
Fife Council has also been unable to produce any evidence to link growth in retail trade to swimming which is not surprising, as neither has any other council in Scotland. That's why nearly all new pools and leisure developments are built outwith town centres.
Without a shred of evidence to back up his opinions, Cllr Chisholm is prepared to hang his views around his personal assertion that ''when mums and dads leave their kids at the pool for an hour or two, they will walk the High Street and maybe spend a pound or two." What year is it again?
Ma and Pa Broon might want to stroll down the High Street to visit the charity shops, but as far as I'm concerned, Joe and Hen Broon will be jumping in the motor and heading to Burntisland with the Twins and the Bairn in toe, because that's where the flumes are!
Fife Council has neither conducted properly audited market research or consulted any retailers on the development. Nor has it taken up the offer of advice from the construction, legal, marketing, retail and financial experts that have independently assessed this project on behalf of the Save The Car Park Campaign, but it is prepared to put the future of Kirkcaldy High Street at risk, for the smallest of political gains. — Yours, etc.,
SAVE THE CAR PARK CAMPAIGN

Not fit to use
Sir, — In an age when the government, Council and other agencies seek to improve the health and fitness of the population I would like to ask why the equipment in Kirkcaldy Swimming Pool is so inadequate?
While I appreciate that sometime in the future a new pool will be built and state of the art gym equipment provided, as in the smaller gyms in the region, I would like to ask why the broken equipment in Kirkcaldy cannot be replaced by machines removed from the other facilities.
As a member of the cardiac classes I find it ridiculous that every week either one or two machines are out of operation, waiting for repair.
This situation has gone on for months and all requests or queries are met with the same answer, 'When the new pool is built...'. When will that be? Do the citizens of Kirkcaldy area not deserve a fully functioning gym until then? — Yours, etc.,
JANE NICHOLSON,
20 Aboyne Gardens, Kirkcaldy.

BID welcome
Sir, – Congratulations to Dom Panetta and all the team on securing a 'Yes' vote for the Kirkcaldy BID.
Everyone here in Dunfermline is delighted that the benefits of a BID have been recognised in Kirkcaldy.
I hope that we can work together to bring about significant improvements for our BID businesses and attract many more local people and visitors to see what Fife has to offer.
With two BIDs in Fife, this is an exciting opportunity to lead the way and showcase how modern, forward thinking businesses can truly make a difference to the local and region's economy. — Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL MALOCO,
Chairman, Dunfermline Delivers Ltd

Joke figures
Sir, — I did intend just to ignore as a joke your article on drivers using their mobile phones on page 11 (Fife Free Press, March 4) and Fife Police's part in it, but, after reading I spotted one offender from the comfort of my living room chair.
This is not an unusual occurrence as I can guarantee at least one sighting per day from this vantage point - maybe John Clark of housing services should install hands free in their vans.
As a driver I do not drive a lot of miles but there are few occasions when out that I do not spot at least one offence being carried out, that's why I find it incredible that the whole of Fife police can only find three in 24 hours.
I also think that Chief Inspector David McCulloch should receive an award for the most optimistic person in Fife if he believes his statement. — Yours, etc.,
JOHN WALLACE,
Kirkcaldy

Hole trouble
Sir, — I am writing with regards to your article in today's Fife Free Press (Mar 4) regarding 'potholes'.
The worst to be found are on the road leading to West park Nursing Home, Walkerton Drive, Leslie, Glenrothes.
I have contacted Fife Council about this in the past. They sent out one of their managers to review the situation.
On returning his words were he had seen better roads in 'Beirut'! They filled a few holes but when the rain came it washed all the gravel away again!
Because of this the residents very rarely get visitors as people are afraid of damaging their cars or getting punctures and the residents are virtually prisoners as they are afraid to travel in the road because of the problems. It's a disgrace! — Yours, etc.,
MICHELE FYALL,
24 Portland Gardens, Kirkcaldy

Black hole
Sir, — I have just read an article in a national newspaper advising that the local authority with the worst pensions deficit in Scotland is Fife. It is said that the amount involved is "a staggering £835 million black hole".
If this information is correct every taxpayer and council employee must be concerned about future viability of services and jobs.
With budget cuts imminent in any event due to recessionary times the Council needs to explain their strategic plans on how they intend to tackle this particular issue. Future taxes collected surely need to be directed into frontline services to help the vulnerable and elderly - not pensions.
Taxpayers will make sacrifices but the public sector should lead by managing itself fairly and effectively.
It is not palatable but reform is surely needed to reduce this burden on local taxpayers. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Wrong move
Sir, — Once again the SNP Lib-dem administration seem determined to downgrade much of what we Fifers were proud of. You will lose votes.
The final nail has been inserted into the coffin for the Auchterderran Centre which was at its outset the envy of every other council in Scotland.
These are days of a recession which we will not be coming out of until we can increase our manufacturing jobs and when now all we hear about is more businesses small and large going to the wall.
Would it not have been possible to have expanded this centre as a business resource as well as an educational resource? Could we not have made it a Scottish resource?
The new curriculum is going to lead to more hands-on for our pupils and I hope this will mean more Scottish history, more local history including our famous folk like Adam Smith and Robert Adam and more about the local environment both the natural and the built-up.
Real things for real pupils, and the active approach is popular — ask them, motivate them.
I am sure Fife can still be Scotland's best, active and innovated council. — Yours, etc.,
ANN WATTERS,
17 Townsend Crescent, Kirkcaldy.