Here are some of your views online.
Don't forget you can read more letters and the best in news and sports coverage in the Fife Herald every week.

Bonnygate
building
Sir, — I own the two shops that form the ground floor of the building that is soon to be demolished in Cupar's Bonnygate. I have always made it plain to Fife Council that I was willing to carry out repairs and subsequent demolition works.
When it became apparent that some of the other owners in the building were unwilling or unable to contribute towards the cost of the demolition, I offered to buy two of the properties from their owners and told the council that if I were successful, then I would bear the cost as I would organise the demolition myself. However, one of the sellers pulled out of our provisional sale agreement. Since all owners had to agree on one single plan of action, my plan — which would have relieved the council of any further financial burden — failed.
As I see it, there are two issues here. The first is a systemic failure where one party can undemocratically scupper the wishes of those others, and the second issue is the undue haste with which the local council appeared to be willing to award the demolition contract (estimated at £328,000) to their preferred contractors.
Though too lengthy to explain in this particular column, I believe I could have worked with the council in finding another viable option. The time constraint was not as urgent as many thought and a structural engineers report dated December 17, 2009, stated the movement in the building since 2005 was ongoing, but slow and the "gauges in the pend indicate a 2mm growth in crack width in 3½ years."
Although I agree with the spirit of Mr Robertson's letter (Fife Herald Correspondence, February 26) it should be understood that the vast majority of those involved did not simply choose to be inactive and let the council 'pick up the tab.' As it has now been taken out of our hands completely, it will be the council that will pay for these works with little or no chance of recouping this money in full from all the owners. — Yours, etc.,
STEVE SIMPSON.
Address supplied.

Open day
success
Sir, — On behalf of Tayport Community Trust I would like to thank all those who made sure that our open day on February 27 was a huge success. Over £500 was raised towards trust funds.
Over 150 people attended on the day to ask questions and view the trust's plans for the development of a community and sports centre in Tayport. A significant development in the past year was the decision by Fife Council to give control of the whole Abertay site on Shanwell Road to the trust if it can get the funding and permissions within three years. There were also displays on energy efficiency, community café, garden share and allotments. Newburgh Community Trust also very kindly attended to showcase their successful activities.
Many people took the time to give their ideas and suggestions for groups and activities with health related issues a popular topic. The children enjoyed fitness activities provided by Dundee College and free face painting.
The café was particularly successful and thanks must be given to the trust members and Girl Guides who worked very hard , and all those who donated home-baking. The quality of the cakes soon scuppered any suggestions of healthy eating! If cakes like this are on sale when the café opens there will be a queue back to the road bridge.
The trust has a huge amount of work to do over the next three years and anyone who wants to get involved is very welcome. The next eagerly anticipated event is a fund-raising concert on Saturday, May 22, featuring the Tannahill Weavers.
Thank you again to all those who assisted and attended on the day and the trust looks forward to the next three years. — Yours, etc.,
FIONA BISSETT,
Director,
Tayport Community Trust,
9 Hamilton Avenue,
Tayport.

Driving
in snow
Sir, — In the recent snow storm I saw many cars stuck, unable to move. Away back in the thirties and the beginning of World War Two, I drove a car with milk to be delivered from our farm at Baldinnie to Cupar every day, sometimes through a foot of snow.
There were no snow ploughs or salt on the roads. We put ropes on the wheels.
It could be done the same today, only the modern car has disk brakes. With only 1mm to pass a rope through, the rope would have to be less than 1mm. But it would get you to where you were going. — Yours, etc.,
PETER BETT,
1 Lyndsay Court,
Cupar.

Generous
support
Sir, — Can I, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Cupar, express our thanks to the people of Cupar and the surrounding areas for the generous support which they have shown to us over the last two Saturdays, the street collection on February 20 and at Tesco on February 27.
Over the two days we raised approximately £1200, which is a magnificent sum. This will be used along with funds raised by other clubs in the UK and the rest of the world, to go towards the target of eliminating polio in the last four countries in the world where it is still endemic. These countries are Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria.
The funds raised by Rotary worldwide, will be matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and it is hoped that these monies will be sufficient to allow us achieve our goals.
It is all too easy for the people of the west, where polio was wiped out many years ago, to forget that this terrible disease is still active in the world, resulting in serious and permanent disabilities for those unfortunate enough to catch it. The cost of providing the vaccine for each child is only 37p, so it is apparent that the generosity of the people in Cupar has gone towards the purchase of a large stock of the vaccine. — Yours, etc.,
BILL NICOLL,
President,
Rotary Club of Cupar.

Bullying
in schools
Sir, — I have been following with interest the furore caused by the allegations of bullying in Downing Street. My entire family is suffering from the consequences of having my youngest child continuously and deliberately bullied in school since the age of seven. This happened despite the fact that my child was known to be vulnerable. A change of school actually made things worse!
In my experience Fife Council departments would rather sacrifice the physical and mental health of a child and cast unsubstantiated accusations at the parents than admit that bullying is an all too common fact of life in our schools. My child has never received 'reparative justice' as first Fife Council must accept that bullying took place!
I can't tell you how many meetings I have attended (never minuted), and how many letters I have written itemising incidents of injury — several involving medical intervention and causing lifelong scarring. My pile of paperwork is over two inches deep.
My family and I have been accused of domestic abuse, but no investigation took place. I have been told that I have a psychiatric illness by a child psychologist who never even assessed me. Fortunately time and tide shows otherwise! This same 'professional' decided that my child's medical condition was a figment of my imagination.
My child has severe and complex emotional issues and receives counselling, medical treatment and respite care and will be doing so for a very long time to come. Fife tax payers are footing the bill. Surely it would have been cheaper, less hurtful and better for society at large to have believed the victim? — Yours, etc.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

New bus
service
Sir, — I write about the new X42 bus link from Cupar to Dundee for £5. Many people received these timetables through their door with these new prices. Along with others, I went on the X42 bus on Friday, February 29, only to discover that neither the driver nor the ticket machine had the details so the driver had no choice but to charge everyone £7.05p.
The driver had to call someone who could also not help.
On returning home I tried to phone up the bus company, but had no joy in getting hold of anyone who knew about it. Even on the side of the bus it has the details — with the slogan 'Make your journey simpler with the X42'.
Wouldn't it be simpler to also inform staff and update the ticket machine? — Yours, etc.,
STEVE PENRICE,
Address supplied.

Concessionary
rail travel
Sir, — On Thursday, February 11, Fife Council approved its budget for the next financial year. Amongst a large number of cost cutting measures, it was decided that Fife concessionary rail travel would, from April, operate only between stations within Fife. It will no longer be possible to travel by train from Cupar to Edinburgh or Inverkeithing to Dundee for £1 return. Justification for the elimination of this popular concession was that it encourages people to shop outwith Fife and this is detrimental to Fife's economy.
To me, the assertion that large numbers of people from St Andrews or Cupar will travel by train to shop in Kirkcaldy or Dunfermline is unrealistic. What has been overlooked is the fact that many travel out of Fife for business reasons, to meet friends, to go to the theatre, visit art galleries, museums and hospitals etc. It is probable, therefore, that the concessionary rail travel arrangement would become underutilised and this would justify its total cancellation in the future, as part of the next cost cutting exercise.
I, with others who argued for the retention of the existing arrangements, albeit at an increased charge, voted against the proposed change, but the SNP/Lib Dem administration have sufficient votes to force through its implementation. But all is not lost. There is a way to minimise the costs of rail travel.
On Thursday, at Cupar station, I purchased a Fife concession return ticket for a trip from Cupar to Inverkeithing at a cost of £1.
At the same time I purchased a standard off-peak, cheap day return ticket for a journey from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh at a cost of £4.70. This would have cost £3.10 if I had used a seniors railcard. The total cost of a day trip from Cupar to Edinburgh = £5.70, or £4.10 if a senior's railcard is used. — Yours, etc.,
ROGER GUY,
(Councillor, Cupar ward),
Crawley House,
Springfield.

Council
cutbacks
Sir, — I would like to make comment about the fact that not only has Fife Council cut back on the rail concessions which undoubtedly will mean that most disabled and pensioners will no longer use it, the council is also scrapping three vital services altogether. These are the enhanced annual cleaning service; the pension collection service and the shopping delivery service.
The latter two services are used as lifelines by housebound people who are unable to collect their pensions and who cannot get out to buy vital food and provisions that they need to stay alive. We keep hearing that this council is targeting it resources on vulnerable people, but how can this be true when they're cutting off such vital services? It is despicable that this council thinks this is acceptable.
I was at the Budget meeting on February 11 and listened to the diatribe between the administration and Labour, but to me the people who made the most sense were the independent councillors Bryan Poole and Willie Clark, both of whom pointed out that the people responsible for the mess the country is in are the bankers, who are still able to get their bonuses and live off the fat of the land.
I think they were right in calling for all political parties to stand together to fight against what we're told are inevitable cuts in jobs and services. Nationally we can still afford to fight two wars, fund the new trident and ID cards, as well as keep bailing out the banks, so why should ordinary people in Fife have to pay the price? — Yours, etc.,
RUDI VOGELS,
1 Barassie Drive,
Kirkcaldy KY2 6HL.

Litter
louts
Sir, — Environmental enforcement officers should be more active in helping to prevent school children from littering the streets, particularly at lunchtime every school day.
I often see council workers waiting in vehicles for children from Bell Baxter school to walk past leaving a trail of litter in their wake along Bonnygate and Carslogie Road on their way back into school before the daily clean-up begins. Am I the only person to see that this is the 'tail wagging the dog'?
Environmental enforcement officers should be more visible and should work with school headteachers to put an end to this. I am in favour of the statutory £50 fixed penalty fine, but I suspect that this would not work.
Perhaps school children caught littering could be told to collect litter around school at break times for a week and with their new-found talent be 'empowered' as litter monitors to support a campaign for clean. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Bonnygate
building
Sir, — In the Fife Herald of February 19 (page seven) readers were told how Fife Council's contractors were soon to proceed with demolition of the dangerous C-listed (listing?) building in Cupar's Bonnygate at a likely cost of £300,000. I would not be in the least surprised if the final cost was more than that.
Evidently, after a saga lasting more than five years, the owners of the shops & flats within the property failed to carry out repairs. Now, lo and behold, the council will seek to recoup the £300,000 from them using debt recovery procedures. After five years of zero progress? Some hope!
As I see it, Fife Council, funded by those of us who pay council tax, will ultimately bear the cost.
Page 13 of the same issue carried a report of the reaction of CAC (Campaign Against Charges) to Fife Council's planned cutbacks in its concessionary rail travel scheme. The council's aim is to save £250,000, rather less than the estimated cost of the Bonnygate works.
I daresay we will be told that these two fall under different budget votes. — Yours, etc.,
ALAN ROBERTSON,
Ladybank.

Pharmacy
refusal
Sir, — SODS (Save Our Dispensing Surgeries) group wishes to express its very deep regret and serious concern at the decision last week by NHS Fife PPC to turn down the Balmullo pharmacy application in spite of the overwhelming support for it from local residents. That, and the extraordinary outcome of the Leuchars pharmacy application when again, contrary to the wishes of the local community, approval was given for a new pharmacy within Leuchars post office, is a situation which SODS believes demands further scrutiny.
In ideal circumstances we would have sought a judicial review as we believe this action would have considerable merit, but the costs associated with this are likely to be prohibitive. SODS will, however, with the support of Leuchars Community Council, prepare a case for submission to the Scottish Ombudsman for investigation.
At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further on the Balmullo application until after the publication of the minutes and a decision on a possible appeal. SODS will, however, continue to carefully monitor the Balmullo application as it progresses to a conclusion and may later decide whether it needs to be added to the Ombudsman submission.
SODS will continue to give support to Mr Alan Kennedy's Scottish Parliamentary petition 1220. This has brought about government legislation to involve the public in cases like Balmullo and Leuchars and has resulted in the Scottish Government announcing a consultation process on the current unsatisfactory Scottish Pharmacy Regulations. SODS has been invited by the Scottish Government to contribute to this now long overdue review as soon as it is launched. — Yours, etc.,
ALAN KENNEDY,
On behalf of SODS,
3 Smithy Lane,
Balmullo KY16 0FG.

Streets a
shambles
Sir, — Re letter in the Fife Herald regarding Kinloss Crescent. I remember 30 years or more it was a lovely street, and so was Balgarvie Crescent.
Everybody helped one another, and the neighbours took a pride in their street, but now it's a shambles, with cars on pavements, rubbish etc. I could go on and on, but who cares? — Yours, etc.,
KINLOSS CRESCENT TENANT,
Name and address supplied.

Poor
relation
Sir, — I hope last week's headline on the front page of the Fife Herald — 'Scathing verdict on state of Cupar' — is seen as a wake-up call for the powers that be within Fife Council. When this kind of headline is written, politicians — local and national — often take umbrage at the messenger, in this case the Fife Herald. Not so me.
I think the Herald just about had it spot on. When I was chair of Cupar Community Council, the community council identified a number of the very same buildings as being in a very poor condition and highlighted the area behind the Crossgate and bordering the River Eden as a mishmash of car parking and unsightly buildings. There's one shop in the Crossgate which has had a 'temporary' shop sign up for about three years. Some of the poorest properties are under the control of Fife Council.
Since becoming a councillor and for some time before, I have raised concerns about the future of Cupar town centre. Shortly after the elections in 2007 I asked Fife Council about investment plans for Cupar and was told: "There's nothing in either development services or transportation capital programme for Cupar town centre — all investment in the town centre is dependent on the 1400 houses in Cupar North development and when that gets underway a master plan will transform Cupar." Three years on and there's no sign of any master plan — I think it's a figment of someone's imagination somewhere deep inside Fife House, Glenrothes.
For far too long Cupar has been the poor relation in North East Fife when it comes to public sector investment. St Andrews is about to get £4.5 million doing up Market Street and part funding a 'road to the beach' (£500,000), plus £50million on a new school. Fife Council is spending around £50 million on sports centres in Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Glenrothes, £5 million+ in doing up Fife House, and £2 million on something called Celebrating Fife. For goodness sake Fife councillors are now being supplied with Blackberries!
People in Cupar will remember the ruling party in North East Fife — the Liberal Democrats — always complaining about 'all the money going to west and central Fife'. Well now they are holding the purse strings and the same group are choosing to spend huge sums of money anywhere except Cupar.
Keep up the good work Fife Herald. — Yours, etc.,
CLLR. BRYAN POOLE,
49 South Road
Cupar KY15 5JF.

State of
Cupar
Sir, — So according to last week's Fife Herald, it is now official that Cupar is in a state. I wonder what our two Liberal Democrat politicians are saying about that, because over all the years they have been in office, they have done little or nothing that has benefitted the people of the town, or the town centre shopkeepers.
Perhaps they could and tell us what positive contributions they have made that have improved the quality of life for their constituents. Some decades ago, Cupar was a thriving area, and was officially the most prosperous town in the United Kingdom. Beyond the town industry, jobs and the once great East Neuk fishing fleet have all been decimated to nothing, as the politicians have kow-towed to our masters in Europe, who have now more power in the running of this country than our MPs have.
The politicians have been exposed and their primary interest is the party, not the constituency. — Yours, etc.,
BOB BEVERIDGE,
Old Town House,
Falkland.

Stop this
proposal
Sir, — The open letter published by the Scottish Newspaper Society in last Friday's Fife Herald should have the support of everyone in Scotland, let alone Fife.
The proposal of the Scottish Government to remove the requirement for local authorities to advertise planning applications in the Press is one step short of a decision and this proposal should be stopped in its tracks. If councils wish to promote their claim that their services are transparent and open to scrutiny, they must see that a key to that is to continue to publish planning applications in the public notices.
In practice, the absence of applications being advertised alongside the authorisation that planning officials have to make delegated decisions without applications coming before the area planning committee will lead to many such decisions being made without any scrutiny by third parties. This would be a serious blow to the present reasonably democratic process and that is just plain wrong.
In my opinion the term "to remove the requirement" is not in itself a directive and each council should be able to decide what to do. Any decision should be taken by elected members not officials. Fife should stick with the status quo.
And please Fife Council, don't tell us we can look up your website to check the applications lodged. I can and do but there are many who are not able to and the local newspaper is the best catch all medium for such information being made available. — Yours, etc.,
GRAHAM LANG,
Westermost,
Coaltown of Callanege,
Ceres.

Thoughtless
behaviour
Sir, — I would like to point out the irresponsible and thoughtless behaviour being displayed by some dog owners when exercising their dogs on Duffus playing fields.
On Monday I saw a lady with two German shepherds walk straight across the rugby pitch. They were not on leads, and even if she uses a doggy bag, the toxicara bacteria is still on the ground. Another person and his spaniel were using the Cupar Hearts football pitch for their walk.
Please be a responsible dog owner, and don't go where young people are enjoying their sports. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Adamson
disruption
Sir, — As many of your readers will be aware the Cupar Health Centre and Adamson Hospital are currently undergoing a major redevelopment. This will cause a significant amount of disruption to patients, staff and healthcare professionals alike over the next 18 months.
Parking has been significantly reduced, the access to the health centre has been altered and key health care workers have had to relocate to premises in Stratheden Hospital for the duration of the project. The wards of the old Adamson Hospital have also been relocated to Stratheden Hospital with considerable disruption to inpatients and their relatives who visit them, not to mention the dedicated nursing team and other staff that works there.
This project has been undertaken in order to 'future proof' both the Adamson Hospital and the health centre with all the services they provide. As health care providers we are acutely aware of the value of high quality and local health services. With the redevelopment of this site we will be able to offer our patients a high quality service and good clinical environment that will provide for future generations in this part of the world.
This week Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee, said: "General practice is very much at the heart of local communities and the care we provide is valued by our patients. Everyone needs to have access to their GP at some point in their life, from immunisation of babies to care for the elderly. If we are to improve access and provide the range of services that patients need, then we have to make sure we have the capacity to deliver."
I would like to take this opportunity to ask your readers who live in the Cupar area to please bear with as at this time of severe disruption to the health centre. The project is only being undertaken with community's best interest at heart. — Yours, etc.,
DR FINLAY MACDONALD,
Eden Villa Practice,
Cupar.

Reducing
speed limits
Sir, — Readers may have noticed that Fife Council is planning to impose 20mph speed limits on some 60 roads throughout Cupar. The combined orders will hinder traffic, causing delays in journey time, increase noise and duration of cars passing houses and reduce efficiency of motor vehicles leading to environmental polution and extra greenhouse gas emmissions. The huge cost of implementing such a scheme over some 60 different roads in Cupar must also be a consideration.
In the past 10 years there have been three road fatalities within Cupar, all in 2004, and all of which occurred on the main road through Cupar. None was on the roads proposed to be restricted by the above orders. Therefore it is arguable that the orders will only waste parts of many people's lives rather than save them.
No sooner have we been told 'There's a reason it's 30', than we are being told '20' is better. Pretty soon we'll be back to the days of a man walking with a red flag in front of cars; but perhaps I shouldn't put ideas into Fife Council's heads.
Motorists or residents who wish to object to these proposals should make their opinion known to Fife Council. — Yours, etc.,
KENNETH COCHRAN,
The Lea Rig,
Blebo Craigs,
Cupar KY15 5UG.

Serious
allegations
Sir, — It would be nice to think that Mr Semple (Fife Herald, January 29) is genuinely concerned about the future of Leuchars Post Office, but we believe this is simply not the case. Leuchars Community Council has always been concerned about, not only the effect siting a community pharmacy in the post office would have on GP services within the community, but the long term future of the post office itself. Indeed, we are on record as stating this in a recent letter to the Herald.
The following extract from the minutes of the National Appeals Panel meeting of December 15, 2009, shows that Mr Semple is clearly well aware that the postmaster wants to move in due course. 'Mr Semple believed that the premises were too large for the post office and that the postmaster would probably transfer to other premises in due course.' To claim that post office services are under threat by the 'vocal few' and their 'nasty' campaign is entirely disingenuous of him.
Regarding Mr Semple's term the 'vocal few' we can only assume he is making reference to Leuchars and/or Balmullo Community Councils? Mr Semple appears to have overlooked one word here — it should perhaps read 'vocal few hundred'. Since September 2008, when Levenbrae first applied for a community pharmacy in the post office, there have been four public meetings in the two villages with a total attendance approaching 900 people, including on some of those occasions all three Taybridgehead councillors, Iain Smith MSP, Ted Brocklebank MSP and Sir Menzies Campbell MP, all of whom have fully supported this 'nasty' campaign. As for 'intimidating' residents it is almost laughable to think that the people of Leuchars, Balmullo, Guardbridge and Dairsie could be intimidated into attending four public meetings over such a sustained length of time. Please give our residents more credit Mr Semple!
Perhaps Mr Semple's view is unsurprising given his arrogant disregard for the way local residents' issues are raised and represented by community councillors. The following extract, again from the NAP minutes of December 15, 2009, bear this out: 'He (Mr Semple] believed that the application for Leuchars showed how easy it was for a commercially interested party to 'nobble' community councils. The weight which the National Appeal Panel or the PPC attached to 'public opinion' must be measured against the degree of 'nobbling' which has taken place. He hoped that the Leuchars experience would inform NHS Boards on how they should seek out public opinion and not simply head for the nearest community council. Members of community councils were invariably volunteers and were not democratically elected.'
This also explains why he has not approached either community council in all of this process, except to query why he had not been invited to the meeting of the Leuchars, Balmullo and Guardbridge community councillors and the GPs in August 2009. (This was a closed meeting with the GPs to hear about their grounds for appeal following Mr Semple's successful application so it would have been inappropriate for him to attend), and to say that he was unable to accept the invitation to attend the October 2009 Leuchars Community Council meeting.
Most serious of all are Mr Semple's claims that Mr and Mrs Thiesen are being subjected to abuse by people who are being intimidated by the 'vocal few' running this 'nasty' campaign. We find these serious allegations and ones which should be substantiated; it is of note that there were no examples of what form this alleged abuse has taken in the report.
If there is any intimidation going on in this 'war', it is of Mr Semple's doing with his continued cheap and petty potshots at the local community through the medium of this newspaper, and that it is, in fact, these and his inflammatory remarks such as those in last week's Herald that are most likely to be damaging to Mr and Mrs Thiesen. — Yours, etc.,
CARROLL FINNIE,
Chair,
Leuchars Community Council.

Science
unproved
Sir, — The letter from Colin Clark (Fife Herald, January 29) regarding the need to use GM food to feed an increasing global population is riddled with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims.
1) The science of GM food is still unproved and the claims made by the GM lobby untested.
2) GM technology is owned by huge multinationals like Monsanto. These corporations own the seeds and the technology. They will therefore control our food if we allow GM in.
3) We have one billion people going hungry in the world and another one billion overweight. You do the maths. Our problem is not a shortage of food, but its distribution. Food grown goes to the highest bidder, not those whose need is greatest. GM will not change that.
GM techology is used to grow huge monocultures in India and Africa where the food is then shipped abroad for the highest prices. The people that need the food never see it — GM or not.
4) It is values and priorities that need to change. Traditional agriculture can feed the world if it was allowed to, properly supported and planned. For example in America 20 per cent of its corn is now grown to feed cars and not people. If crops are now seen as not food but fuel for cars how will we increase food production for people?
True the world's population is becoming untenable. But the the key is to grow locally, organically and for local consumption. That way you reduce the use of fossil fuels, fertilisers and greenhouse gas emissions. However, that route is not popular because it does not put money in the pockets of big corporations. — Yours, etc.,
WILLIAM METHVEN,
Hillview,
Back Wynd,
Falkland KY15 7BX.

Bin this
incinerator
Sir, — I'm writing because I've just read a story in the Fife Herald dated Friday, January 8, concerning the proposed waste to energy incinerator planned for Binn Farm, near to Strathmiglo.
To begin with, I must say that should there be an incinerator, then the farm must be one of the best possible places to site it. With few local individuals and a site well placed away from major roads, it has to be said it's good. However, as someone who has already worked in such a plant, a plant that wasn't nearly as good or as efficient as was originally thought to be, I would say the idea should be permanently scrapped and confined to the rubbish bin. Please forgive the pun.
Allow me to explain. The idea of energy being derived from burning unwanted waste sounds pretty good to those who are not enlightened with the dangers involved, but the long-term effects can be disastrous. The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are not exactly humankind-friendly and possible toxins etc. being emitted from any stack has to be seriously bad news.
Who on earth wants harmful cancerous deposits, heavy-metals etc., entering into your lungs and the food-chain? CJD was and still is bad enough without adding to the world's health problems. Also, the world's Governments are under pressure to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses entering our atmosphere, with climate conferences taking place all over.
Which brings me on to another problem associated with the waste, and that concerns it being buried. That rubbish will release enormous amounts of methane gas, a gas that is twice as bad as CO2 because it in itself is a fierce greenhouse gas that cracks after 15 years to become CO2. CO2, by the way, lasts about 15 years before it is either absorbed or utilised by organic growth. So the question arises, what can we do with the unwanted domestic waste that causes so many problems around the globe? The answer is simple, especially as it is already in use but needs refining to complete the job.
I now reside in Morocco, North Africa, and I have been absolutely impressed by everyone's efforts and will to recycle practically everything under the sun. Plastics, metals and paper are used to create something that can be reused in their everyday life. Within this continent there are small plants that take unwanted waste paper and mix it with sawdust to produce cakes of fuel that burn cleanly with an efficiency that astounds me. Surely westernised and advanced countries could follow suit? Who needs coal… except filthy and polluting power-stations that are almost medieval in their very basic idea and should be scrapped to make way for clean nuclear alternatives?
Please don't allow the waste to energy incinerators to appear. They are dangerous and polluting, especially if the workforce are negligent. It can happen, please believe me. You should construct recycling plants instead to separate what is not wanted and turn the products into something that is. The money used in constructing these harmful incinerators would be better used to build something more human and animal friendly, not forgetting our fragile planet too. — Yours, etc.,
SCOTTY MACKAY,
Agadir,
Morocco.

Delicate
balance
Sir, — The global population is growing rapidly and the Government's aim is to increase food production by 50 per cent by 2030, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions, use of fertiliser, energy and fossil fuels and use less water and land. This is a very ambitious strategy indeed and may seem to some to be a wish list of unobtainable objectives.
It is difficult to imagine the very large increases in food production being met without the contentious issue of Genetically Modified (GM) crops being looked at again. GM crops are widely grown in other countries where their resistance to diseases and reduction in the need for sprays and pesticides seem to have been successful and may form part of the answer. However, the Scottish Government and a large proportion of the public hold a great reluctance to adopt GM technology.
There is a very delicate balance between the public's desire and the national and international need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase food production to meet a growing population and the reluctance to use GM technology.
It is important that all sides of the argument keep an open mind and that the benefits and disadvantages of GM technology and similar scientific advances that may be developed in future years are carefully explained and examined, so that informed decisions and choices can be made. — Yours, etc.,
COLIN CLARK,
Agricultural partner,
Pagan Osborne,
12 St Catherine Street,
Cupar.

Protect our
farmers
Sir, — In these tough economic times local businesses and farmers need our support. Locally sourced produce is no longer a fashionable phrase, it now relates to the very survival of local shops and businesses. In addition, the people of Scotland recognise the quality of home-grown produce and want to buy food that is genuinely Scottish.
For too long consumers have been duped by products that have been mislabelled or not labelled at all. For example, 'Scottish Smoked Salmon' and 'Smoked Scottish Salmon' can mean entirely different things, with the former being foreign salmon smoked in Scotland and the latter being Scottish salmon potentially smoked and packaged abroad. Consumers are in the dark about which country is really responsible for our produce.
This is misleading and unacceptable. It is about time that producers are given clear guidelines for labelling and I will continue to campaign to have existing legislation changed to reflect the choice and clarity that consumers expect. I want people to know that if it says produced in Scotland on the label, the central ingredient is at least of Scottish origin.
I would ask my constituents to join in the campaign and help protect Scotland's local farmers and businesses. — Yours, etc.,
STRUAN STEVENSON,
Scottish Conservative MEP,
The European Parliament,
Rue Wiertz,
B-1047, Brussels.

Falkland
traffic
Sir, — Since the yellow lines were introduced into Falkland some 30 years ago, they have only been seasonal. The regulations were enforced between April and the end of September, and over all the years there have been no problems, accidents or obstructions reported, so many are wondering why is it now necessary for these regulations to be permanent as advocated by the community council.
Falkland is no different from any other town or village in Scotland, where traffic and parking has become a way of life. Last Saturday, on a 'one-off' occasion, a huge volume of traffic arrived for the annual athletics event. The police did a grand job controlling the situation, and no problems emerged.
Of course, motorists are angered that mandatory parking signs finish up being hidden with hanging baskets, and penalty tickets have been issued to those who were unaware that parking is restricted. Any person or organisation covering up a mandatory traffic sign is clearly breaking the law.
The one question that is not being answered if you introduce more restrictions is: Where are the cars going to go,? There is no alternatives, other than the car park where owners will not park overnight due to vandalism. Two cars were recently vandalised, one had a windscreen broken and the other had its wipers twisted. — Yours, etc.,
BOB BEVERIDGE,
Old Town House,
Falkland.

Spreading
information
Sir, — At its meeting on Tuesday, January 12, Falkland and the Newton Community Council reviewed the problems of snow clearance, and I have already written to Fife Council protesting at the lack of action in our settlements.
However, the issue prompts the question of how to communicate within the community when such problems arise. The Fife Council website is not available to all and is not easily accessible even to those who can reach it. I received two messages from Fife Council which were passed to community council members who had e-mail, and posted on the Falkland noticeboard, but it was not feasible to spread the word more widely.
I am therefore planning to build up an e-mail address book of residents who access their e-mails at least once a day, and could quickly pass messages to their neighbours about such issues as snow, bin collection, flooding or whatever. Anyone who is willing to volunteer for this should send me their names, postal addresses, telephone numbers and addresses at agarrett37@btinternet.com
I would then ask Fife Council to e-mail prompt information to me about such issues so I can forward it to the network of addresses. If this works, as well as spreading information, this would help to co-ordinate community efforts to cope with future problems. — Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY GARRETT,
Chair,
Falkland & Newton of Falkland
Community Council,
1 Royal Terrace,
Falkland KY15 7AX.

Working
together
Sir, — Today in Auchtermuchty, Fife Council workers are ripping out and cutting hedges instead of clearing the roads and paths. I contacted the council to ask why they were doing this instead of seeing to the roads and their response was: "It's not our department".
Surely when we are having such severe weather all departments should be working together to ensure the safety of residents? Not 50 yards from where a hedge has been ripped out and mud left lying everywhere there are a group of pensioners' houses who are practically stranded in their homes due to pavements and roads not being cleared or adequately gritted.
I know that the whole of the country is suffering due to this weather, but Fife Council is not doing nearly enough to keep the roads and pavements clear considering what we all pay in council tax. — Yours, etc.,
CORRINNE DAVIDSON,
23 Westland Park,
Auchtermuchty.

Clear the
car park!
Sir, — Shopping at Tesco in Cupar is, on the whole, a not unpleasant experience. In recent weeks, however, this feeling has been suddenly dispelled on leaving the building.
For in order to reach one's parking space, trolley fully laden, one has been obliged to negotiate a maze of icy hummocks, an ordeal more reminiscent of hauling a sledge over parts of the North Polar region.
This week, Tesco reported substantial profits. So would not some modest future provision for car park snow clearance help improve their image with their loyal customers, many of whom are, directly or indirectly, shareholders in this fine enterprise? — Yours, etc.,
GEOFFREY N. ARMITAGE,
5 Drumwell,
Cupar Muir,
Cupar KY15 5SR.

Rubbish
piling up
Sir, — Councillor Vettraino says the bin lorries are back to normal! (Fife Herald, January 8) Rubbish! We've not had an uplift since December 18 and now have bags piled up alongside the bin.
We only get our bins emptied for our £870 council tax, having private water and sewage and no street lighting or cleaning. We don't get grit either, even though this is a council road. The gritter passes us with the grit off and the bin at the end of the road has been empty for two years!
We've been snowed in, therefore not getting to pay point to pay council tax! Fife Council were quick enough to send out a final notice letter demanding payment in full! Our payment is now up to date, but our bins are still overflowing and being added to by the day! — Yours, etc.,
DISGUSTED,
Easter Lumbennie,
Newburgh.

Heartless
driver
Sir, — To the driver of a pale blue car on the A92 on January 14 at approx. 7.05 p.m. You hit a dog on the road just past the turn off for Ladybank.
How cruel of you not to stop and tend to the poor defenceless animal. Would you do the same if you had hit a human being?
Myself and another kind-hearted couple both stopped to help, contacted the owners and helped them take their dog to the Glenrothes vet. A sincere thank you to them must be said.
I hope you have conscience you heartless individual (and that's putting it politely). The poor dog had to be put to sleep as a result of its injuries.
OK, you maybe could not have prevented hitting the animal as it was dark, but the least you could have done was stop, make a phone call to the police, the owners, the vet and offer some assistance.
I know you have damage to your car because I have seen bits of it on the roadside. I really hope it hurts your pocket deeply. — Yours, etc.,
DISGUSTED ANIMAL LOVER.
Name and address supplied.

Housing
proposals
Sir, — The reactions of Labour and Conservative spokespeople to the new Housing Bill are sadly predictable. Johann Lamont, Labour's deputy leader, claims that the Scottish Government is "trying to revisit the 1980s and tinkering with the right-to-buy, instead of providing enough money to build more homes". And where is this money to come from, Ms Lamont? The rest of us are living in 2010 and there's a recession.
David McLetchie says the Tories will oppose the bill and "fight to protect the rights and aspirations of working people". Working people, eh? Taxi for McLetchie!
It is almost 30 years since the right-to-buy was introduced by Mrs Thatcher's government. It gave many tenants the opportunity to buy their own homes, often at a very large discount. That was welcomed by many, but the fatal flaw in the scheme was that while local authorities were in theory free to continue to build more council houses with the money received from the sales, the tenants of any new houses built would have become eligible in their turn to buy their house at a discount and, if they chose, to sell it on.
In other words, if councils had built new social housing, they would have been spending taxpayers' money only to give much of it away in a few years to individuals. Council house building stopped for the duration, and virtually the only social rented housing built was by housing associations.
Almost half a million council properties have now been sold off in Scotland, and as the better houses tended to be sold off first, the maintenance costs for the remaining stock have over the years put an increasing strain on tenants and councils alike. In the late 1990s, when Labour came to power, I expected that one of their first actions as a socialist party would be to modify the right-to-buy scheme in a similar way to that proposed in the new Housing Bill, and for the same reasons. But they did nothing about it, as Tony Blair was no more a socialist than Thatcher had been.
The new proposals will not affect existing tenants; it is only new tenants in council or housing association properties who will no longer be able to buy their homes. Nor will these measures at a stroke remedy the desperate shortage of homes for rent. Fife Council under its joint Liberal Democrat and SNP administration, in partnership with housing associations and with the assistance of government grants, has already begun to build new houses for rent — not enough to cover the need, to be sure, but at least it's a start. — Yours, etc.,
DONALD MACGREGOR,
Vice-chair,
Housing and communities
committee, Fife Council.


Tremendous
job done
Sir, — Regarding the recent spell of bad weather, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank the workforce within Fife Council who have done such a tremendous job in very difficult circumstances.
I have been very critical of senior management within the council for their failure to strategically plan and prepare for such a spell but this should in no way reflect from the hard work and dedication of the staff who have been at the front end delivering services.
I know that all those who have been involved with dealing directly with winter maintenance have worked through very difficult circumstances and conditions to make sure they make our streets as safe as possible. I am also aware that many have been frustrated when unable to access grit and salt.
I am also conscious that other front line workers — such as home carers, meals on wheels and home shopping staff — have worked tirelessly throughout the festive period and have made sure they got to their destinations despite the bad weather. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude and again I want to offer my sincere thanks for all that they have done and continue to do.
When things have gone wrong at a senior management and strategic level, there is always the danger that all the good work that has gone on is not highlighted. This should certainly not be the case in Fife. We have an army of workers that we can be truly proud of and I am sure the overwhelming majority of people across the Kingdom would want to join me in saying thank you — Yours, etc.,
COUNCILLOR ALEX ROWLEY,
38 Mossgreen Street,
Kelty.

Selfish
behaviour
Sir, — I would like to thank the person that emptied a whole grit bin on to his drive on the Drum Estate — not! The drive wasn't even cleared prior to the grit being thrown over it.
I have been phoning the council for weeks asking for grit bins and grit, and when we finally get it, one person thinks it is for their sole useage. This is very selfish, there is no other grit bin, so our cul de sac now has nothing to use. I hope you feel guilty! — Yours, etc.,
DRUM RESIDENT.
Name and address supplied.

Carers
thanked
Sir, — Mrs Hilda Watson has asked me to use your columns to pass on thanks to all the carers who look after the residents of Castle Park sheltered housing in Falkland, particularly for their visits during the current bad weather.
Whilst writing may I say that it seems that elderly folk in in Fife are very well cared for, judging by this example. — Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY GARRETT,
1 Royal Terrace,
Falkland KY15 7AX.

Stuck in
the snow
Sir, — On New Year's Day, I got stuck in the snow at Ceres cemetery. A Mrs Duncan from St Andrews Road, and a gentleman called Willie, along with another young man and two young lads came to my rescue.
I wish to pass on my grateful thanks to all of them. — Yours, etc.,
MARGUERITE DOYLE,
16 Pennyacre Court,
Springfield.

No bin
collection
Sir, — Re the article printed in the January 8 edition of the Fife Herald in which Councillor Vettraino stated that "all bin lorries in north east Fife are now working their scheduled routes".
There are a large number of Balmullo residents, includiing myself, who have not had a bin collection since before Christmas. — Yours, etc.,
R. CRUSH,
McWalters Fields,
Balmullo.

Blenheim
pilot
Sir, — I wonder if any of your readers in Womit could possibly help me? This year sees the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. To remember the 'forgotten few' who flew the Blenheim fighter in this conflict, I am trying to trace any photographs or information anyone might have on a former resident of Womit, Pilot Officer Robert Lawson Patterson.
The 26-year-old was the son of John and Helen Patterson. Robert Patterson joined No. 235 Squadron in early 1940 and began flying the Blenheim Mk VI fighter. Unfortunately, he died on July 18, 1940, whilst protecting a convoy, having taken off from Bircham Newton, Norfolk.
Any help would be fantastic, and acknowledged within the book I am writing entitled 'Coastal Dawn', due to be published by Grub Street Publishing Ltd. in August 2010. My first title, 'A Separate Little War', on the Banff Mosquito Strike Wing, based at Boyndie, Banffshire, was also published by Grub Street.
I can be contacted at the address below, by telephone on 01189 571 532, or via e-mail at andy.bird235@ntlworld.com I look forward to hearing from you. — Yours, etc.,
ANDREW D. BIRD,
71 Wantage Road,
Reading,
Berkshire RG30 2SN.

Balmullo
pharmacy
Sir, — As you are aware, an application been submitted to open a pharmacy in the surgery in Balmullo.
Leuchars and Balmullo Community Councils have arranged two public meetings so that the residents in both communnities are informed of the facts of the application and what it entails.
The Leuchars meeting will take place at 7.30pm in the Henderson Hall on Monday, January 18, at 7.30 p.m., while the Balmullo meeting will be in Burnside Hall on Thursday, January 21, at 7.30 p.m.
May I suggest that your readers log on to shsc.scot.nhs.uk to read the interesting report of the National Appeals Pannels' decision.
CARROLL FINNIE,
Chair,
Leuchars Community Council.

Freezing
Falkland
Sir, — I feel I must write to your paper so that some things can be highlighted and maybe encourage other readers from Falkland to add their views. I must say that myself and a few of the residents have been extremely disappointed with Fife Council throughout the bad weather period and the festive holidays.
Firstly, the condition of the streets and the car park in Falkland are at the point of being unbelievably unsafe for pedestrians and motor vehicles alike. There has been no attempt to clear or grit the Falkland area and this has led to a build-up of ice under the new ice and freshly fallen snow each time that there is freezing weather or snowfalls. I have personally had to get grit so I can clear a part of the road just so that I can get my car in and out of my drive safely, as I was going sideways on every attempt to do this.
Also, there have been children's parties and ceilidhs in the community hall, and a funeral and a wedding here in the past week. On the even of the wedding we saw a tractor with a bucket on the back trying to clear the road just to make it accessible for the buses and cars to reach the church. Also for the funeral, with the car park in the condition it is in, our street, Back Wynd, was a traffic gridlock area. Cars were parked along the sides of the road to the car park, beside residential houses and also the nursery and public toilets and community hall. We were watching this happen before our eyes, and people were sliding and falling while trying to walk to the funeral.
I was in the car park to start my other car and clear snow from it when an elderly gentleman in a camper van became stuck and couldn't move for his wheels spinning. I returned to my house to get a spade to help, and after clearing some of the snow away from his wheels had to dig through about an inch and a half of ice to reach the tarmac for his wheels to grip the tarmac.
Also the refuse collection that was supposed to happen as per Fife Council's calendar that they send to each household has not been done. Our rubbish that was supposed to be collected on December 29 still remains on the street along with other residents' bins. This also adds to the current conditions being even more dangerous for motor vehicles.
For such an historical town as Falkland and the amount of visitors that it receives, for the various awards and accolades the town has been recognised for, it seems to have been overlooked for the safety of the residents, and elderly and children alike. — Yours, etc.,
IAIN SMART
Keppoch,
Back Wynd,
Falkland KY15 7BX.

Review
required
Sir, — Our cul de sac is probably one of the worst for snow in Fife and, aged 72, I had a fall on black ice in the High Street; however I am not writing to complain about council clearance.
To my mind the most important thing is that, at the time of writing, the main roads have been kept clear; so although it takes time getting out of Falkland, once on the main road there has been little trouble getting anywhere.
Given the severity of the problem, it is reasonable to assume that if efforts had been diverted to clearing minor roads this would have been to the detriment of the major ones, a recipe for chaos and danger.
If councils spent as much on equipment, manpower and grit as, say, Canada or Scandinavia (which have regular long severe winters), no doubt they could keep everywhere clear, but this would be enormously expensive and mean that for most months of most years, such resources would lie idle and be wasted, which would not be popular with ratepayers.
Of course, the situation is most unfortunate for elderly people confined to their homes, but this what younger neighbours are for, if relatives are not around.
The prolonged cold weather is highly unusual, but I would agree that when the problem is over a very public review should quickly be carried out to see what lessons can be learned, including providing more grit bins at strategic places to allow local people to deal with particularly difficult spots. — Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY GARRETT,
1 Royal Terrace,
Falkland.

Flexible
approach
Sir, — Over the winter freeze when the streets and pavements were snow covered and many people were confined to their homes, I noticed on at least two occasions a group of three street orderlies walking along the pavements with no visable litter to pick up.
Surely the person in charge should be able to be flexible enough to re-deploy these workers to shovelling and sweeping the snow and griting some of the pavements? — Yours, etc.,
RACHEL FRASER,
Address supplied.

Valiant
efforts
Sir, — My thanks go to all the carers who have been out to myself and others over the Christmas and New Year break. All of them deserve to be commended for their valiant efforts in the most atrocious conditions.
It has to be remembered that carers go out in their own cars, usually by themselves, and often in the dark, early in the morning or at night.
Over this period, not one of my carers failed to provide my service, and for this I am extremely grateful. They are always cheerful, despite cars getting stuck and disgraceful road and pavement conditions. Thank you all very much. — Yours, etc.,
KATIE SPENCER-NAIRN,
1 The Stable Cottage,
Rankeilour,
Cupar KY15 5RE.

Cleaning
dog mess
Sir, — I refer to the article 'Cupar mum calls foul over mess left by dogs' in the December 25 edition of the Fife Herald.
Firstly I wish to thank the Fife Herald for reporting the issue; however, I am unhappy with response from David Baker from Fife Council's environmental services department. The first comment about the dog warden visiting the area and saying 'there wasn't a lot of dog fouling to be seen', appears to me that the council, aware that fouling goes on, will not do anything about it until there is a substantial amount. Regardless of how many deposits there are, action should be taken to try and eradicate the problem.
The second issue I have is about the streets being cleaned daily. Whilst I have seen council staff 'cleaning' these streets, they most certainly do not clean up the dog mess. Anybody who walks these streets will absolutely agree that dog mess can lie rotting for days and sometimes even weeks depending on how many people have walked through it and the weather. Obviously this is what Mr Baker thinks the council staff are doing whilst cleaning the streets. However, I think a lot of P45s should be issued as it is clearly not being done, not only on the streets previously mentioned in the article, but sadly all over Cupar.
Since this article was published, I have been asked what exactly I expect the council to do about this. I expect the dog warden to actually try and catch the culprits for a start. What is the point in having the penalty notices up if there is nobody actually there to catch anyone and impose a fine? Secondly, I expect the street cleaners to do 'what it says on the tin', clean the streets, ensure they are free of not only rubbish but dog poo too. After all, that is why we all pay our taxes.
I will be sending a copy of this letter to Mr Baker directly at Fife Council and look forward to his response in due course. — Yours, etc.,
M. SCOTT,
Cupar,
Address supplied.

Thanks for
generosity
Sir, — I recently promoted a grand Hogmanay prize draw in aid of CONFER. This is a Scottish charity which supports people living with Neurofibromatosis.
I am the bar manager at Ladybank Golf Club, and my sister suffered from this disease until her untimely death at age 44 in September 2008. Since then I have been raising funds for CONFER with a great deal of help from club members, visitors, guests and friends.
I decided to round off a great year with the ladies' section alone raising over £800 with this grand draw. I could not have done it without fantastic donations from local clubs, businesses, associates and friends and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their generosity. The draw made £1610 and a full list of prizewinners is available from myself at the club. — Yours, etc.,
PAULINE CORBETT,
Ladybank Golf Club.


Road
gritting
Sir, — I wonder if I could use your letters page to offer an apology to the people of the Cupar and District ward re the gritting.
There is no doubt that Fife Council has not 'cut the mustard' in terms of making the roads safe in Fife. Over the last few days I have had numerous phone calls from different areas of this ward with the same message 'we've never seen a gritter'. I did manage to get some relief for Newtown/Dalgairn Crescent but having walked up there yesterday things are back to square one. There's hardly a pavement or road (excluding the main routes) that is safe to travel or walk on. I have been in touch with Councillor Martin, who is politically responsible for this service — and at time of writing haven't received a reply.
Unbelievably, on Monday of this week Fife Council did not have enough salt reserves to keep the roads and pavements of Fife clear and safe and some of he grit bins have been empty. I have asked Councillor Martin if the 'cut' in the winter maintenance budget made by the administration at Fife Council has been a contributory factor — and I'm waiting for an answer. I know that those who have been working on the gritting have been working all the hours they could — the workmen are blameless. But I also know that some other Fife Council staff have offered to volunteer to help — and their offer not taken up.
One final point worth making. My understanding is that a substantial number, quite possibly the majority, of the most senior officials in Fife Council do not live in Fife and hence, in my view, are missing 'how people in Fife are feeling about this'. This may only be important on certain occasions — but I think this past couple of weeks may have been such a situation and perhaps Fife Council need to include this as they review the chaos that exists in many of our communities. — Yours, etc.,
COUNCILLOR BRYAN POOLE,
49 South Road,
Cupar KY15 5J.

Shame on
council
Sir, — Shame on Fife Council. Everywhere you go in Tayport, the subject of conversation is the same with both young or old, namely the state of the pavements and roads.
Yes, the bus route is clear, but very little else is. Why, when we all pay the same council tax, are so many of us sliding dangerously all over the place? Even the road at the doctors surgery has seen no sign of grit except where good neighbours have made the effort.
It has even been too slippy for the children to go out and make slides themselves down the paths and roads. I sincerely hope that there have not been any car accidents or broken bones due to the council's lack of care. When will they get it right? — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Dark day for
democracy
Sir, — Leuchars Community Council has today learnt that the Leuchars GPs' appeal against citing a pharmacy in Leuchars Post Office, despite overwhelming public support for the GP's, has been rejected. We are dismayed and deeply disappointed and regard this as a dark day for local democracy and public opinion.
Leuchars Community Council would like answers to the questions posed of the relevant parties leading up to the appeal, in particular why permission was granted for a pharmacy in the first place, when only a few weeks prior to the application being made a similar proposal had been turned down. We feel that the minutes of the Pharmaceutical Pharmacy Committee and National Appeals Panel meetings should be made public and freely available to the community councils affected for scrutiny, and we will pursuing this in the New Year.
An extract from a proposed press release from James Semple states that he hopes that they can "build bridges with those who have opposed the opening of a pharmacy". Leuchars Community Council find it intriguing that he feels this way after having refused to cross those same bridges in order to engage with the local population.
Whilst this application was submitted prior to the change in legislation as of the July 1, 2009, we feel it is morally wrong and reprehensible that overwhelming public opinion has counted for nothing. A survey of 419 local residents clearly showed that a pharmacy was neither needed nor wanted, but it would appear that commercial gain is more important than public concerns.
This situation need not have arisen had Fife Area Health Board used its powers to allow dispensing surgeries to continue alongside commercial pharmacies. The GP's may have to close Leuchars surgery, if so this community pharmacy will be an extremely poor substitute and a huge backward step in healthcare provisions for local people. Should this happen, Fife Health Board should be held publicly accountable for failing in its duty of care to patients
Leuchars Community Council also fears that this will be the demise of the sub post office in the village as the intended pharmacy is clearly not of a suitable size. The community council would like to pass on its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those who supported this campaign and gave their time and effort to a worthwhile cause. — Yours, etc.,
CARROLL FINNIE,
Chair,
Leuchars Community Council.

Bridgehead
school case
Sir, — While the Fife Green Party welcomes any investment in the educational facilities in north east Fife, we have to question whether the current proposals for a new Madras College represent the best for deal for pupils and the environment.
Much is being made of the school/university connection if this school is built. How a change of location will facilitate any better interaction is difficult to envisage, given that the university and school could co-operate even at present as much of the university is within easy walking distance of Madras pupils in the town centre site.
The Green Party does not follow the logic that big is invariably beautiful or beneficial for all pupils. The argument that a large single-site school will offer a wide choice of subjects compared to two smaller schools in St Andrews and the Bridgehead may be correct, but this surely only applies to a minority of specialist subjects taken by a small number of pupils? It is difficult to claim that, for most pupils, size will be beneficial. Many smaller schools probably do as well in sending pupils to university as larger ones.
A school also depends upon the quality of its staff to make a difference to outcomes, so a large school could have more difficulties than a smaller one, if it had weak management and poor quality teaching staff.
Where is the evidence that a larger school will be more carbon friendly, given the ongoing need for a large fleet of buses etc to ferry pupils all over north east Fife?
The Green Party feels that the case for a Bridgehead school should not be forgotten. — Yours, etc.,
Patrick Marks,
Fife Green Party.

Damaged
rhones
Sir, — There are many attractive old buildings in the centre of Cupar around the Bonnygate and Crossgate with narrow wynds and pends leading off the main thoroughfares.
However, whenever it rains the old town charm disappears and is replaced by a shantytown feeling with water cascading off a large number of rooves two or three storeys high where the rhones are choked or broken and downpipes are split, turning the narrow pavements into riverlets. Looking up at the roofline of the buildings you will see vegetation — even trees! — growing out of damaged rhones and if you manage to avoid the splashes from passing traffic you are quite likely to get a soaking from an overhead cascade or wet feet. It just looks badly neglected.
There has to be a duty of care to pedestrians in the town that buildings are safe and properly maintained, so who is responsible for ensuring that these rhones/downpipes are regularly cleaned and repaired and why is this not being enforced? — Yours, etc.,
I. F. CROMBIE,
West Hall,
Cupar KY15 4NA.

Future of
St Andrews
Sir, — The advertisement 'Shaping the future of St Andrews West' which appeared in two issues of your newspaper should be given much thought.
The picture in the advertisement seems to show a large area of fertile land which, currently, I would suppose, produces annually many tons of potatoes, possibly hundreds of tons, and many tons of cereals, possibly grassland for grazing animals destined for meat production, possibly vegetables for human consumption. Once this land is built on, all that annual food production will cease, depriving future generations of a source of food. When land is producing crops the plants capture carbon dioxide and release oxygen, this too should be considered in these days of rapid climate change.
I know that housing is needed, but why destroy good land for it? Why expand St Andrews? Where are the new residents going to work? Will they all be piling into cars to go to work in Dundee, Stirling and Edinburgh? Everyone knows of the inadequacies of public transport and the saturation of the roads in morning and evening rush hours.
In my opinion the idea of this proposed 'Shaping' is to make money for Headon Developments. — Yours, etc.,
G. M. GALL,
Murray House,
Gateside,
By Cupar.

Prescription
charges
Sir, — It is a disgrace that Gordon Brown has not yet acted on his promise to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term conditions. The recession has devastated people's finances and many are making difficult and potentially dangerous decisions not to purchase their medicines just so they can afford daily necessities, like food and heating.
This situation seems particularly unfair when prescription charges have been abolished in Wales and are being phased out in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
After well over a year, nothing has happened. I, for one, have not forgotten the commitment Mr Brown made in September 2008 and call on him to prove this was not just a 'politician's promise' by scrapping prescription charges for people with long-term conditions as soon as possible.
I also urge other readers to show Gordon Brown that we have not forgotten his promise, by signing the 'Prescription Promise' petition at www.prescriptionpromise.org — Yours, etc.,
MOIRA GILLIES,
22 Ralston Dr.ive,
Kirkcaldy KY2 6XS.

Bumper
year
Sir, — It's been another bumper year for the annual Christmas potato sales, organised by the Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife. In all, 15 tons of Rooster, one ton of Maris Piper and one ton of Valor potatoes were sold in and around the Howe of Fife by Wednesday, December 9.
Apologies to anyone disappointed by the early sell-out and thanks to all who supported this fund-raising activity by buying a sack of spuds. Particular thanks to Albert Bartlett and Sons of Airdrie for their very generous donation of the popular Rooster potatoes. A sum of over £4000 was raised, to be donated to a range of causes supported by the Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife. — Yours, etc.,
MONIQUE SANDERS,
On behalf of the Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife.

Tsunami
support
Sir, — Five years ago this Boxing Day the Asian tsunami unleashed a wave of almost unimaginable human suffering. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives and millions were left struggling to survive a disaster the like of which none of us had ever seen.
The Red Cross was helping people on the ground within minutes of the wave striking and, in the UK, we launched an appeal to support the aid effort. Support from the public was phenomenal and enabled us to mount our largest relief operation since the Second World War.
Across the country donations poured in from those who, moved by scenes of ordinary people battling to survive, gave whatever they could. The challenges were unprecedented, the decisions incredibly difficult, but today I am extremely proud of what the Red Cross has achieved in helping rebuild people's lives and, more than that, building them back stronger.
On behalf of the Red Cross, and the millions of people we were able to help, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us.
It has been a long road to recovery, but now, five years on, our work is completed. Thousands of families have been re-housed, sustainable livelihoods have been secured and communities are recovering and more resilient than they have ever been.
To find out more about how the money you gave has been used and the difference it has made to people's lives visit www.recoveringafuture.org.uk . — Yours, etc.,
SIR NICK YOUNG,
Chief executive,
British Red Cross.


Tenancy
tensions
Sir, — It is very unfortunate to read of the disputes between tenants and landlords in the agricultural sector. It is in everyone's best interest that there is a healthy working relationship and that the land is farmed efficiently.
However, landlords will know they could have gained a considerably higher rent for their land and homes if a lease was not secured under a 1991 Tenancy Agreement and this, understandably, leads to tensions.
The underlying issue is the low profitability in the agricultural industry. Tenants and landlords should unite to pile pressure on politicians to support the industry now and into the future, encouraging the younger generation to farm, to meet the increased demand for food. — Yours, etc.,
COLIN CLARK,
Agricultural partner,
Pagan Osborne,
12 St Catherine Street,
Cupar.

Fantastic
panto
Sir, — I would like to thank the Fife Herald for the family ticket which I won in the recent 'Mother Goose' competition.
The pantomime at the Byre Theatre was fantastic and Stephen Docherty's performance aka 'Mother Goose' was outstanding. (Oh, yes he was!) — Yours, etc.,
MOIRA CORON,
'Westcolrig',
Edenvale Terrace,
Springfield.

Ridiculous
system
Sir, — For once I find myself in full agreement with Mr Caldwell (Fife Herald Correspondece, December 4) when he challenges Miles Briggs to garner votes in a more acceptable and convincing manner than just telling us he'll be transparent with his expenses. It's incredible how many politicians and prospective politicians have lined up to tell us how dreadful the expenses scandal has been. It's a shame they weren't quite so vocal about it before they were found out.
However, they are not the only ones wasting our hard-earned taxes. Fife Council have recently undertaken a programme of 'renovation' on some of their properties. This has involved the re-harling of a substantial number of properties. Why would this be required other than for cosmetic reasons? Why also are several roads within north east Fife closed (or partially closed) when there is very obviously nothing going on behind the barriers?
Could it be that we are fast approaching the end of the financial year and Fife Council are furiously looking at ways of getting rid of it lest it be cut back next year? The system of not being able to carry funds forward to the next year results in us Scots losing millions each year in inappropriately spent taxes.
When is this Scottish Parliament going to overturn such a ridiculous system and allow councils to plan ahead and carry funds over for rolling maintenance programmes, and to allow councils the discretion to pool resources so that if one department underspends and another desperately needs additional finance, it can be transferred?
Not only do we need to show greedy politicians and bankers that their behaviour is unacceptable, we also need to put pressure on all tiers of politicians to spend our money wisely. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Thoughtless
dog owners
Sir, — May I please make a plea from your letters page, to those selfish and thoughtless dog owners who allow their dogs to foul the pavement and don't clean up afterwards, especially on High Road in 'Muchty. Don't they realise how unpleasant it is for other people, and at night it's even more difficult to see where to walk.
Come on, you all know who you are. Be a little more thoughtful and have some pride in where you live. — Yours, etc.,
JOAN CORNEY,
Auchtermuchty.

Disgusting
pavements
Sir, — I have just returned from picking up my daughter from school and feel so annoyed I'm writing this straight away.
On our walk through Cupar two of my children stood in dog poo and my buggy wheels are also covered. I passed one woman on the Moathill who watched her dog, a black lab-cross, make its mess then just carried on walking.
The pavements in the town are becoming disgusting and I can't understand anyone, dog-owner or not, thinking that this is acceptable. I know it's probably a tiny minority of owners that are being so thoughtless, but how would it be if a minority of parents left dirty nappies lying around the town?
People would be up in arms, but at the end of the day it's the same thing — small children can't clean up after themselves and neither can dogs. So please, have some consideration for your fellow townsfolk and Cupar will be a more pleasant place for everyone. — Yours, etc.,
KAY ANDERSON,
Cupar.

Santa's sleigh
collection
Sir, — As the Cupar Round Table Santa's sleigh collection draws to a close for another year, I'd like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to RAF Leuchars for building us a fantastic new sleigh, and to Walkers Upholstery for the excellent new seat for Santa.
Thanks also to my fellow Tablers for giving up most of their evenings over the last couple of weeks to man the sleigh; to their families for the patience and understanding in allowing them to do so; to the many volunteer helpers who also joined us to help with the collection; to all the children whose enthusiasm and excitement at seeing Santa kept us going night after chilly night; and of course to everyone who made a donation to the collection.
Your generosity has ensured this year's collection will be a great success and will allow us to support a number of local good causes in the coming year. Our final stop this year will be at Tesco in Cupar on Sunday, December 20.
On behalf of everyone at Cupar Round Table, merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. — Yours, etc.,
GAVIN HOWIE,
Chairman,
Cupar Round Table.

Church
still open
Sir, — I want to express appreciation of your very positive article on the Howe of Fife Parish centre in today's Fife Herald (December 11). I have already received several positive comments about it.
Could I point out, however, one factual error: Kingskettle Church is not in fact closed. It remains open for now, albeit with restricted access because of the risk of falling masonry.
I would very much appreciate this being corrected in next week's edition, as I wouldn't like anyone, especially over Christmas, to be deterred from thinking of attending worship. The other excellent article on page two thankfully depicts the church as 'open and active', but further clarification of the situation would be most helpful and appreciated. — Yours, etc.,
REV. DR GORDON McCRACKEN,
Interim minister,
Howe of Fife Parish Church.

Brilliant
acting
Sir, — 'Howe about It?', performed by rugby players and coaches from Howe of Fife Rugby Club, was a fantastic evening's entertainment. It had everything — a great story line, music, comedy and brilliant acting. Excellent value for money.
These guys certainly know how to perform on the park and on stage. Well done, lads. Another great show! — Yours, etc.,
ELAINE BRAILSFORD,
Address supplied.

Fancy dress
night support
Sir, — I would like to sincerely thank family and friends for their help and support in the recent fancy dress party at Freuchie Cricket Club in support of Rachel House.
Thanks also to those local businesses which donated prizes for the raffle, especially the Crown Hotel in Kingskettle for a meal voucher for the best dressed. Thank you again for all taking part and making it a fun evening. — Yours, etc.,
DONNA BRUCE,
Address supplied.

Fantastic
festival
Sir, — I would like to thank Kore Audio for organising the fantastic comedy festival 'Wear the Fox Hat' in Auchtermuchty on Friday, November 27, and Saturday, November 28.
I went on Saturday night and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Susan Morrison, Billy Kirkwood and Lazyhand were superb and well worth the ticket price. I (and many others) were disappointed in the headlining act, but despite this we still had a great night.
Well done to the organisers. I look forward to next year's events. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Cupar
quiz thanks
Sir, — On behalf of Cupar Community Council, I would like to thank everyone who supported the 'Homecoming' quiz both by donating the generous prizes and by selling the question papers.
I would also like to thank everyone who took part and congratulate the three prize winners. — Yours, etc.,
DOUGLAS PROVAN,
Secretary,
Cupar Community Council.

Lovely
prize
Sir, — As a lucky prizewinner I would like to thank those responsible for compiling the Cupar community quiz. A great deal of research must have been used to produce such interesting and informative clues. I thank them for the lovely prize I received. — Yours, etc.,
M. ANDERSON,
13 Montrave Avenue,
Cupar.

Pharmacy
not justified
Sir, — Mr Semple's comments in the Fife Herald of December 4 require to be challenged.
Firstly, the doctors running the dispensing practices freely spelt out the income and running cost details at two public meetings. Mr Semple was invited to these meetings, but declined to attend. Having seen and discussed the figures local communities have overwhelmingly continued to support the status quo. They prefer to deal with a medical practice that gets out and discusses the facts behind the application rather than some unknown individual who has refused to engage with the community at two public meetings.
Secondly, the levels of support Mr Semple is claiming to receive from people who want a pharmacy is simply not justified in the face of the evidence provided by an independent organisation's survey. This recorded that of 417 people surveyed in the Leuchars area there was a massive majority in favour of retaining their dispensing surgeries by a ratio of four to one. Save Our Dispensing Surgeries (SODS) would expect a similar response in the other communites affected had they been surveyed.
Thirdly, Mr Semple has chosen to ignore the fact that an application, which as he has said is virtually identical to the present one was, turned down earlier this year on the grounds that the present service was perfectly satisfactory and the proposed premises were not suitable.
SODS have confidence that a just and fair decision covering all the facts will be made by the appeal panel and that common sense will prevail and the dispensing surgeries will be retained. We will be satisfied with nothing less than that.
SODS have decided not to mount a protest at Leuchars post office on December 15 as the anticipated large turnout in support may serve to intimidate rather than inform the panel of the strong public feelings on this matter which we are sure are already well known to them. — Yours, etc.,
ALAN KENNEDY,
3 Smithy Lane,
Balmullo.

Medical
loan service
Sir, — On behalf of the British Red Cross medical loan service, may I express my thanks to the many volunteers who made a commitment and gave their time to ensure the service in Cupar was successful for more than 11 years.
I wish also to thank the users of the service for their generous donations, enabling the British Red Cross to carry on caring for people in crisis. Thank you to Fife Council for the use of a room in the County Buildings, and my personal thanks to the staff in the front office for their help and support over the years.
The service is now available at St Andrews Hospital. For more information, contact the service manager on 01383 724816. — Yours, etc.,
MARGUERITE DOYLE,
The Gowans,
Pennyacre Court,
Springfield.


Good
Samaritans
Sir, — I would like to sincerely thank all those who assisted me following the car collision outside Cupar on the morning of September 14. Dave, Ian and Christine were extremely helpful, considerate and caring to me at a distressing time.
There were many other 'Good Samaritans' whose names I do not know — my gratitude to them also. The police, fire and ambulance services were quickly on the scene and I thank them all for their professional and caring manner. In particular, thank you to Ross, the paramedic who treated and comforted me on the way to the hospital.
It is heartening to know that services are quick to respond in an emergency and that ordinary people rallied together at my time of crisis. Their combined responses undoubtedly prevented more serious consequences for me. — Yours, etc.,
PHYLLIS TURNER,
Address supplied.

Inspiration
to many
Sir, — I would like to express a few words in praise of a lady whose work partly entails finding suitable homes for unfortunate children, and who spends much of her 'spare' time helping others, without fuss.
Although she has experienced personal tragedies, she always looks forward, and thus she is an inspiration to many.
I understand there are other such people, however, I am fortunate to know you, Sue Williams.
Best wishes and much love, from one of your many friends. — Yours, etc.,
FREDA VAN DIJL,
Cupar Muir.

Pharmacy
protest
Sir, — As one of the members of the SODS (Save Our Dispensing Surgeries) campaign, I can report that five community councils have now given their input, support and final approval to a joint letter prepared by SODS to protest against the proposed Leuchars Pharmacy.
The letter has gone forward to the National Appeal Panel. The community councils for Leuchars, Tayport, Ferryport on Craig, Guardbridge and Balmullo now await the outcome of the Leuchars medical practice's appeal, to be held on December 15, against the pharmacy. The joint protest letter illustrates with recent photographs the impractability and totally unsatisfactory access problems associated with siting a pharmacy at the proposed location as well as covering all other aspects of the appeal including the potential for serious damage to existing medical medical facilities.
SODS understands that the appeal panel will view the Leuchars post office site on December 15 some time between 9.15 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. Patients who want to retain the present facilities may wish to be there to peacefully demonstrate their opposition to the pharmacy. SODS will be there for sure! — Yours, etc.,
ALAN KENNEDY,
On behalf of SODS Forum Group.

Specific
issues
Sir, — In reply to Miles Briggs's letter 'Transparency on expenses' (Fife Herald, November 27), does Mr Briggs expect to pick up some voters by promising not to con the electorate out of thousands and writing them off as expenses? What, in effect Mr Briggs wants is people to vote for him because he is doing what he is, legally and morally supposed to be doing in the first place.
Come on Mr Briggs, tell us what you intend to do about specific issues for example, the state of the roads in north east Fife, rising unemployment, rising fuel costs. Even more specific, the traffic problems in Cupar.
If you are to use the letters page as a hustings then say something we all want to hear, not something we all expect to happen no matter what political persuasion we are. — Yours, etc.,
STEPHEN CALDWELL,
31 Bankton Park,
Kingskettle.

Scouts'
centenary
Sir, — 10th Fife 1st Cupar Scout Group recently celebrated 100 years since the formal inauguration of our group with a fantastic centenary open day at the Scout Hall. I would like to thank the Fife Herald and Stuart Gillespie, in particular, for the fabulously detailed article he wrote on the history of the Scout movement and the continued progress of the present 10th Fife 1st Cupar Scout Group.
The committee was really pleased with the response of the community to our open day. Group Scout leader, Sue Jack, and committee chair, Isobel Bonnes, would like to extend their thanks to everyone who supported us on the day and shared with us their memories of scouting, past and present.
Huge thanks must go also to the group's dedicated volunteer scout leaders, the young Scouts themselves and their parents for giving up their time to help make the event such a success. And, not least, to all those who gave donations so generously, a heartfelt thank you. More than £800 was raised which is a fantastic boost to our funds. — Yours, etc.,
SUSIE MITCHINSON,
Scout Group Secretary,
10th Fife 1st Cupar Scout Group.

Looking
busy
Sir, — I read the letter in the Fife Herald (November 20) regarding the state of the Ladyburn grid. Good luck to the three angels who cleaned it out. Where were the council boys? As usual running about in their vans and looking busy. — Yours, etc.,
AN O.A.P.,
Name and address supplied.

Rail travel
scheme
Sir, — Through your columns I would like to comment on Fife Council's idea of stopping the concessionary rail travel scheme. I use this service a lot. I'm retired and it gives me immense satisfaction to use the train for virtually free. To me it feels that I am being rewarded for my contribution to the community during my working life.
The scheme is a formal recognition that I have moved into a new era of my life when I no longer have the financial means to partake of all the things I once could afford. The scheme, however, enables me to travel without having to think of the cost — that is such a bonus in my life and it would be terrible to lose it.
I am a retired social worker and would say that in the course of my work I was able to observe first hand the real benefits to people. The scheme offered real motivation to get up and dressed in the morning — often people who felt suffocated within their own four walls because of the debilitating effects of poverty and social isolation.
Withdrawing the scheme, I would argue, could have a huge impact on people's physical and mental which would in turn impact on other services such as social work and health. Perhaps there could be a crossover in budgets by lobbying the health partners to contribute, given that indirectly they reap part of the benefits. You cut this service at your peril. — Yours, etc.,
RUDI VOGELS,
1 Barassie Drive,
Kirkcaldy.


Generous
support
Sir, — On behalf of the management committee of Cupar YMCA-YWCA, we write to express our grateful thanks to all those who supported our Christmas fair last Saturday — 'Y' members, volunteers, members of the public, and local companies and businesses who gave so generously.
This has been a difficult year in Cupar not only with the financial climate but with our experiences of the floods in July. Local support has been so appreciated despite all these difficulties.
The grand sum of over £1800 was raised this year and this will go a long way in supporting our work in Cupar and the upgrading of our facilities.
Thank you again for your continued support. — Yours, etc.,
AUDREY KENNEDY and
DAVE MONTGOMERY,
Joint chairpersons,
Cupar YMCA-YWCA,
Marathon House,
Bonnygate,
Cupar.


Excellent
events
Sir, — I would like to thank all those who helped organise and manage two excellent recent events in Cupar; the Cupar Arts Festival and the switching on of the Christmas lights.
Both events were enjoyed by people of all ages. They gave the old town a lift in these gloomy times and the smooth running of these events is a tribute to the excellence of the planning and attention to detail. Thank you all. — Yours, etc.,
COUNCILLOR ROGER GUY,
Crawley House,
Springfield.

Valuable part
of community
Sir, — In response to Mr Law's recent letter in your publication (Fife Herald, November 13), we are saddened that Tayport Links Caravan Park is not recognised by some as a valuable part of the community.
As a small family run business, we are enthusiastic supporters of local causes; donating wood to the annual bonfire night; providing free power and toilets to the annual Ferryport Festival and other events on Tayport Common such as the recent beer tent for the football club. Additionally, over the last two years through organised events and sponsorship, our customers have raised over £2500 for local charities.
Unlike many other caravan sites we have no shop or clubhouse. We encourage our caravan owners to use the local shops and services and provide holiday makers hiring our caravans with maps detailing what is available in the area. Our caravan owners spend their money in the post office, butcher, florist, hairdresser and public houses. They take their cars to the local garage and employ the services of local electricians, plumbers, satellite engineers and repair men.
Over the last 10 years we have spent a great deal of time and money improving the look of the caravan park and we are frequently complimented by locals and visitors to the area on what a pleasant well maintained place it is to walk through, and that it is "a credit to the village.
We would hope that in time all residents of the town come to realise how we benefit the local economy and community. Additionally, we intend to contact Tayport Community Trust to ascertain whether we can provide assistance in raising funds for the long-delayed sports centre. — Yours, etc.,
ROSS AND DOUIGLAS BAILLIE,
Managers,
Tayport Links Caravan Park,
Tayport.

Traffic
system
Sir, — I travel throughout Scotland from early morning until late evening. Going through Dundee city centre at off-peak times, the traffic lights change from red to green on approach, if there's no queueing traffic at the lights.
In Cupar at 5.30 in the morning, I will sit at red lights for at least 50 seconds (doesn't sound long, but try it!), until the lights change, when there is virtually nothing and no-one moving. Can anyone from the council explain this?
The traffic system in Cupar is a disgrace, and I cannot believe those responsible have been allowed to get away with it. Had I been so inept in my job, I would be out of work! Finally, I grew up in this town, and if you check the records, there was talk of a by-pass round the town around 1975ish! — Yours, etc.,
W. LAING,
Via e-mail.

Memorable
exhibition
Sir, — On behalf of Cupar Quilters I would like to thank everyone who attended our recent exhibition. We are delighted to announce that the sum of £1200 was raised for Age Concern, Cupar. Anne Hoggan who had a 'Pink Ladies' table raised the sum of £294 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
The film title competition which was voted for by members of the public was won by Ishbel Winton with 'A Room with a View' and the runner-up was Anne Wilson's 'Wizard of Oz'. We also handed over 19 quilts to Project Linus, a charity whose aim is to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers.
We would like to thank all those who came and made it such a memorable day. We look forward to seeing you in November 2011. — Yours, etc.,
GAIL GRAHAM,
Chairperson,
2 Adamson Court,
Cupar.

Ridiculous
question
Sir, — I get very frustrated with Fife Council's continual consultation on consultation exercises.
Many of these are absolutely useless, but the current consultation on Fife Council's budget really takes the biscuit. One of the questions: 'Do you agree or disagree that we should change how we work to improve efficiency?'
This must rank as being one of the most ridiculous questions I have ever seen come out of Fife House, and it is obvious they haven't consulted enough on the questions before sending this out to the public.
Let's have less stupid efforts at consultation and more action and money spent on frontline services. — Yours, etc.,
COLIN NIKOLIC,
Pitcairn,
Glenrothes.

Melville
House
Sir, — May I through your publication request information from your readers about Melville House for a book I'm writing about a wartime unit which trained there during the Second World War.
I would like to hear from anyone who may know about the house during the Second World War or just prior to 1940.
The house has just been sold and has had various occupiers through the years since it was completed in 1703 I have had some excellent information from previous contacts who trained there during the war years.
My main request for information is from anyone who can remember the house during this time; maybe you have a photograph of the area of that time? Any information would be gratefully received.
I can be contacted at the address below, telephone 01334 470599 or via e-mail at aux201@btinternet.com Many thanks. — Yours, etc.,
DAVID BLAIR,
54 Younger Gardens,
St Andrews KY16 8AB.

Transparency
on expenses
Sir, — Over the last 20 months, I have been campaigning as the Conservative candidate for North East Fife, and as I have been knocking on doors meeting local people and listening to their concerns one issue more than anything has shocked and angered local people. The MPs expenses scandal has been raised with me time and time again over the past few months. People across North East Fife are right to be angry about the way MPs have abused their expenses — I'm angry about it too.
The MPs expenses scandal has sickened so many people and underlined the need to clean up our political system and get some fresh blood into the House of Commons. For me one constituent summed it up when she told me that her elderly mother had been charged £100 to have the grass cut by the council at the same time as MPs had been charging the tax payer for doing the same.
MPs charging the taxpayer for interior designers, food, furniture, and household goods is totally unacceptable. It's time MPs where honest with the people in their constituencies. We've got a lot of work to do to clean up our political system, but I still believe that it's the best way to solve the big problems our country faces.
That's why, as I am asking local people to put their confidence in me to be the next Member of Parliament for North East Fife, I have decided to set out a clear pledge to local voters. I want to make it very clear that I won't play the system and won't bend the rules. I will abide by the standards that people expect politicians to live by.
If the voters of North East Fife elect me as their next MP, I will publish the details of all my personal expenses, office expenses so the people who employ me — the public — can see them easily. Every year, I'll appoint a firm of local auditors to sign off my expenses and I'll let the local newspapers go through my full set of claims.I want to help rebuild trust in our politics and that is why I have put forward my contract with the voters of North East Fife which clearly sets out how, if elected, I will be transparent and accountable to the people of North East Fife. I think that's a very clear set of rules — with no wriggle room.
As we head towards a UK General Election in the next six months, I hope that local people will demand that the next UK parliament is built on the values of transparency and accountability to deliver on the issues which really matter to people. — Yours, etc.,
MILES BRIGGS,
Prospective Conservative
Westminster candidate
for North East Fife.