Turning ideas into action for Burntisland

Now, anyone wishing to get involved in the process is invited to attend the next meeting on Tuesday.

In September, a successful event in Burntisland Primary School marked the conclusion of a number of surveys commissioned by Burntisland Community Council and carried out by the STAR Development Group.

With the support of Fife Council, the Burntisland Futures Steering Group, the name given to the group set up to take forward the plans, has now launched the next phase – namely the translation of those results into a Community Action Plan.

It will set priorities for the town for the next five years.

It will also help the Community Council – and other local groups – to raise funding, as it will provide clear and concise evidence of demand for selected projects.

Alex MacDonald, chairman of Burntisland Community Council, said: “We’ve been impressed by the quality of the plans prepared by the STAR Group for other communities involved in similar schemes.

‘‘We are determined that the Burntisland action plan will be among the best.

“That’s why we have re-established the Burntisland Futures Steering Group, comprising members of the Community Council and other interested individuals.

“All ideas and offers of help are welcome. It’s important for the group to reflect the original surveys and not replace those results with our own views. Equally, the Community Council cannot – and should not – drive every project, so we need to be sure that we have the support of those who can best take the key projects forward.

“In the light of her excellent work so far, we are again taking guidance from Lesley Campbell of the STAR Development Group.”

The full results of the original surveys are available under the CAP tab on the Community Council website at www.burntislandcc.org.uk.

The next meeting of the steering group will be held in the Burgh Chambers on Tuesday, March 8, from 6.00pm to8.00pm.

It will take the form of a working group, so anyone who can help would be very welcome to come along.

More than 300 people turned out to give their views at the special consultation event last summer which revealed the residents’ main priorities for action.

These included returning the clock tower and improving the Burgh Chambers for community use; developing more play facilities; dealing with litter and dog fouling; upgrading the High Street and regenerating the station.

The community consultation exercise carried out by STAR took place last summer. Forms were sent out to around 1000 households during June, asking people their views on what they would like to see change in Burntisland to make things better over the next five years.

It was backed up by interviews with local organisations and visitors to the town to a cross section of opinions.