Inorder to ensure some of the additional investment goes to help improve the roads in Lochgelly and Cardenden I have written to officers reponsible for the roads maintenace and asked for an urgent meeting to discuss what can be done to address some of the worst local roads. I hope to be meeting officers this week tto agree a way forward. I’ve listed below some of issues I hope to discuss.

Roads requiring  urgent attention

On Saturday morning I spent an hour mapping out the potholes on one of the worst roads in the area, Mid Street. The videos’s below shows the poor state of the road surface.

This Video shows how the road surface looks from the pavement. As well as the surface being dangerous it makes the sytreet look unsightly and rundown. getting the roads improved is a regenrartion issue for the community.

At the moment this section just includes video and pictures from  Mid Street but I will add further pictures from other streets that are as bad.

Current rodas maintenance programe for  the area

On the 30th January the Cowdenbeath Area Committee agreed the Transportation Work Programme for 2013/14.  Below is a link to the committee report for the meeting pages 6-14 is the report which lists what is to be done in the next financial year.

http://publications.1fife.org.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_AgendaReportsCAC310113.pdf

Category 1 projects are difinates for next year with Category 2 done if budget or time made availible.  With the additional funding being put into the roads maintenance budget this I am requesting that we look again at the plan for the area and look to see what additional work can be done. Timing is important if we are to get the roads repair before next winter. The roads to be resurfaced are;

1. B920 Station Road (Phase 2 – St Patrick’s PS to Stationhead Road) £200,00
2. South Street Walker Street to Erskine Street - £25,000
3. Sunnyside Place – £30,00
4. Francis street (sections not affected by future building works) –  £50,000
5. Cartmore Road – £150,000

These roads are to be addressed in the next financial year. As part of my discussions with officers I will be asking if we will be in a position to add to these roads as there is a number of roads in a poor state which are not on the list.

Pothole repair that last just two weeks

A number of the potholes that I have reported in the past and have been repaired are now needing  repaired again. On speaking to a resident on Mid Street they pointed out  a lump of tarmac siting at the side of the road as pothole repair. It would appear that the pothole had been repaired just two weeks ago but had already failed.

With the additional investment going into the roads we want to make sure that penny is spend wisey and repairs are made to last.

Report Road Faults (Potholes etc…)

For a pothole to be reportable it must be deeper than 4cm

Every road is checked once a year for ptholes and defects. Its clear that the condition of some roads can deteriorate significantly over this time, thats why its important that people can report potholes.

You can do this online here….https://www.fifedirect.org.uk/formFinder/index.cfm?fuseaction=form.Question&Form_id=2B937648-9997-4823-AB3457FE4C9309EA

Or at the local office (Lochgelly Centre or Ore valley Housing Asc office Bowhill), or by phone calling 08451550000

Speaking after the meeting Mr Hood said ‘Lochore Country Park is a great asset to this area and is something we should be protecting to ensure it remains unspoiled. I have to question the judgement of local councillors who seem more concerned about the cost to the council if the application is lost on appeal than the impact a wind turbine would have were it to be erected on the boundary of the park.

The Fife Labour councillor’s comments were directed at the three SNP councillors who voted against the reasons for refusal and voted for approval of the application in the Cowdenbeath Area Committee in September.

Mr Hood added ‘We have over 500,000 visitors to the country park each year; it’s one of Fife’s most popular visitor attractions. Why should we take a risk with such a popular venue? In stead of limiting the parks potential we should be looking to enhance and develop it.’

Mr Hood concluded ‘this issue demonstrates why we must have a full review and consultation in Fife where onshore wind turbines should be sited and it’s important our communities get a say’.

 In the letter to the owner Mr Hood say’s ‘The community in Cardenden take pride in their village and want to ensure that people living or visiting the area able to remark on how pleasant and welcoming the village is. Unfortunately your premises fall well below the standards we set and with its location at the entrance to the station it presents the wrong first impression.’

The premises were sold to the current owner for just over £5,000 7 years ago but there has been no sign of any attempt to develop the property since then. Over recent years with the building being empty it’s been subject to vandalism and more recently a rat infestation which has had to be addressed by Fife Council.

Speaking out on the matter Mr Hood said ‘members of the community council and the wider community are right to be angry by the state of this building. Unfortunately the council just do not seem to have the power to address situations like this. There are certainly lessons to be learnt as it is unfortunate that the council took such a short-sighted view when they sold the property.’

Mr Hood concluded ‘it’s now time that we start holding these property speculators to account and start to ensure that they meet their responsibilities to the wider community. ‘

Speaking during the committee meeting Cllr Mark Hood said ‘In Fife we have seen a reduction this year of over 4% in the victims of crime, while detection rates are up to 60% and the number of recorded crimes down by 49%. The message in Fife is you’re less likely to be a victim of crime and if you are the offender is more likely to the caught.

‘The police service in Fife has worked hard over many years to develop such a high level of service and the changes we are seeing along with considerable budget cuts pose the greatest risk to the service. It is right that as representatives of our communities we seek to ensure that the level of service we currently enjoy is not compromised and the high level of service is upheld.

The Lochgelly and Cardenden councillor added ‘By conducting a comprehensive audit of the services and resources within the police service in Fife we will be in a better position to ensure the levels of service enjoyed by Fifers is not allowed to be eroded following the formation of the single police force.’

The Fife Labour councillor also commented on reports of bonuses being paid in the police force ‘with proposed cuts to front counter staff and community support officers likely to top £13m across Scotland its unacceptable to see a £23m bonuses pot being made available to senior police officers. In Fife our police have a strong commitment our communities a culture we need to maintain.’

The councillor for Lochgelly and Cardenden said ‘This recognition demonstrates what can be done when council officers work in partnership with local volunteers and target a number of small initiatives in the community. The value for the community of doing a number of small projects together has had a great impact and has made a real difference to the town.

‘They have managed turn the potential negative of buildings closing down and coming to the end of life into a positive by having the building demolished and the space being used in the short term as a car park. As well as the site being useful it gives potential developers a black canvas for future development and increases the likelihood for new development.’

The councillor identified the fact that the number of vacant retail lets in the town has dropped as further evidence of the projects success ‘Lochgelly has bucked the trend and reduced by 20% the amount of available retail floor space in the town. This achievement against a backdrop of retail floor space increasing in similar towns in Fife is significant and shows what can be achieved when council officers work closely with local residents.’

The concerns have been raised by worried residents that the new turbines will interfere with the emissions from Mossmorran making them more hazardous for residents in the local area.

Speaking to the Central Fife Times Mr Hood said ‘As an Area Committee we have a responsibility to investigate the concerns that local residents have. I have asked for a paper to be brought to the committee outlining the current air monitoring regime in place for the Cowdenbeath area and assess the risk the new wind farm may have on air quality.

There is a great deal of complex science involved but it is right that we should seek the advise of our experts and if required, take the necessary steps to give local residents the assurances they need.’

Mr Hood’s request comes as the last four remaining turbines are set to be erected in the next few weeks.

The Fife Labour Councillor concluded by saying ‘ We need all the facts made available to us so a proper risk assessment can be taken. The introduction of the wind farm signals a major change and it is right that we review that level of risk and be able to give the community the reassurance that they are safe.’

Local Councillor Mark Hood has written to senior council officers asking what is being done to ensure that all developer contributions are being paid.

Mr Hood said ‘from the Lomand Home development the Lochgelly community should expect to see approximate £300k paid to the council to help support the additional pressure on local education and public amenities. This money was to be paid in phases during the course of the development. It now appears that no contributions have been made and despite the developer advertising that there is only three homes remaining council officers can give no indication when we can expect to see this money .

‘I have written to senior officers responsible seeking assurances that everything is being done to ensure the money will be made available to the local community. As the local councillor I want to know that the council are doing everything possible to protect the interests of the local community. The sums of money being discussed are significant and will make a real difference in our local schools and amenities.  I’m expecting a report to come to the next meeting of the Cowdenbeath area committee 5^th September  that addresses the concerns of the community and gives some assurances that the outstanding debt will be paid.’

In conclusion the Lochgelly Labour Councillor said ‘If the report does not satisfy the concerns of the community I will be asking the Cowdenbeath Area Committee to deal with this as an emergency issue and call for a full investigation into how this developer is being managed.’

End

Notes: For further information http://lochgelly.org.uk/2012/08/lomond-homes-update/

The councillor also urged Fife Council tenants receiving Disability Living
Allowance or are aged over 60years old who need help with their garden to call the local office on 08451 550033, Mr Hood said ‘the last thing I want is Fife Council tenants who are not able to maintain their garden to worry, there is help if needed.’

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