LOCHS Councillor Alex Campbell has this week urged Fife Council to move ahead and build the new Visitors Centre at Lochore Meadows Country Park, stating it would be a ‘tragedy’ if there were no Visitors Centre open for the start of the season in the park.
The plans for the new Centre were put on hold after a public meeting in Lochore complained that there had not been proper consultation on the design of the new £1.8 million project.
Mr Campbell said: “There is no doubt in my mind that the consultation should have been better and certainly the Council need to learn from this, but I am concerned that if this project does not go ahead we will be left with a cabin for toilets and no decent café facilities for the start of the season."
He added: “When I was elected as a councillor I was delighted to learn that my predecessor Alex Rowley, as Labour leader of the Council, had built £1million into the capital budget for a new building to replace the existing Visitor Centre which was in a dilapidated state.
"In that budget he had also put more funding into the revenue budget to replace the cuts that had been made by the previous SNP administration which included the councillors who are now complaining there is not enough money in the budget. We were able to secure a further £800,000 to include facilities for golf and football
“Lochore Meadows Country Park gets over 500,000 visitors a year from all over Scotland and the point of the Visitors Centre is to ensure good toilets, catering and cafeteria facilities as well as education rooms and meeting facilities.
"Whilst there is unhappiness in some quarters over the design, the functions needed will be provided by the proposed new building, and we should not confuse the requirements of a quality Visitors Centre as being a Community Centre, we have one of them in Benarty."
He concluded: "It was suggested a temporary refurbishment of the existing centre would suffice for now, but this was estimated at a cost of over £700,000 so it would be madness to proceed with such a short term measure.
“I believe it is time to move forward and get this new centre built so we can ensure the new Visitors Centre is built to welcome the visitors to the park for the new season”.
Meanwhile a senior local councillor is calling on Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing to 'stop playing politics' and support the council in delivering the best solution for the community.
Cowdenbeath Area Committee chair, Councillor Mark Hood's comments came as he revealed that £83k investment in Lochore Meadows Park was at risk.
Mr Hood told the Times: "Ms Ewing is calling on the council to halt progress on developing the park while at the same time the Scottish Government is telling us if we do not spend funding awarded to the project by the end of March it will be lost.
"We are being put in an impossible position, it's time Ms Ewing stopped playing politics and ensured the threat of a funding cut is removed."
The councillor also pointed at the lack of direct funding in the park project by the Scottish Government as an issue: "The council applied for £300k from the Scottish Government Regeneration Fund and it was rejected at stage one. It seems unfair that the MSP expects the council to invest more in a project that the Government are not."
'I believe we all want the best for Lochore Meadows but we need to be realistic about what we can achieve with a limited budget. If we were to back Ms Ewing's proposal it could cost the project funding up to £383k with no additional benefit.
'If Ms Ewing was to ensure the threat of funding being withdrawn is removed and a commitment to look again at Scottish Government regeneration funding it would go a long to help improve the park development project.'
Comments
The stark reality is that the SNP Cllr Ms Ewing and her SNP colleagues, along with the SNP activists (read the Benarty Matters & All Benarty Matters Facebook pages) used this development to politically point score and failed drastically.
This is not and never has been a community centre. It is an outdoor centre, in principal to encourage visitors to enjoy the great outdoors.
The unit was designed as a basic, fit for purpose shell, with the opportunity to be extended in future,as and when required.
I very much doubt any of the SNP Cllrs will come forward with any alternative funding, should the funding cash be lost.
Can we have a guarantee from the SNP Cllrs that the same funding be met if they were to take control of Fife Council in May? I think not.
And given the SNPs poor grasp on finances we cannot afford to take that risk.
Cllr Ewing put your money where your mouth is.
The stark reality is that the SNP Cllr Ms Ewing and her SNP colleagues, along with the SNP activists (read the Benarty Matters & All Benarty Matters Facebook pages) used this development to politically point score and failed drastically.
This is not and never has been a community centre. It is an outdoor centre, in principal to encourage visitors to enjoy the great outdoors.
The unit was designed as a basic, fit for purpose shell, with the opportunity to be extended in future,as and when required.
I very much doubt any of the SNP Cllrs will come forward with any alternative funding, should the funding cash be lost.
Can we have a guarantee from the SNP Cllrs that the same funding be met if they were to take control of Fife Council in May? I think not.
And given the SNPs poor grasp on finances we cannot afford to take that risk.
Cllr Ewing put your money where your mouth is.
The stark reality is that the Labour Cllr Mr Hood and his SLAB colleagues, along with the SLAB activists (read the All Benarty Matters and Lochgelly Community Council Facebook pages) used this development to politically point score and failed drastically. The unit was designed as a cow shed, with the opportunity to be further developed as a cow barn in future, as and when required.
The stark reality is that the Labour Cllr Mr Hood and his SLAB colleagues, along with the SLAB activists (read the All Benarty Matters and Lochgelly Community Council Facebook pages) used this development to politically point score and failed drastically. The unit was designed as a cow shed, with the opportunity to be further developed as a cow barn in future, as and when required.
Wow, what a biased article from Mr Stark. Two Labour Councillors taking a pop at the SNP and no comment or response solicited from the SNP, either SNP Councillors or Annabelle Ewing, who, TheSpectator, is an MSP not a Councillor.
But I see both Cillr Campbell and Cllr Hood are trying to press on with this nonsense. The building is a disgrace and the money allocated to it is a pittance and Cllr Campbell is intimating the removal of that, and trying to blame the SNP at the same time. Disgraceful.
Wow, what a biased article from Mr Stark. Two Labour Councillors taking a pop at the SNP and no comment or response solicited from the SNP, either SNP Councillors or Annabelle Ewing, who, TheSpectator, is an MSP not a Councillor.
But I see both Cillr Campbell and Cllr Hood are trying to press on with this nonsense. The building is a disgrace and the money allocated to it is a pittance and Cllr Campbell is intimating the removal of that, and trying to blame the SNP at the same time. Disgraceful.
There are so many inaccuracies with this article it should go before the Press Complaints Commission. For a start the figure quoted by Fife Council Property Services for a refurbishment of the existing centre is now £1.8m. The reinstatement of the existing centre following the invasive Asbestos Survey is quoted to cost £150'000. The proposed new building is a 46% reduction in floor space and is priced at £900'000.
To say the public consultation could have been better is something of an understatement to say the least. Rather than following the Planning Advice Notes, Fife Planners took the decision not to do pre-planning exhibitions in the local communities, and Community Councils were not made statutory consultees. The weekly list notification for this building to the three local Community Councils was delayed by three weeks until the 13th of June when all three were on their summer break. Planning advice notes state that this should be avoided, and if necessary an extended consultation period should be provided. It looks now like deliberate efforts were made to keep local people out of the process completely.
As for being left with a cabin for the start of the new season, hardly. The existing building is still available.
The Councillor goes on to say they sourced additional funding of £800'000, that's for a completely separate development for the new Golf and Football Clubhouse, and the new Bike Trails. Not a single additional penny has been raised by this administration towards the new Visitor Centre. The application to the Scottish Government Regeneration Fund was dismissed as the proposed building was not an improvement on what is already there. To be successful in an application, there has to be a benefit to the area, not a regression in facilities. Why have the Councillors failed to acknowledge this error and amended their plans, and reapplied? I suppose it's seen as a good chance to attack the Scottish Government and lay the blame for this whole fiasco at their door.
The headline, "move ahead or cash could be lost", just who is Councillor Campbell representing with this advice? The local people gave Councillors Hood and Campbell their instructions at a public meeting. Is local democracy just to be dismissed as an inconvenience? The way ahead is quite clear. Re-open the existing building. Go back to the communities and do a proper public consultation and find out what they want. Design the new building around that vision. Apply to the regeneration fund for that additional funding. Build a new building which everyone can be proud of. Something which will attract visitors.
We're not looking for a community centre, even though there isn't one in Benarty. The word community was dropped from that building name. It's official name is Benarty Centre, not Benarty Community Centre. That's another issue, but as Councillor Campbell raised it, I think it's fair to elaborate. There is no sense of community in Benarty Centre. It's a lifeless white space, and most groups have been priced out of using it and now prefer the Lochore Miners Institute.
There are so many inaccuracies with this article it should go before the Press Complaints Commission. For a start the figure quoted by Fife Council Property Services for a refurbishment of the existing centre is now £1.8m. The reinstatement of the existing centre following the invasive Asbestos Survey is quoted to cost £150'000. The proposed new building is a 46% reduction in floor space and is priced at £900'000.
To say the public consultation could have been better is something of an understatement to say the least. Rather than following the Planning Advice Notes, Fife Planners took the decision not to do pre-planning exhibitions in the local communities, and Community Councils were not made statutory consultees. The weekly list notification for this building to the three local Community Councils was delayed by three weeks until the 13th of June when all three were on their summer break. Planning advice notes state that this should be avoided, and if necessary an extended consultation period should be provided. It looks now like deliberate efforts were made to keep local people out of the process completely.
As for being left with a cabin for the start of the new season, hardly. The existing building is still available.
The Councillor goes on to say they sourced additional funding of £800'000, that's for a completely separate development for the new Golf and Football Clubhouse, and the new Bike Trails. Not a single additional penny has been raised by this administration towards the new Visitor Centre. The application to the Scottish Government Regeneration Fund was dismissed as the proposed building was not an improvement on what is already there. To be successful in an application, there has to be a benefit to the area, not a regression in facilities. Why have the Councillors failed to acknowledge this error and amended their plans, and reapplied? I suppose it's seen as a good chance to attack the Scottish Government and lay the blame for this whole fiasco at their door.
The headline, "move ahead or cash could be lost", just who is Councillor Campbell representing with this advice? The local people gave Councillors Hood and Campbell their instructions at a public meeting. Is local democracy just to be dismissed as an inconvenience? The way ahead is quite clear. Re-open the existing building. Go back to the communities and do a proper public consultation and find out what they want. Design the new building around that vision. Apply to the regeneration fund for that additional funding. Build a new building which everyone can be proud of. Something which will attract visitors.
We're not looking for a community centre, even though there isn't one in Benarty. The word community was dropped from that building name. It's official name is Benarty Centre, not Benarty Community Centre. That's another issue, but as Councillor Campbell raised it, I think it's fair to elaborate. There is no sense of community in Benarty Centre. It's a lifeless white space, and most groups have been priced out of using it and now prefer the Lochore Miners Institute.
Lochore meadows is a country park,an outdoor centre.
Not a community centre,can you not understand the difference? Your association with activist groups/members does you no favours.
As does your SNP activist webpage on Facebook.
The public are getting wise to the SNPs lies.
Lochore meadows is a country park,an outdoor centre.
Not a community centre,can you not understand the difference? Your association with activist groups/members does you no favours.
As does your SNP activist webpage on Facebook.
The public are getting wise to the SNPs lies.
Jim, I associate with other community activists and I am a community activist myself, that's not in question. The fact that some Labour Councillors would prefer that the public shut up and let them decide what should be happening isn't doing your lot any favours. And with this paper acting as the sole source of public consultation, with your own slant often misrepresenting the facts, it's become necessary for the public to perform their own scrutiny. There once was a time when we relied on the paper to investigate and report without bias, but it seems those days are long gone. As for my SNP activist page, that would surely require me to be a member of the SNP which I am not, and neither am I a member of any other party for your information. My allegiance is to the community of Benarty and I reach out to members of all parties for help with Benarty matters. Regarding the Meedies centre, Labour members have chosen to oppose the public they represent, and although I have requested assistance from both Annabelle Ewing MSP (SNP) and Alex Rowley MSP (Labour), Annabelle has responded generously, writing several letters to the council leaders on our behalf and attended both public meetings, speaking at both. Alex has stayed away, but written one letter to the Chief Executive. Fife Council Labour Leader David Ross was asked directly by me if he would carry out full public consultation in all of the surrounding communities to gauge the public opinion on this. His response was that the public opinion was not needed. So it seems that democracy is not a priority at Fife Council. Neither is consideration to the many publications commissioned by Fife Council. Their own document relating to public consultation for instance, lays down the procedures to be followed in the run up to a new development. That was completely disregarded. The Lochore Meadows Development Masterplan was also disregarded. The Fife Council Urban Design scheme, swept to one side and completely disregarded. Planning Advice Notes which specifically address public consultation issues, again, you guessed it, completely disregarded. These documents and schemes are written and developed for good reason, and at considerable expense, so for Fife Council officers and elected Councillors to dismiss them like this is a big problem. Too often now we hear the retort of "lessons to be learned going forward", and "mistakes have been made, but we must move on". That just doesn't cut it I'm afraid. Ordinary members of the public don't get off the hook that easy, so why should those in office? They are paid very considerable sums of money, with generous pension and settlement agreements, so they should be held to deliver at the highest level. That is clearly not happening here. The community were promised a unique visitor attraction and instead, Fife Council have used underhand tactics to try and sneak through with a dud. This paper played it's part in all this too. That is the "Stark" reality Jim.
Jim, I associate with other community activists and I am a community activist myself, that's not in question. The fact that some Labour Councillors would prefer that the public shut up and let them decide what should be happening isn't doing your lot any favours. And with this paper acting as the sole source of public consultation, with your own slant often misrepresenting the facts, it's become necessary for the public to perform their own scrutiny. There once was a time when we relied on the paper to investigate and report without bias, but it seems those days are long gone. As for my SNP activist page, that would surely require me to be a member of the SNP which I am not, and neither am I a member of any other party for your information. My allegiance is to the community of Benarty and I reach out to members of all parties for help with Benarty matters. Regarding the Meedies centre, Labour members have chosen to oppose the public they represent, and although I have requested assistance from both Annabelle Ewing MSP (SNP) and Alex Rowley MSP (Labour), Annabelle has responded generously, writing several letters to the council leaders on our behalf and attended both public meetings, speaking at both. Alex has stayed away, but written one letter to the Chief Executive. Fife Council Labour Leader David Ross was asked directly by me if he would carry out full public consultation in all of the surrounding communities to gauge the public opinion on this. His response was that the public opinion was not needed. So it seems that democracy is not a priority at Fife Council. Neither is consideration to the many publications commissioned by Fife Council. Their own document relating to public consultation for instance, lays down the procedures to be followed in the run up to a new development. That was completely disregarded. The Lochore Meadows Development Masterplan was also disregarded. The Fife Council Urban Design scheme, swept to one side and completely disregarded. Planning Advice Notes which specifically address public consultation issues, again, you guessed it, completely disregarded. These documents and schemes are written and developed for good reason, and at considerable expense, so for Fife Council officers and elected Councillors to dismiss them like this is a big problem. Too often now we hear the retort of "lessons to be learned going forward", and "mistakes have been made, but we must move on". That just doesn't cut it I'm afraid. Ordinary members of the public don't get off the hook that easy, so why should those in office? They are paid very considerable sums of money, with generous pension and settlement agreements, so they should be held to deliver at the highest level. That is clearly not happening here. The community were promised a unique visitor attraction and instead, Fife Council have used underhand tactics to try and sneak through with a dud. This paper played it's part in all this too. That is the "Stark" reality Jim.
Another endless rant from Kinnaird who now attempts to portray himself as a community activist fighting for the people of Benarty.
This whole affair was and always has been a political point scoring exercise by the SNP Cllrs and their activist followers. A point scoring attempt which failed drastically, you have suddenly became a financial specialist, an architect and a builder. You are going to deprive the community of a much needed development with your one man crusade, perhaps stick to your fence engineering.
That is the 'Stark' reality Tom.
Another endless rant from Kinnaird who now attempts to portray himself as a community activist fighting for the people of Benarty.
This whole affair was and always has been a political point scoring exercise by the SNP Cllrs and their activist followers. A point scoring attempt which failed drastically, you have suddenly became a financial specialist, an architect and a builder. You are going to deprive the community of a much needed development with your one man crusade, perhaps stick to your fence engineering.
That is the 'Stark' reality Tom.
Far from being a one man crusade, it's a team effort including a financial specialist, an architect and many builders who would gladly deprive the community of this hideous, overpriced carbuncle in favour of something with far more ambition and imagination. I'm beginning to wonder if you have even seen what we are talking about. For £1m, we can do a lot better.
Far from being a one man crusade, it's a team effort including a financial specialist, an architect and many builders who would gladly deprive the community of this hideous, overpriced carbuncle in favour of something with far more ambition and imagination. I'm beginning to wonder if you have even seen what we are talking about. For £1m, we can do a lot better.
Another endless rant from TheSpecator who now attempts to portray himself as a community activist fighting for the people of Benarty.
This whole affair was and always has been a political point scoring exercise by the SLAB Cllrs and their activist followers. A point scoring attempt which failed drastically.
THE PUBLIC IS WISE TO THE SLAB LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!
Another endless rant from TheSpecator who now attempts to portray himself as a community activist fighting for the people of Benarty.
This whole affair was and always has been a political point scoring exercise by the SLAB Cllrs and their activist followers. A point scoring attempt which failed drastically.
THE PUBLIC IS WISE TO THE SLAB LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!
Tom kinnaird and his SNP activist friends have disrupted a major development proposed for the Benarty Community. Shame on them all.
Tom kinnaird and his SNP activist friends have disrupted a major development proposed for the Benarty Community. Shame on them all.
The public are getting wise to the SNPs lies.
The public are getting wise to the SNPs lies.