Empowering Communities:
The Scottish Government has launched an initiative called Community Empowerment. It is intended to encourage people to take a bigger role in determining what happens in their community. This can be a geographical area, like your Community Council area, a larger area such as Dunfermline, or Diverse communities such as gender, race, LGBT or faith amongst others. A copy of this document is available at the Scottish Government website here.

Meet your local Bobby:
A new initiative from Fife Constabulary will make it easier for you to meet your local bobby (Community Police Officer). The drop-in meetings will be held at Townhill Community Centre and/or Queen Margaret Hospital on the 1st Wednesday of every second month from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. See the Fife Police website for details and dates.

20mph Zone:
Fife Council has started work on extending the 20mph zone to most residential streets in the Bellyeoman area.

This work which was originally scheduled to start last summer is now under way.

Whist we obviously promote better road safety for all road users, including pedestrians. Is this a step too far?

These measures have cost the taxpayer just under £5million (£4,843,143) over the last 6 years according to Fife Council. The latest measures in Bellyeoman area around £50,000 alone.

Some residents ask why the potholes remain unrepaired whilst speed bumps mount up.

Is this good law-making when anecdotal evidence suggests that many drivers still drive at speeds around 30mph where they can. This kind of bad law-making simply teaches otherwise law-abiding citizens to break the law. What do you think?

Proposed Kingseat Road Stone Crushing Plant:
Despite Fife Council turning down t he application, the Scottish Government has approved the application following an appeal by the devoloper.

Following submission last year of a planning application for a stone crushing plant at the sand depot/old brick works to the north of Kingseat Road, opposite Ellon Place, Fife Council held a 'Departure Hearing' on Monday 26th May at 2pm in the City Chambers, Dunfermline. Officials heard evidence for and against the proposal. Bellyeoman Community Council objected to this proposal and was represented at the Hearing.

Dog Poo Bins: Some plastic dog-poo bins in the area have been victims of vandalism. The Community Council is chasing Fife Council to replace these with fireproof models. Meanwhile dog-owners please take your dog-poo bags to another bin or home. That way we won't be left with unsightly messes like this!!

Update: Some of the bins have been replaced, but we continue to press for more.

Fife & Kinross Extras - Dumped: It has come to the notice of the Community Council that some deliverers of the 'Extra' are not going the extra mile and delivering them to the letterboxes they are paid to. Instead, like this huge pile of 'Extras' and Ikea catalogues, they are dumped, in this case in a local park. It leaves an unsightly mess. Instances are being reported to the Papers involved and the Environmental Health Department.

Update: This is still an ongoing problem.

Forth replacement Crossing: Read the latest update on progress on this important economic link for Fife and East Central Scotland. Read more, or visit the website at www.forthreplacementcrossing.info.