Care charges
Sir, — What on earth do Councillor Mark Hood and Maureen Closs mean when they say Fife Council has no democratic mandate to pursue the home care charge policy? (Fife Free Press, November 13).
In the Glenrothes by-election the SNP vote increased by 50 per cent, with a swing of nearly five per cent. The main party associated with the care charges policy saw a big jump in its poll. Even if you assume the battle was fought on one issue alone, that's still a big increase. In the Council chamber a total of 44 councillors (out of 78) still back the policy.
The truth is there were more complex factors at work to explain Lindsay Roy's victory. One was the personal appeal by Gordon Brown to back him just three days before the vote. Another was a decision by far left and Unionist party supporters to vote tactically to keep the Nationalists out. There was a reaction among many elderly and working class voters against Alex Salmond's perceived smugness. Labour's organisation on the ground on polling day was superior.
Many people on low incomes may have felt the status quo was a safer choice with recession either here or just round the corner. The result, which did Peter Grant no discredit, was a lot more than a verdict on home care charges.
Now it's all over I'd like to see the new MP do two things. He should ask the Department of Work and Pensions to brief him fully on affordability criteria for home care. He should ask senior social work officials in Fife Council to brief him on the history, operation and purpose of charging.
After that I'm sure he'll be much better informed than he appeared to be on any of the campaign hustings I attended. — Yours, etc.,
BOB TAYLOR,
24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes

MP's thanks
Sir – It is a great honour and privilege to have been elected as MP for all of the communities that make up the Glenrothes and Central Fife constituency.
Immediately after the result was announced, I pledged again my commitment to work hard to represent the interests of all of the people in the constituency. That work has already begun.
I also expressed my desire to work with politicians of other political parties, both at Holyrood and within Fife Council, to consider a range of issues that had emerged on the doorsteps during the election campaign. That commitment remains, although some representatives of the party in power in the Scottish Parliament and Fife Council continue to snipe (ie SNP) about key issues raised.
I can understand that there may remain some hurt and disillusionment amongst the 'odds on favourites' who were soundly beaten at the polls. I urge them to review their highly unpopular policies - cuts in school budgets, increases in charges for some of the most vulnerable people in our society and their plans to introduce a 'nationalist income tax'.
It was clearly evident on the doorsteps that there is no appetite throughout our communities for separation from the United Kingdom. Indeed, voters made it clear that they did not support a candidate whose main objective is to break up the UK.
Labour listened carefully to the electorate and on the basis of the issues raised, devised a positive action plan to address these – dealing with anti-social behaviour; providing more opportunities for youth; tackling a range of transport issues; helping people through tough economic times.
I will do my best to ensure that this plan will be delivered. I hope sincerely that representatives from all political parties will consider these issues carefully and work with me to support our constituents. Yours etc
Lindsay A Roy
MP for Glenrothes and Central Fife

Sing up ...
Sir, In response to the letter re Raith fans (Fife Free Press, November 13) all I can say is go on lads make as much noise as you can. Without them Stark's Park would be dead.
I have followed Raith for many years. For the last three seasons I have been a season ticket holder and always enjoyed going apart from one thing – I really miss the good old days of the all standing terraces behind the goals when the vast majority of fans would sing and chant for near enough 90 minutes and didn't, feel like they were upsetting or annoying anyone. It seems that those days are gone and the atmosphere just isn't the same.
Going to football is meant to be fun and good banter. A certain member of the East Fife board seems to be intent on stirring up that hornets nest right from the start of this season, so I can understand the response from the hardcore diehard fans who are there season in, season out rain, travelling all over the country.
I have sat in the old stand and behind the goals in different areas and it is a different atmosphere in every area. I would encourage every fan to be more vocal in a positive manner and cheer on the mighty Rovers. Yours etc
(Name and address supplied)

Poor behaviour
Sir, — I feel l have to vent my feelings about the behaviour of some of the Rovers fans at the East Fife game.
I am a regular supporter and go to most home games and the odd away game. I have noticed that there is a certain element of people who deliberately wish to offend and verbally abuse stewards and officials.
There is no harm in shouting and singing and obviously swearing, but the language that l heard was appalling and offensive. These people – they are all males – seem to have no respect for anyone. They were standing in front of people who were sitting and constantly blocked their view. They obviously had been consuming alcohol.
These people have mothers, wives, girlfriends and families - do they not feel ashamed of themselves? I would not take a child to a game if this is what they are going to hear. A policeman told me that they use CCTV to spot the trouble makers. It's about time they were named and shamed.
It is a difficult problem but not one to be ignored. They are giving Raith Rovers a bad name. — Yours, etc.,
AMANDA GRAHAM,
(by e-mail)

Brown & HBOS
Sir, — It seems that Gordon Brown has discovered a bit of bottle since he thinks he is going to solve the banking crisis worldwide but as regards the HBOS TSB crisis he had a knee jerk answer and dwelt on it as if it was an irrelevance and this on his home territory, Scotland.
I wonder what he will do when the shutters go up on the HBOS headquarters on the Mound and the workers are all made redundant. Some people say he has an ulterior motive. Will he revert to type and make himself scarce as he has done before. — Yours, etc.,
ALEX CATHRO,
121 Hendry Road, Kirkcaldy.

Wind turbine
Sir, — Asda is proposing to erect a "small scale" wind turbine within its complex! This would be erected around 20 metres from the main Dunnikier Way road, next to the roundabout.
It is around 100 metres away from the Earn Road flats and a little over that distance from my house in Overton Mains.
The turbine is to be 15m high, with a hub fitted on top which is four metres high. This means that the overall height would be 19 metres (around 62 feet). Also, there would be three blades attached to the hub, each of which is 13 feet long!
Last week all the tenants and owners of the Earn Road flats received letters from Asda telling them of the proposed plans.
At the beginning of this year a company wanted to erect a wind turbine in and around the Methil Docks area. Nearby residents were up in arms about the plans submitted to Fife Council. Around one year laterit is still on hold.
Ironically, the wind turbine at Asda is higher than the one at Methil. This monster of a structure would be classed as an eyesore and combining the dreaded looks plus the noise that would come from the swooshing blades, this definitely would not be welcome so close to flats and houses.
I would urge all nearby residents to write to Asda and Fife Council at Forth House, to voice their concerns and I would ask Fife Council's planning department to seriously consider this application.
Asda refers to the wind turbine as a small scale turbine. In my opinion this is the complete opposite and by anyone's standard a large scale turbine at around 62 feet high.
Perhaps the turbine could be erected at the rear of Asda, thus hiding most of the structure? This would, of course, mean less noise levels reaching the nearby residents at Earn Road. — Yours, etc.,
WILLIAM THOMSON,
239 Overton Mains, Kirkcaldy.

Memorial meet
Sir, — Last week I attended a public meeting to consider the condition of our War Memorial. Many inhabitants of the town had lodged complaints, hence the meeting, to consider how this neglect could be rectified.
I was so disappointed and saddened to find only nine people in attendance and that included three councillors.
We all owe our freedom and perhaps our very lives to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Do we now take these sacrifices for granted?
Surely it is not asking the impossible for us to nurture our monument in memory of those who gave their lives for peace and freedom.
"Here's To The Heroes" was sung at the Albert Hall on Saturday. Surely it is not only a song? The closing of the festival included "For Your Tomorrow We Gave Our Today". These make you think.
Another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3. Please, please do not let all those brave souls down again. — Yours, etc.,
ANN HENDERSON,
Kinghorn.


OAP income
Sir , Having read the letter from " The tax paying pensioner on modest income " l strugle to understand what he/she is saying . They appear to think the person who is in receipt of £143.80 pension as someone who is is getting something they are not entitled to if they recieved rent or council tax rebates.
The letter writer can be assured that any pensioner in receipt of such rebates will have been fully means tested before they qualify, and are not at the fiddle.
The writer, who believes the Alex Salmond system will be fairer, should look at Mr Salmond's own position that is not means tested . He lives in Bute House, pays no rent, is able to claim allowances for any council tax , heating and lighting bills, food and many other expenses he incurs – all paid for by the taxpayer inbcluding the writer of last weeks letter. He also recieves a salary, expenses and a pension pot for being a Westminster MP yet rarely goes to do Parliamantary business. He recieves a salary , expenses and another pension pot for being an MSP.
Can l suggest that the writer does not decry the guy on £143.80 in the same letter that he believes his fat cat saviour is the "be all and end all " Yours etc
Colin Cookson
37 Hatton Green, Glenrothes

Care costs
Sir, – I was interested to read a quote from Cllr Brett, the chairman of the social work and health committee in regard to home care charges saying "we have assessed over 2,000 people and so far have adjusted the contribution to the cost of care for approximately 10 people". Obviously this is untrue as we have read in other press statements that upwards of one third of people will have to pay the full amount for their care.
I assume that what he is talking about is the number of people who have successfully appealed against their new charges.
I understand that because of all the bad press which the social work service has been receiving in relation to of the numbers of disabled and older people they have plunged into poverty and misery because of the home care charges, a press worker has been seconded from the Council's communication section. She is working there four days per week, especially to try to do some damage limitation.
Was it her expertise in spin-doctoring which led to this misleading quote? If it was just a wee mistake how can this happen with such levels of expertise on hand? How much is this secondment costing and how can it be justified when they are pleading so much poverty that vulnerable people are required to pay for crucial care?
I take the view that as well as answering these questions, Cllr Brett should be forced to publish a retraction. Yours etc
Maureen Closs
Campaign Against Charges
1 Barassie Drive, Kirkcaldy