Here are some of your views online.
Don't forget you can read more letters and the best in news and sports coverage in the Fife Herald every week.

Water, water
everywhere
Sir, — For the last month at least, there has been a leak just off the pavement on the right hand side of the crossing beside Boots the Chemist.
If like myself you have to wait and are standing close to the kerb you get splashed by cars that come too close to the kerb.
I also overheard someone else talk to someone on the same subject and said it had been there for weeks.
So come on, can we please have some action?
As the old song said "Water, water, everywhere, not a drop to drink". — Yours, etc.,
E. DUFF,
3 Winthank Court,
Cupar.

Crossgate
proposal
Sir, — With regard to the impressive — no, astounding — 100 per cent backing by the independant traders to the holding of the farmers' market being held in the Crossgate (Fife Herald, November 7), I would really like to know which independent retailers were asked.
I have asked a number of independent retailers and no-one has been aproached about this. I can only assume the only independent shops to be asked were the ones in the wide part of the Crossgate. Well, 'newsflash' — the Crossgate continues for a good 300 metres futher and that part of the Crossgate holds the most independent small retailers.
Not that any attempt to breath life into the town centre is a bad idea.It's the fact that if 100 per cent backing is qouted, 100 per cent should be asked. Not four or five out of 15 or 16. — Yours, etc.,
BARBARA TAYLOR,
Lynda's Floral Studio.

Selfish
disregard
Sir, — Congratulations to the 'grown up' youths, who in Springfield on bonfire night made a decision to cause fear and mayhem with their selfish disregard for those living in the area, by lighting up their fireworks near the back of the primary school. The large group also consisted of smaller children who stood within a yard of the careless individuals 'lighting up'.
It smacks of a need to stop now selling those dangerous items and have only organised events. These youths knew they were wrong only when the police turned up to end their stupidity. — Yours, etc.,
MRS WRIGHT,
Rose Cottage,
Springfield.

Windfarm
support
Sir, — We would like to add our view to the rapidly growing number now openly supporting the proposed five wind turbines at Gathercauld.
We believe that the alteration to the skyline by five of these structures is of little environmental consequence to us in Ceres and the surrounding area. Bearing in mind the very great need to produce power from renewables for the sake of all of our children and grandchildren, and the fact that the vast majority of Ceres residents will not be visually and aurally aware of the existence of the turbines on a daily basis after the initial construction process is over, we believe the argument in favour of their construction is overwhelming..
With regard to housing, the detrimental effect is not at all conclusive: one cottage very close to the proposed site was sold quickly recently and above the asking price, so clearly the proposed presence of wind turbines does not produce universal displeasure with house buyers.
We do not believe that Hill of Tarvit's vista should enter the equation and movement in the distance will have no effect on someone putting for par with a hickory shafted putter on the newly constructed golf course!
Now that the MOD have withdrawn their objection, we believe that Fife Council should look favourably on EnergieKontor's application. — Yours, etc.
W. B. GOURLAY and
N. C. GOURLAY (Mrs).
Via e-mail.

Ceres
concerns
Sir, — Referring to Graham Lang's justified letter content (Fife Herald, November 7) as regards both a windfarm and now a controversial housing plan which adds to the concerns of local residents, when will the authorities seriously consider retaining the historical and tranquil pleasant area of Ceres?
It used to be that local councillors were able to make decisions to protect village areas by listening to their community residents. Sadly decisions now appear to be based on lengthy pressure from outside business, law firm consultants, central government and even Parliament with the resultant continual debate all at considerable unjustified expense.
Surely it is the local people of Ceres who should be treated with respect and have some protection either via a referendum, or similar, to reject contentious projects and protect the area of Ceres from final decimation. — Yours, etc.,
HARRY LAWRIE,
35 Abbots Mill,
Kirkcaldy KY2 5PE.

Outstanding
performance
Sir, — I would like to take this opportunity to thank Buckhaven and Methil Miners Brass Band for their outstanding performance at Cupar Old Parish Church last Saturday evening.
Both the junior and senior band members provided a great night of entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Also, a big thank you to everyone involved for making this a most enjoyable evening.
I wish the band every success in the 2009 championships. — Yours, etc.,
MRS J. SCOTT,
6 Oak Vale,
Cupar.

Seeking
information
Sir, — I am seeking information and memories about my cousin Brigadier Barbara Gordon. She was a long term resident of St Andrews (as were her parents). She lived at Lettoch, 31 Hepburn Gardens and had an illustratious career as a military nurse.
She nursed all over the world, was made matron-in-chief of army nursing and was made Companion of the Order of the Bath by the Queen. I would be most grateful for any information or memories about her as I am writing a history of the Gordon family. I can be contacted by telephone on 020 7602 6985, or e-mail at petercarson@btinternet.com. Thank you. — Yours, etc.,
MISS ELEO GORDON,
4 Royal Crescent,
London W11 4SL.

Save the
squirrels
Sir, — Regarding the application by Angle Park Sand and Gravel Co., re the Annsmuir Wood. I believe that there are red squirrels in that area and I don't think it would be possible to save them.
Obviously the trees can be replaced, but let us save the squirrels. — Yours, etc.,
RUTH O'RIORDAN,
7 Upper Greens,
Auchtermuchty.

Cupar Arts
Festival
Sir, — Having spent two weekends recently visiting family and friends in Cupar, and on each occasion having returned home happy and revitalised, I write now with comments about the above festival.
I had planned to come with a friend, but we found it difficult to get accommodation in Cupar — the town seemed so busy. What I noticed first of all was the bright orange flag flying atop the mast in the park, then I remembered talk of a festival so got a programme. This was helpful and informative — 'Get close to Cupar'. We started with venue No 1, diving into the first close, a green ceilinged tunnel leading to old St Columba's school. Here were abstract paintings, installations, video and photography — the piece I liked the best was an enchanting, and enshrined, selkie story, beautifully told by one of the 'four Fife men'. Another close hosted a family washing line of underwear, echoed by another 'outerwear' rail in another close on the opposite side of the street.
Yet another close had a geometric design painted by excluded teenagers, who had also designed and painted an old Saab, a classic car with a new, and perhaps now iconic, festival face. It was good to see children's drawings in another venue, the YMCA, and to know that young people and adults with mental health and additional needs have also been involved.
The event which sticks most vividly in my mind was the experimental performance/play in the old sugar beet factory with its floodlit silo tower. This was a multi-media, interactive arts happening — a unique and extraordinary experience. And then my second weekend finished with a heart-warming evening at the Corn Exchange, dancing to the live music of a local band, the Moonzie Allstars, followed by the Glasgow-based Zuba bassa beat band.
Next year I'll be booking my holiday proper to coincide with the Cupar Arts Festival. I haven't had such a good time in a long while. So thank you to all the hard-working and committed artists and musicians, and also to the sponsors who took the risk of backing this fledgling festival. — Yours, etc.,
V. BENNETT,
7 Sunderland Farm Cottages,
Galashiels.

Resounding
success
Sir, — I would like to thank all those involved in the Cupar Arts Festival: the organising committee; the artists and artistes who participated; those who gave generous financial support; in fact everyone who helped make this festival such a resounding success.
They gave us a fortnight of excellence with an amazing range of experiences for our pleasure and entertainment. They raised the profile of Cupar and gave the town a buzz.
It would be wrong to single out any one person for special praise. Congratulations to everyone. Please do it again next year. — Yours, etc.,
COUNCILLOR ROGER GUY,
Crawley House,
Springfield,
by Cupar KY15 5RU.

Windfarm
assessments
Sir, — To help Mr Clitherow (Fife Herald, October 24), Defence Estates have received a total of more than 5000 proposals for windfarms from developers for assessment. In 2008 the number will be in the order of 1000. Following best practice this is normally done before an application is lodged so that any issues can be dealt with at the pre-planning stage. This is included in the British Wind Energy Association's guidance for its members — EnergieKontor is one — and Fife Council's Supplementary Planning Guidance-Wind Energy.
All proposals have to be looked at. Most receive the all-clear and a proportion fail. The stage EnergieKontor have now reached with the MoD is the stage they should have reached before they submitted their application and it is their inadequate approach to design and following best practice that has led to the expense.
We have written to the Ministry of Defence suggesting that the applicants should pay for these assessments or at least meet some of the costs, but the industry is not keen so the taxpayer picks up the tab. It is certain that if developers had to pay it would reduce the number of speculative applications like the one for Gathercauld and encourage developers to only propose good proposals on suitable sites.
Incidentally we were thanked by the Ministry of Defence for bringing the impact of the proposed turbines on Leuchars to their attention. To attempt to plant the idea in the minds of your readers that CADEAP is responsible for the costs incurred by Defence Estates is far from the truth.
Turning to Mr Pay's letter of the same date I am well aware of the Newburgh project and have been for some time. I commend them for bringing their idea to the notice of the community at this early stage and being so up front and transparent. This is the way professional wind farmers go about their business.
As far as the ASA is concerned I may bring our website to their attention and ask if any modifications are required and at the same time I might just send them EnergieKontor's offending document for adjudication although the answer is a foregone conclusion.
Finally, I confirm CADEAP's objective is to see off EnergieKontor's ill-considered and inappropriate application. While we have made a group objection to two notorious outline planning applications for housing development in Ceres and to the removal of Areas of Great Landscape Value from the Fife Structure Plan 2006-26 we have not submitted any objection to any other windfarm. We are totally focused on the Ceres application. — Yours, etc.,
GRAHAM LANG,
Ceres and District Environment
and Amenity Protection Group,
Westermost,
Coaltown of Callange,
Ceres KY15 5LD.

Good
Samaritans
Sir, — May I through your columns extend my heartfelt thanks to the two 'Good Samaritans' who came to my rescue when I had a flat tyre outside the Co-op in Cupar last Friday.
The two young men changed my tyre for me, but wouldn't accept any payment and wouldn't even give their names so that I could thank them properly.
In this day and age when you hear so many negative things about young people, these two certainly proved that there are plenty of good ones out there. — Yours, etc.,
GRATEFUL LADY MOTORIST,
Ceres.

Guising
tradition
Sir, — Having read Colin Cameron's letter reminiscing about his guising in Dundee at Hallowe'en (Fife Herald, October 31) I am reminded of my own childhood in the 1950s.
It was very similar to mine in Caithness and we did buy the odd squib (a banger) to be lit in the company of slightly older girls who initially screamed and then beat us round the head! However, us northern guys were more likely to spend our pennies on a Wagon Wheel!
It is now late on October 31, and no guisers have appeared in Provost Park for the first time in 32 years! The lights were on, the apples and nuts were bought, but nobody crossed our door.
We used to have a mix of late primary / early secondary children telling jokes and nursery / early primary children singing a song or two. The latter were usually accompanied by a parent — to prevent the turnip lantern setting fire to the last-minute costume constructed by an harassed mother. Perhaps it was too cold tonight? I've seen colder!
Our own children always went guising round the local neighbourhood from about 22 years ago (they have stopped now) and we are happy to encourage the current youngsters to continue the tradition. Perhaps it is a parental choice?
The young ones have to be encouraged by parents to dress up and go out with the promise of a sweetie or something and mum or dad goes with them. The older ones are no longer interested in our offerings of fruit and nuts so I suspect they are a lost cause. Although if some of them can really sing, they might get on to the X- Factor! — Yours, etc.,
GEORGE M. SINCLAIR,
8 Provost Park,
Auchtermuchty KY147DT.

RNLI coffee
morning
Sir, — On behalf of the Cupar branch of the RNLI I would like to thank the people of Cupar and surrounding areas who braved the atrocious weather on Saturday, October 25, and helped to raise £635 for the Lifeboats.
I would also like to thank all the committee members who manned the various stalls and ensured that the coffee and biscuits were well provided.
The support of the shops and businesses in the town, from Tesco at one end to the Westport Tavern at the other, who kindly donated prizes for the raffle and tombola, is greatly appreciated. — Yours, etc.,
GORDON SUTHERLAND,
President,
Cupar branch RNLI.

Support
appreciated
Sir, — The Cupar Arts Festival committee would like acknowledge the help of all those who supported the festival by giving freely of their time, sponsoring events, giving us exhibition space and equipment, by providing excellent venues; especially Ceramic Experience staff for being our local 'box office', and to everyone who came along to events, took part and supported the festival in various ways.
A total of 952 tickets were sold for our nine music events, 284 folk watched our three family shows, and 226 places were taken on the many workshops and other events. The numbers attending the all the art exhibitions and the craft fair are still being calculated.
We have thoroughly enjoyed creating this festival and its success has rested on the goodwill and enthusiasm of our audience and participants. A massive thank you to you all. — Yours, etc.,
JOAN BROWN,
Vice-chair,
Cupar Arts and Heritage Project,
15 Ceres Road,
Cupar KY15 5JT.

Successful
festival
Sir, — I was very disappointed to see that the only letter about the Cupar Arts Festival in last week's Fife Herald was one of criticism.
After two weeks of going round most of the galleries and attending the wonderful harp recital in St James' Church, I would like to congratulate all the members of the committee on planning and organising a most successful festival. It is hard to imagine the enormous amount of time and effort which must have been put into finding the artists, booking the venues and getting the publicity out in time.
The breadth of activities was remarkable with a programme to cater for all ages — from 'Little Light' for the very young to a tea dance for the not so young, heritage walks, dance and craft workshops and a number of very popular concerts.
Even the terrible weather throughout most of the second week could not dampen the enthusiasm!
I am already looking forward to next year's programme which I hope can be built on the solid foundations laid down this year. — Yours, etc.,
MARION MACLEOD,
Ceres Road,
Cupar.

Brilliant
shows
Sir, — What a brilliant two weeks we have enjoyed at Cupar Arts Festival with the gigs and exhibitions. My wife and I took in four shows and they were brilliant, especially the Cabaret night and the Zabu Bussa Beat night in the Corn Exchange.
Well done the organisers and all who helped. Looking forward to next year already. — Yours, etc.,
TOM and PETA CUNNINGHAM,
Mid Street,
Kettlebridge.

Festival of
Remembrance
Sir, — May I draw your readers' attention to the Festival of Remembrance being held by Angus and Perthshire Area of the Royal British Legion Scotland in the Caird Hall, Dundee, on November 1?
The evening features the Central Band of The Royal British Legion Scotland, and the award-winning Pipes and Drums of the 6/8th Dundee Company Boys' Brigade, as the BB are celebrating their 125th anniversary this year.
This is not the only anniversary being marked, as 2008 is also the centenary of the Territorial Army, and nine decades since the cease-fire that ended The Great War.
Community singing, the Muster and Parade of Standards, and an ecumenical Act of Remembrance, are also features of the evening, and every penny earned goes to help veterans of HM Forces, a need which continues to grow.
Tickets are £5 — for the sixth year in a row — and are available from Legion Branches and the Central Booking Office, City Square, Dundee. — Yours, etc.,
MAJOR A.D.F. MACLEAN TD,
Festival press officer.

Early
detection
Sir, — November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. As a nurse who comes into daily contact with people who have lung cancer, I thought your readers might be interested in a few facts about the disease.
The two aims of Lung Cancer Awareness Month are to inform and educate the public, particularly those at risk, about the importance of early detection and diagnosis; and to raise awareness among health professionals, particularly GPs and pharmacists about the possible diagnosis of lung cancer when considering symptoms. Using the message 'Early Detection Saves Lives' the campaign urges you to see your doctor straight away if you have any of the following symptoms:
A cough that doesn't go away after two to three weeks; worsening of a long-standing cough; persistent chest infections; coughing blood; unexplained persistent breathlessness; unexplained persistent tiredness or lack of energy; unexplained persistent weight loss; persistent chest and/or shoulder pain
These symptoms may not be serious, in which case, you've got nothing to lose by getting them checked out. If they are serious, you've got everything to gain — diagnosis at an early stage could save your life. Visit your GP or local pharmacy now or call the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Helpline free on 0800 358 7000; or Macmillan CancerLine on 0808 808 2020.
It is also important to recognise that non-smokers can get lung cancer too — one in eight people with lung cancer have never smoked. Whilst smoking is still the major cause of lung cancer, the good news is that quitting works. it's never too late to give up, and the sooner you stop the better. Even if you have been smoking for most of your life, your chances of developing lung cancer will be much less if you give up now, whatever your age.
Each year the campaign is jointly organised in the UK by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support who lead a consortium of other charities with the Department of Health. — Yours, etc.,
HEATHER PRESTON,
Macmillan Lung Cancer
Specialist Nurse,
NHS Fife.

Fife
Diet
Sir, — Fife food has been in the news in the past weeks, with great attention given to the Fife Diet — that is eating mainly food originating in Fife for the past year. Some readers may have heard the Radio 4 programmes.
Cabinet secretary for the environment, Richard Lochhead, said recently: "In the current economic climate, with food prices on the increase, interest in growing our own food has never been higher."
Perhaps you may be wondering if there are any ways to help ourselves. It's not well known that Fife Council will help to create new allotments. In fact, local authorities have a duty to provide allotments if there is a proven need and the Scottish Government announced two weeks ago that unused public land could soon be made available to meet increased demand for allotments.
In Falkland, where the Fife Diet has its first allotment growing local food, we are planning to do something to help ourselves. In Newton of Falkland Hall on Tuesday, November 4, at 7.30 p.m. (free entry), the Transition Falkland group will hear from local people how we can try to bring some of these ideas into reality. All are welcome. — Yours, etc.,
AISLINN HASZELDINE,
Falkland.

Hallowe'en
memories
Sir, — In the 1950s in Mains Drive, just below the Keillor's factory near the Clepington Road in Dundee, we used to go guising on Hallowee'en. We got dressed up as ghosties and ghoulies and witches and thingies and went round the doors saying, "Needin' any guisers?' Not 'Trick or Treat' you will notice. The American version is pre-dated by around 4000 years by our old celtic customs. (The more familiar word 'geezers' comes from our original 'guisers').
We'd be asked in and we each had to do a wee party piece before we got our apple, or chocolate or, even better, a couple of pennies. The money went to buying squibs for Bonfire Night.
Then we made a guy and wheeled him around in a barrow saying, "Penny for the guy. Penny for the guy". More squibs.
So the fire was lit, the squibs went off and the guy was burned. And, the way I remember it, we thanked Guy Fawkes for giving us the chance for a party. The fact that he tried to blow up Parliament just added to the jollity. But then that's Dundee fir ye. — Yours, etc.,
COLIN CAMERON,
18 School Brae
Letham,
Fife KY15 7RN.

Cultural
snobbery
Sir, — Firstly, may I make it quite clear that I am supportive of and pleased to witness the Cupar Arts Festival. However, I am shocked that some of the artists involved felt that it was acceptable to destroy, by whitewashing over, an incredible piece of art that already existed in Cupar.
The beautiful Chinese village scene which was painted by a local resident from China had adorned a wall within the old St Columba's School premises. Your paper actually captured the image in a photo you published in last week's Fife Herald, just before another 'artist' destroyed it forever.
Was this because it was not deemed trendy enough for this event? Did it clash with someone's desire to have only their work displayed in that area? Whatever the excuse, it reeks of cultural snobbery and suggests that this event is not considering our local community at all.
The painting in question was done by a woman who gave of her own time freely over several weeks, with the soul intention of adding brightness to an area used by various groups in our community such as Gingerbread, tots and creche groups and the local youth club.
What message does this act now send to our younger community members? That cultural elitism is acceptable in the name of art? An incredibly thoughtless act indeed. — Yours, etc.,
EUGENE ADAMS,
Via e-mail.

Money
well spent?
Sir, — I, for one, am not happy to see that the MOD has now dropped its objection to the proposed windfarm near Ceres. Not because I object to the windfarm, I don't, but because of the needless waste of taxpayers money involved in reaching this conclusion. Your readers may recall that, some 18 months ago, I and a number of other correspondents predicted that the MOD would eventually find no cause to object to this project based on knowledge of radar propagation and on the already cluttered radar environment surrounding the proposed site.
This did not stop certain windfarm protesters canvassing for a question to be asked in Houses of Parliament concerning the 'threat' to the 'strategically important' air-defence radars at Leuchars; radars that, you may note, don't actually exist in any other than form than an ordinary, low power, air-traffic unit.
Nonetheless the question was asked and the armed forces committed to an extensive study involving helicopters (not based at Leuchars, but specifically flown up from the south for the job at several thousand pounds per hour, perhaps eight or nine hours total per aircraft) and Tornado F3 aircraft flying in pairs over the area during the trials while the helicopters hovered.
The last time I worked directly with these aircraft (2002) they cost over £8000 per hour each to operate. In addition, a substantial number of man-days will have been wasted within both administration and operations wings at Leuchars, at Command HQ and within the MOD, planning, organising, executing, collating, examining, reviewing and finally producing the report as required in answer to the original question. And for what? Energie Kontor will have to slightly reposition and lower a couple of (as yet un-built) masts. In addition, the RAF will need to make a small adjustment to the software shadow mask, of the kind it made to accommodate the closer windfarm at Dundee, to cushion its radar from unwanted reflections.
I could use the Freedom of Information Act to find out exactly how much this farce cost the tax payer, but that would waste even more money. It is, however, easy to see the cost, which will have come directly from the hard pressed defence budget, as being around £50,000 and I would not be surprised to find the total was twice that much. I wonder if the Ceres Environment and Amenities Protection Group would comment on whether it regards this as money well spent? — Yours, etc.,
ALAN CLITHEROW,
Ceres.

Misleading
information
Sir, — Graham Lang (Fife Herald Correspondence, October 17) says that it is fine I support community windfarms where the financial benefits stay in the community. Why do I feel he is being disingenuous? Why does much of his previous correspondence attack wind energy in general? These attacks would include community windfarms, such as the community owned windfarm proposal for Newburgh (Fife Herald, October 3).
It is this that has made me write in to correct the errors and misinformation he provides to readers of the Fife Herald. If he simply confined himself to criticising EnergieKontor's particular proposal, I would not need to write in. However, when his attack is on wind energy in general, and the need for us to move to renewable forms of energy, I feel someone has to say something.
There should be attention on the misinformation CADEAP puts out. For instance the statement on the home page of their website: "The Danish government has stopped erecting onshore turbines because of the health problems associated with noise". How, Mr Lang, do you square that statement with being fine about community windfarms?
If he will print out and send me the text in the scrolling part of their home page (with CAPEAP's name put to it) this would bring it within the jurisdiction of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). I will then be happy to bring it to the attention of the ASA for them. I hope they do not have a problem with that? — Yours, etc.,
GORDON PAY,
75 Bonnygate,
Cupar KY15 4BY.

Games
volunteers
Sir, — At the meeting of the Cupar Highland Games Committee on October 7, the members expressed their wish to have more local people involved in the running of the games. Meantime, the membership comprises of members of the public, some of whomm are Rotary and Round Table members.
Meetings are held monthly in the Howe of Fife Rugby Club, Cupar. During the week in the lead-up to the games, members are expected to assist in the preparation of the field, and on games day would be required to help with the mantling and dismantling of equipment.
There are many other areas where volunteers are essential, and the committee requires volunteers for next year's games to be held on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
Should you be interested in joining us, please contact the Secretary, Mrs Rosemary J. Middleton, e-mail RosemaryJMid1506@aol.com, or by telephone 01334 476413. — Yours, etc.,
ROSEMARY MIDDLETON,
Secretary,
Cupar Highland Games.


Electricity
generation
Sir, — The writer of the letter 'Electricity generation' supports community wind farms where the financial benefits stay in the community.
That is fine, but this is definitely not the model proposed by EnergieKontor which he also appears to support.
He does not condemn the developer's exaggerated benefit claim on the savings of CO2 that would be adjudicated against by the Advertising Standards Association. (ASA).
He then tries to divert attention to our conduct and, in a swipe at Ceres and District Environment and Amenity Protection Group (CADEAP), suggests we abuse our position which he perceives to be safe from the scrutiny and authority of the ASA.
He has, in the past, accused us of flinging mud so I suppose he is only taking his turn.
We do not believe that we are immune from their attention but we have no problem with that.
We await a knock on the door.. — Yours, etc,
Graham Lang,
CADEAP.


Track
repair
Sir, — Can I thank Mr Beveridge for bringing the public's attention to the repaired flood damaged track leading to Allan Park, Lomondside and the Lomond Hills in the article of October 3.
Although YOU refer to the repair as being ''unsatisfactory,'' I can assure you that the residents and, mainly their vehicles, are extremely grateful to those people who carried out the work, having previously damaged tyres, sub frames and exhausts of their cars.
I admit it is not to motorway standard nor are there any white lines to date but it is the first time I have not had to carry out the repair work myself in 26 years!!
Once again, you miss the main point and that is why does it keep happening? For it is not always excessive rainfall as we had on August 9 and 10 which causes the flooding, it has been on going since the 1990s.
Shepherds Well is a natural spring rising on Falkland Estate land which used to run through clay pipes from a chamber at the top of the hill down to a grid at the bottom. Many residents of Falkland and hill walkers used to drink this water it was that pure, and still could be.
Since this pipe was broken by an uprooted beech tree in the 1990s and not repaired, it has run over ground picking up silt and debris on route which continuously blocks the grid which then overflows down the track. Unless the grid and silt trap are cleared on a regular basis, or the clay pipe is repaired, it will continue to do so.
It is up to the agencies responsible i.e. Fife Council, Falkland Estate and Scottish Water to sort this out once and for all. Or you will once again be writing about the blocked drains down the Loan and Cross Wynd and the damage that it will cause?
Concern also has to be given to the factory workers when large amounts of silt, stones and debris are deposited in front of their car park entrance. It's an accident waiting to happen!
I wont bore you or your readers with the contents of the many letters, e-mails and phone calls I have made in the last year. What I can say is that it has been in the hands of Fife Council's legal department, Scottish Water and Water Watch Scotland for a year now without a satisfactory answer as to who should clean the grid out! Yes, once again a case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians to carry out the work.
I have started gathering the animals two by two waiting for the next great flood for it wont be long before it over flows again. — Yours, etc,
Mike Tudor,
Lomondside,
Falkland.

Pristine
memorials
Sir, — I wonder how many of next month's Remembrance Sunday services will be marred for those attending by the state of the war memorial around which they were gathered.
Typically now about 85 years old, many are falling into decay through weathering, structural damage, the effect of traffic or, worst of all, vandalism.
Organisations such as the War Memorials Trust and others should be praised for their efforts in restoration but surely what's needed is a fundamental re-think of how this part of our national heritage should be preserved. I have some ideas about how this might be achieved.
Let's mark the Centenary of the Armistice, now just 10 years away, with a national collection of pristine, sound (or at the very least, readable) war memorials. Anyone interested? Please contact me on ray56thompson@tiscali.co.uk — Yours, etc,
Ray Thompson,
Via e-mail.

Tesco
store
Sir, — Mr Plumb's letter of last week "Opportunities in Store" appears contradictory. On one hand he professes pleasure at having his attention drawn to Tesco's plans but, at the same time, questions why readers should have to be reminded of them by my previous letter.
Surely the letters page of the Fife Herald is exactly the place to debate an issue of such major importance to Cupar?
What other opportunity is there for people like myself, who don't serve on councils, committees, associations and have no business connections and, therefore, a limited voice?
Of course, people in Cupar aren't surprised expansion means a larger store but just how big it will be is the issue. Some countries have smaller international airports.
Yes, opinion will be divided on the pros and cons of such a mammoth store, particularly on that site, and its impact on traffic and the sustainability of the town centre.
Instead of relying on supposition and anecdotal evidence, now is the time for some hard facts.
A proper, independent survey of how many Tesco shoppers do, indeed, then go on to spend in other town centre shops and their modes of transport might be a start. — Yours, etc.,
Ann Reed,
by email

Feel-good
factor
Sir, — The last few weeks have brought some very welcome 'good news' stories for Cupar and, while there is much still to do, particularly in transforming the town centre into an attractive ''centre'' for Cupar, it is worth considering the following.
1. Finance for a full-sized all-weather pitch is now secured and will be placed somewhere in the Duffus Park area.
2. The Ladyinch Park — under threat of being sold for housing — confirmed as a park with the likelihood of a lease being granted for the phenomenally successful Cupar Soccer Sevens.
3. Cupar railway station car park transformed (though the lights are a bit on the bright side!).
4. Cupar in Bloom winning yet more accolades — the town just looks better and better year by year.
5. Castlehill Primary School the first school in Fife to be known as a Fairtrade School — well done pupils and staff.
In the next few weeks, Cupar Art Club will be running their annual exhibition of their very own creations, followed immediately by the first Cupar Arts and Heritage Festival.
With regard to the Arts Festival a small and dedicated group of local people has been working away for most of this year raising money and organising two weeks of visual arts, drama, poetry, film and music. The group has been well supported by the local business community and is now depending on the Cupar community to come out and support the huge range of performances.
I would urge everyone who lives in Cupar to support all the local community activity that is going on in the town. (See posters in town — tickets on sale at Ceramic Experience). — Yours, etc.,
BRYAN POOLE,
49 South Road,
Cupar.

Madcap
scheme?
Sir, — Another madcap scheme that is supposed to solve Cupar traffic congestion is going to be tried out at the cost of £100,000.
Does anyone believe that changing a two-way system to an alternate one way will ease the congestion? The only result of this disastrous scheme will be to reduce the reading of traffic pollution in the area of the pollution meter. The flow of traffic through Cupar will be worse than ever. As the pollution will be reduced on the meter, Fife Council will hail this as a great success and declare that all our problems have all been solved.
There is already a yellow box junction at the entrance to Lady Wynd, which most drivers adhere to and the flow of traffic turning into the Ladywynd is not impeded.
Reducing the flow of traffic to one lane at a time will be horrendous, and reducing the width of the pavement will mean that — on bin days — everyone will have to move into the road and that includes wheelchairs.
Our transport department have no earthly idea on how to solve the problem of traffic chaos in Cupar and are coming up with ever more bizarre solutions at every turn.
Is it not time to get rid of this department and replace them with someone who knows what they are doing? — Yours, etc.,
Bill McKnight,
Hill Street,
Cupar

Fantastic
display
Sir, — I would like to congratulate members of Cupar in Bloom for their recent success in winning a Beautiful Scotland award. This is a great achievement for Cupar.
The team worked very hard making Cupar very beautiful putting up fantastic floral display. The idea of the bicycles display was superb. We are all very proud of you.
Yours is a model of good practice to which others should aspire. Well done indeed. — Yours, etc.,
LORETTA MORDI,
10 Oak Vale,
Cupar.


Tesco
expansion
Sir, — Wake up Cupar! Look at the proposed plans for the new Tesco store on Fife Council's website. It's a monster! Four times bigger than the present one and two storeys high. It would dwarf the aircraft hangers at Leuchars and is nearly as unlovely. Tesco's assertions they wanted 'To make sure the store design and specifications are right for Cupar' is a load of bunkum.
That Fife Council, and the Association of Businesses in Cupar and District (ABCD) aren't concerned about the effect such scale of expansion will have on the town centre and its remaining businesses is beyond belief. Have they forgotten the number of butchers, garages and other shops which have already closed since Tesco opened? Are the scores of towns all over Britain which are vigorously opposing Tesco expansion plans wrong to be fearful for their futures? For frightening statistics, just have a look at www.tescopoly.org
'More choice' for Tesco's customer's really means less choice in town for others when there's no alternative and any competition has been got rid of. One can't help wondering about the real reason behind the council's sudden refusal of planning permission for the small Aldi store on South Road. After all, the low-cost housing included in that plan would have benefited Cupar and a precedent for new commercial development in that area had already been set with Fisher and Donaldson's cafe/bakery.
If Tesco's expansion is allowed to go ahead with the threatened 200,000 extra square feet of non-food space, I expect Boots, WHSmith and possibly Woolworths will not be long in departing Cupar. With the prospect of more closed shops, less real choice for shoppers, devalued houses surrounding 'the beast' and gridlocked traffic due to yet more traffic lights, the plight of our historic and lovely old town looks dire.
The tragedy of the Bank of Scotland proves big is not beautiful and that corporate greed in any form does nothing to improve the lives of ordinary people. — Yours, etc.,
ANN REED.
Via e-mail.

No more
lights
Sir, — In response to the article on the front page of the Fife Herald on Friday, September 19, I agree with the three councillors that a roundabout at the access to the new Tesco store would be a far better solution.
I blame the authorities who in their wisdom have actually exacerbated the traffic problems in Cupar. If you travel east to west through Cupar, or vice-versa, you now face seven sets of lights (with sequences of varying times) to get through the town. I realise that people need opportunities to cross the roads, but being a driver and a pedestrian in Cupar myself, I am continually amazed by the amount of people, able bodied or not, who simply ignore the facilities provided for them and just walk out in front of lorries and cars.
There is adequate land at the east end of St Catherine's Street and the East Bridge and Burnside junctions to create small roundabouts relatively cheaply as has been done in other areas.
This would really get the traffic moving and end the standstill that Cupar has been brought to, and please, no more lights! — Yours, etc.,
NEIL C. KINMONT,
Cupar resident.

Continuing
Care thanks
Sir, — On behalf of the committee of Continuing Care, I wish to thank everybody who came to help with the coffee morning held in the Corn Exchange, Cupar, on Saturday, September 13.
The weather and Airshow traffic did not deter Cuparians from coming to support us and enjoy a cup of coffee, helping us to raise £545. As we are a local charity all our funds are put to good use in N.E. Fife.
Many thanks must also go to the stall holders and kitchen ladies without whose help this event would not happen. — Yours, etc.,
ANNE INGLIS,
Chairman,
Blebo Mains,
Cupar.

Retailer's
perspective
Sir, — Re 'Unjust treatment' (Fife Herald letters, September 12).
While I sympathise with Mr Knox's anger, I feel that it is important to think for a moment from a retailer's perspective. Shops lose thousands of pounds every year to theft and must try to find ways of combating this. Thus, in most towns, retailers will keep a record of descriptions or names of people with whom they have had trouble in the past, and share this information with each other.
I'm sure the manager of the shop in question wouldn't throw people out at the drop of a hat. She must have felt that she was making a correct judgement at the time. Furthermore, she would probably feel mortified if she thought she'd got it wrong. It must be a tricky balancing act, trying to protect your establishment without being overly suspicious, and even with the best will in the world, mistakes will be made.
Meanwhile, most reasonable people know that the vast majority of teenagers are decent, law-abiding individuals, just like the vast majority of people of all ages. — Yours, etc.,
R. HIGGINS,
Cupar.


Cut back
shrubs
Sir, — I am a dog walker living in Cupar. Can I ask the residents living on Westfield Road heading towards Stratheden if they could cut back the trees and shrubs that are growing over on to the only pavement?
It is becoming very dangerous as I have to go on to the road with two dogs and negotiate the speeding traffic too. It wouldn't take much of their time to keep things neat and tidy.
I have watched a couple of mums walking along there pushing prams and having to go on to the busy road, just to get past the mass of branches. I'm surprised the council hasn't asked them to cut back the branches or is it because they are the big posh houses of Cupar? It's just the lower ranks who are punished for untidy gardens!!
Please help me and my dogs walk safely and trim them all as soon as possible. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.


Unjust
treatment
Sir, — After an incident that occurred in one of the retailers in Cupar on August 28, I feel the need to put pen to paper and highlight the unjust methods that are muted out to teenagers.
My son went shopping for a new top. Afer trying the top on and deciding he liked it, he placed the top in question back on the hanger and headed for the check-out. He was then approached by a lady who said she was going to have to ask my son to leave the premises. When my son asked why, he was told he resembled a description of a shoplifter who had been reported in the town earlier. Where this description came from is still a mystery!
You can imagine the sheer horror and embarrassment he felt when the lady in question then took the top from him and escorted him to the front door. On his return from the shop, my wife phoned and spoke to the manager regarding the incident. She confirmed that it had been her who had asked my son to the leave the premises and that she was well within her rights to do so.
I do not believe that the policy of the store would be to ask all customers to leave the premises if "they resembled a description of a shoplifter". What I do believe is that there are a number of individuals out there who feel all teenagers are shoplifting, binge drinking trouble makers. Most parents would like to feel that they do a good job of bringing up their kids and I for one am no exception.
In a day when we preach to kids about having lack of respect for their elders, there are some who need to start practicing that they preach and start giving our teenagers a little respect back. — Yours, etc.,
DAVID KNOX,
23 Blalowan Gardens,
Cupar.

Timetable
changes
Sir, — In the Fife Herald of August 29, you reported that Gary Moyes, Fife Council's lead officer for network planning and information, said that the council had been overwhelmed by the scale of the bus timetable changes, having only had 56 days to deal with them. Eight weeks is not enough time? The mind boggles.
Surely, there must be more to this story than we are being told? How about a bit of investigative reporting to find who forgot, or who was off sick, or who omitted to allocate the work? — Yours, etc.,
IAN SWANSON,
2 Sutherland Court,
Gladney,
Ceres.

Improved
service
Sir, — In connection with the article about changes to bus services in the Fife Herald of August 29, what was not mentioned was the vastly improved bus service which has been introduced by Stagecoach.
We are mothers in Letham and are extremely impressed with the hourly bus service that is now available from Letham to Cupar and St Andrews and the almost hourly service from Letham to Auchtermuchty and Falkland. We feel that it is important that the improved service is recognised. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Free care
for elderly
Sir, — Could someone please explain to me where this free care for the elderly is? Fife Council insists that if you are to become a resident in sheltered accommodation you are to be means tested (sorry, financially assessed) to see if you have too much money. If you have, then they take extra, as well as council tax and rent.
Then if you require care at home, or you require your groceries to be delivered, you have to pay again. The extra costs go on and on, so please explain to me: Where is the free care that the Scottish Government keeps talking about?
Just maybe they could talk to Fife Council, or does our council have a free rein in relation to what they can claim from who ever? — Yours, etc.,
C. J. ELLIS,
22 Blalowan Park,
Cupar.

Cupar
congestion
Sir, — I cannot be the only person in Cupar who has noticed that the amount of traffic coming through Cupar has increased at an alarming rate over the past two or three weeks. In the morning from 8.30 a.m.-9.30 a.m. it has become a complete nightmare trying to get out on to the A91 that runs through the town centre, and the same occurs at lunchtime and when the local schools finish. The queue stretches from the 30 mph sign at the west end of Cupar to the exit at the St Andrews end.
The metering equipment that was installed at the top of the Ladywynd and has consistently shown levels of pollution in excess of those that are regarded as safe, must be now taking readings higher than it has ever recorded.
What has Fife Council done to sort out the congestion? Absolutely nothing. The planning and roads departments have commissioned outside contractors time and time again to provide computer generated traffic models of where the congestion is and how it can be reduced. The people working in the planning and transport departments are employed because that is their field of expertise and they should know how to fix the congestion problem. If they cannot get the problem sorted, then get rid of them and employ someone who can.
The council has a responsibility to try and improve the quality of life for those of us who live in Fife and not keep deferring decisions year after year until some new magic information comes along, that says everything is fine the way it is. This congestion is only going to get worse, as more and more housing is being built throughout the Kingdom.
This problem needs to be fixed now and not handed down to our children and grandchildren, because not one elected official in Fife can take ownership of this problem and get it sorted. — Yours, etc.,
BILL McKNIGHT,
Hill Street,
Cupar.

Driving
in Cupar
Sir, — Re the letter concerning the above in last week's issue, while commiserating with the dear lady's difficulties emerging from the Fluthers at peak traffic times, should she not be profoundly thankful to have free parking space all day? — Yours, etc.,
DONALD R. BAIRD,
'Averon',
10 Bowling Green Road,
Cupar.

Traffic
chaos
Sir — Without wishing to dignify the writer of the letter headed 'Dental centre' (Fife Herald, August 15) with a fuller response, I would ask whether he/she lives in the area?
Did your correspondent have to put up with a week of traffic chaos when inadequate signage meant cars were travelling down their road, finding they could go no further than having to turn in an already crowded street? Does he/she not think that residents understood the term 'access only'? Does the writer not know that Back Lebanon actually consists of another one-way street? No, because he/she has no knowledge of what people have had to put up with during the entire construction process.
But what does your correspondent care, he/she thinks he can get free dental treatment! Except no, they can't. If the writer was one of those attending the residents' meeting with NHS Fife, he/she would have heard the chief executive state the facility will treat children and those without access to another dentist first. Therefore, everyone else, no matter where they live, joins the back of a never-ending queue.
On the subject of actual access to the centre, I see that the stairway to heaven is almost complete. If, as she said, and has been minuted, Vicky Irons of NHS Fife would like to attempt taking a buggy (and child of course) up that steep flight of steps then she can be my guest. Even the workmen have expressed amazement at how steep the steps are.
How the NHS don't think people will be collapsing with heart attacks climbing up there defies me. Of course, if they'd built it into the slope in the first place, we wouldn't have had to face the prospect. — Yours, etc.,
L. ALEXANDER,
Cupar.

Town
spoiled
Sir, — Hurrah, another sandwich shop opening up! That's great, between sandwich shops, estate agents and charity shops, Cupar is a great place.
I remember old Cupar where you had a choice of shops, but not now. But again, modern times. I am glad I am the age where I don't need anything. If I do, I go out of Cupar. A good town spoiled. — Yours, etc.,
AN OLD CUPARIAN,
Name and address supplied.

Big cat
sighting
Sir, — I have just (Monday, August 18) been looking out of one of my windows looking on to Drum Road in Cupar and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a large jet black animal walking along past my back fence.
I thought it was a dog first of all but had to do a double take when I realised it was what I believe to be the infamous 'North East Fife Cat'. Unfortunately, I was too slow to get my camera out but have it ready in case he makes a return appearance. — Yours, etc.,
LORRAINE BROWN,
Via e-mail.

Flood
threat
Sir, — I am a retired city person' who has opted to live in the delightful village of Ceres. I am also lucky enough to have (in my opinion) an optimum location right beside the Ceres Burn. Having spent my first few years in the village retrieving debris and other untoward 'floaters' from the burn, I am somewhat surprised at the general attitude of the local rangers to the 'dead trees' distributed in and around the Craighall Den area (as an example).
I have been known to hug a few trees in my time, so I'm torn between letting the wildlife find new homes in these rotting timbers, and relocating these animal housing sites much higher up the burn slopes. Much, much higher!
Having survived the past week's torrential rain, only to find two of the largest 'dead' tree trunks wedged up against my access bridge, and also buckling a sewer pipe, I would like to ask the rangers what it would take before they would consider clearing out these titanic trunks (or at least relocating them away from the burn). I have no idea what it has cost Fife Council recently, but this is the second time this year that they have had to hire special equipment to remove huge broken trees from the burn.
Apart from the fact that it's unsightly, these trees have created a very efficient dam that effectively catches the smaller branches and tree stumps and as we saw last week, this causes the road to flood. It may well have flooded anyway, but this 'instant dam' didn't help.
I can't help thinking that the 'new homes for wild life' is somewhat of a moot point, because anything living in these dead tree stumps would have drowned anyway. I would suggest that the rangers may want to look at the potential 'flood threat' that is still up at the "den', (a flood waiting to happen) or I guess they can invest in their own heavy duty lifting equipment so that they don't have to keep 'out-sourcing' when these situations recur.
It seems as if keeping our ditches and grids free of debris should be an important ongoing activity throughout the year, as our weather seems to be tending towards 'water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink', and surely protecting natural habitats should include people's habitats as well as the local fauna.
Now I know where the phrase 'God willing, and the crick don't rise' comes from. I think it should be my motto! — Yours, etc.,
VALERIE CROWE,
Chalmers Mill,
Ceres Burn,
Ceres KY15 5HF.


Blooming
marvellous
Sir, — Once again, the 'Cupar in Bloom' team has done us proud. Going around the town last Tuesday, the overall impression was that a lot of care had been taken to present Cupar in its best light. The floral displays were, as is usual with this team, magnificent and I thought that I had found my bicycle with flowers adorning it!
I know that I speak for many when I give a hearty vote of thanks to those who nurture, plant, dehead and water the many displays. Well done the 'Cupar in Bloom' team and Fife Council. — Yours, etc.,
ROGER CHICK,
28 Scotstarvit View,
Cupar KY15 5DX.


Dental
centre
Sir, — In the August 1 issue of the Fife Herald, I read the article talking about the closure of Back Lebanon to allow essential works. I'm sure that there would have been a red sign at the entrance to the road stating that it was closed. Why then does it seem appropriate to try driving down said road and then complain that it is in fact, closed?
Also, the 'except for access' relates to people accessing their homes. Let's take Dura Den for example. Say the road was to flood at one point during heavy rain and the road was closed off except for access. This means that people who live south of the blockage have to enter the road from Pitscottie, whereas those who stay north of the blockage must enter by Dairsie Bridge.
The same applies when a road like Back Lebanon is closed, except in this case the diversion required to get to which side of the roadworks your home is on is considerably smaller. As such, I feel that those who complained about the road closure, that they knew was coming, have no grounds on which to complain.
With regards to the dental hospital itself, I think it's a good thing that it's being built. Its constant labelling as a 'monstrosity' whilst showing pictures of what could be any construction site seemed completely unfair. Of course, it's not going to be visually pleasing when it's under construction, so instead of being closed-minded, wait till it's actually built and in operation before calling it a monstrosity.
Secondly, people are always talking about a lack of NHS dental facilities in Scotland and the UK in general, so why is it whenever the NHS attempt to remedy this problem they have to face a wall of complains from anyone living in the area surrounding it?
I'm not wanting to sound sarcastic here, but I'd quite like to see how the opinion of some people in the Bank Street and Back Lebanon area will feel when they get toothache and this new dental hospital comes to their aid. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.


Missing
the point
Sir, — Although the majority of Mr Pay's reply (Fife Herald letters, August 8) was directed against the content of Mr Lang's justifiable letter of August 1 which provides valid but opposite viewpoints, I trust the ongoing reciprocal letters between Mr Pay and myself are not boring Fife Herald readership.
Mr Pay's latest statement is that I am taking the moral high ground regarding this windy subject; on the contrary I am attempting to apply common sense to the debate. What has the high moral ground got to do with being concerned about taking a pride in the natural beauty of not only the Scottish, but also the U.K. landscape?
The gentleman continues to miss the point as he is apparently obsessed with his continual reference to 'climate change documents' and people such as Al Bore (sorry Gore), this being the same person who was found guilty by a judge in a court of law because of producing distorted information on the subject.
In addition, contrary to the gentleman's opinion it appears that from statistics, over 30,000 scientists on a worldwide basis would disagree with him and generally they are annoyed that the subject is being used for political and monetary purposes.
Mr Pay unfortunately continues to ignore citizens' genuine concerns about their communities all over the U.K. where lives are being radically affected because of these obnoxious turbine structures. Even the government admits that dependence upon wind is inefficient and the 'blinkered' wind turbine enthusiasts seldom appear to take into account the miles of roads to be built in order to create transport links to these aforementioned structures. In addition, the wind industry is being subsidised via millions of pounds from taxpayers money and it would be interesting to assess how efficiently this money is being utilised.
No wonder that this country continues in a downward spiral when there is such an energy plan with the proliferation of wind turbines as opposed to a sensible productive power generation policy. — Yours, etc.,
HARRY LAWRIE,
Abbots Mill,
Kirkcaldy KY2 5PE.

Blebo Craigs
bus service
Sir, — Could someone from Stagecoach please explain why they have taken the 64a wee bus off its route? From the new timetables there is no bus going to Blebo Craigs village where at the moment the 64b goes up there.
The 64 and 64a are now just going to stop at Blebo Road end so anyone wanting Blebo Village (like myself) will have a 10-15 minute walk all up hill. As I live in Dura Den the safest way for me to get home is from Blebo village and walk home, a walk which I enjoy. Both buses will stop at Pitscottie, but it is a dangerous walk to Dura Den with fast cars and no pavement for part of the way.
I challenge anyone from Stagecoach to walk down from Pitscottie with a rucksack full of shopping and they might change their mind about stopping the bus going to Blebo village. All I get from Stagecoach is 'Ring the flexi bus', but you have to ring at least an hour before you want it and sometimes they can not pick you up when you want it. We have no bus at all, so the bus to Blebo village is a must for me and all the people who live at Blebo.
I am 62 and enjoy walking as long as it is safe and from Blebo village it is a safe and enjoyable walk even with shopping. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Efforts
in vain
Sir, — We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to e-mail and write to the Post Office in an effort to try and save our office from closure. We would particularly like to thank Roger Guy, Miles Briggs and Bryan Poole for their personal visits to the office to give us their support and to show their understanding of the situation.
It is unfortunate that all efforts have been in vain. — Yours, etc.,
TOM and PATRICIA CLEGHORN,
Westport post office,
Cupar.

Closure
disgrace
Sir, — Words can't express how I feel regarding the closure of the Westport post office. It's an utter disgrace to say the least and they are still thinking about building houses in Cupar. Where is the logic?
I and others can't imagine how the big post office is going to manage. The service you get from Mr and Mrs Cleghorn was spot on and they were both very helpful, but again Scotland is just a wee dot on the map. – Yours, etc.,
ANGRY OAP.
Name and address supplied.


Don't pay
charges
Sir, — Through your column I would like to say a few words to people who have given up their home care, shopping delivery service or community alarm because of the charges — please ask to have them back. These are vital services and Campaign Against Charges are fighting on to have the charges scrapped.
We are also concerned for the people who have received all the bumph from the council in regard to the assessments for home care and shopping delivery charges. There is a great deal of confusion at the moment and people don't realise that forms that are coming out asking for financial and other personal details do not have to be filled in and sent off within 21 days. This is something that people can opt to do voluntarily, but maybe don't realise that by doing this they could forfeit their right to a needs assessment which the law requires before a financial assessment can be done.
We're also hearing from lots of people who have been contacted by the financial assessors, but haven't had a recent needs assessment. Needs assessments should be carried out by a social worker or a home care manager who should discuss what services you are receiving and whether you want to continue with this. It should be made clear that this is directly linked to home care charges. Our advice is if you haven't had this: tell the financial assessors this and refuse to let them in. If you've already let them in and gone through the process without a needs assessment, we suggest that you contact Stephen Moore, the head of social work at Fife Council, and tell him that you want the assessment cancelled.
We're also advising that when people receive their bills they contact Mr Moore and ask that he use his power to exempt them the charges.
Alongside all this, bills are going out in regard to payment for the community alarms and asking people to pay for the complete year. Again this is not necessary and people are free to pay in whatever way they want.
However, Campaign Against Charges are asking you to join in with us in waging a non-payment campaign in regard to all the charges. These charges are immoral and illegal and the system will fall to bits if people refuse to pay. Already lots of people are taking this line on the community alarm bills with only 23 per cent paying so far. The council cannot stop your service if you refuse to pay and if everybody sticks together we can defeat this policy that says disabled people receiving home care services should pay for the services of other people. — Yours, etc.,
MAUREEN CLOSS,
Campaign Against Charges,
1 Barassie Drive,
Kirkcaldy KY2 6HL.

Show
respect
Sir, — I write, on the anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, to add my objection to the proposed creation of a roundabout at the war memorial site in St Catherines Street, Cupar.
This will practically and emotionally separate the town from a monument to the 188 men of 1914-18, also the 59 men and two women of 1939-45 who gave their lives in the two world wars. Turning this memorial into a traffic island to shave maybe a minute off our daily drives is hardly consistent with the pledge 'We Shall Remember Them'.
If the good people of Ypres, in Belgium can stop the traffic at the Menin Gate every day, for a two minute silence to commemorate the British war dead, how does it look that we cannot even manage a one-minute pause at a traffic light in memory of our own? — Yours,etc.,
MARK IMBER,
Cargill House,
Monimail Road,
Letham KY15 7RR.

Energy
debate
Sir, — Harry Lawrie (Fife Herald letters, August 1) wishes to take the high moral ground on wind turbine policy, but is upset when I ask an ethical question about climate change. Perhaps he would care to read the article, 'The Ethics of Climate Change', in the June 2008 issue of Scientific American (available online, but only the main text). Or is the learned Professor also "scraping the barrel"? Of course, if you choose to ignore the scientific evidence for human caused climate change, you excuse yourself from being bothered about the consequences of our actions.
After attacking the Stern Review, Al Gore and the IPCC in his previous letter, Graham Lang (Fife Herald letters, August 1) now goes on to attack a part of the basis of how we go about science. Indeed, as Frankie Howerd used to say, never has my flabber been so gasted! What next?
However, Mr Lang is right when he says the Danish approach to wind energy has been very different, and that local ownership is common which encourages much wider support. This itself was encouraged by a feed-in tariff system. Something that has not been done by our governments here. Feel free to criticise them for that, you have my support in that.
I am not aware there has been any great problem integrating wind into the electricity network in Denmark, and I do not know where he gets his figure of only six per cent of electricity demand satisfied by wind. Perhaps he could tell us his source. (If anyone is interested, the real time electricity production, and flows into and out of Denmark can be viewed at www.energinet.dk/en) He might also care to inform readers that a good reason why "conventional" generation capacity has not been decommissioned is that it also provides district heating. What has been reduced is carbon emissions (information from Danish Energy Agency), and that is the objective.
As for my plans to emulate the Danish model of local ownership and wider support, and show that our wind energy resource in NE Fife can be exploited without exporting the financial benefits? Can I look forward to Mr Lang's help? — Yours, etc.,
GORDON PAY,
75 Bonnygate,
Cupar KY15 4BY.

Windfarm
debate
Sir, — If Graham Lang (Fife Herald letters, July 18) thinks he is giving balance with the comments he provides on either the Stern Review, Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth", or the IPCC, then I'm flabbergasted! For a more balanced approach I could suggest the Wikipedia articles on each.
Again it seems opponents of wind turbines will resort to throwing any old mud in the hope some will stick. If they're confident of their arguments against wind turbines, why the desire to undermine the IPCC (or the Stern Review, or "An Inconvenient Truth")? Come to that, if they had really good arguments against wind turbines would they need so many of them in the first place?
The IPCC is inherently a conservative organisation. Scientific findings go through peer review, that is other experts in the relevant field are asked to scrutinise them. Those passing this are also subject to review by governments, such as the Bush Administration and its friends. Obviously there is still going to be debate over this, and the IPCC Reports that emerge from it. However, a more valid criticism is that this has been likely to underestimate the risks we face from climate change.
The debate on the Stern Review is interesting. Let's put the critics point in a way Graham Lang won't like, but has to justify if he agrees with them. Your grandchildren's future wellbeing is less important than Graham Lang's wellbeing now. This is otherwise known as discounting. Stern doesn't use a zero discount rate, he just uses less than critics think he should!
After that, criticism of the rest of Graham Lang's letter might not seem necessary. However, I'll persevere.
I don't know whether Graham Lang is deliberately trying to cause misunderstanding of the so called "subsidy" for renewable electricity, but it is paid per unit of electricity actually generated. Not for putting up a turbine. If a developer puts a turbine in a less windy area it follows they will get less money. Subject to the development being approved, that is their choice. This is the case with the Michelin turbines in Dundee, for instance.
I am going to agree that the renewable obligation system is a more expensive means of funding renewable energy than it needs to be. It has been shown that the feed-in tariff system is cheaper, simpler to understand, results in more renewable energy being installed, and is more accessible by community groups. If Graham Lang wished to campaign for this he would have my support.
Unfortunately, Graham Lang belittles small windfarms, and by that the efforts of many people in Denmark and elsewhere. Most windfarms there are small and local, but added together their contribution is far more than large scale windfarms in this country. — Yours, etc.,
Gordon Pay,
75 Bonnygate,
Cupar.

Expand
Ladybank
Sir, — New housing developments in existing communities in north east Fife are clearly unacceptable to many present residents. There is also the vexed question of a by-pass for Cupar which it is proposed that the developers' new housing estate should pay for. While it is not unreasonable to expect the developers to include the cost of internal roadways in their budgets, to expect them to include the cost of a by-pass is surely quite iniquitous.
May I suggest that a possible solution to the housing problem could lie in the enlargement of Ladybank? Although the inhabitants may disagree, I suggest that at present it is too large for a village and too small to be a satisfactory town. It seems to me that it is much better suited for integration with the existing road network with both road and rail links to Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Dundee and Perth.
I would hope that the Forestry Commission could be persuaded to give up the necessary land which is of poor quality for agricultural purposes and the trees are likely to be at or near the end of their economic life.
The reduction of traffic in Cupar,which is essential, should be considered on its own merits. Is a by-pass which necessitates the loss of productive agricultural land the best option? I suggest that the merits of an inner relief road should be reconsidered. — Yours, etc.,
DAVID PURDIE,
Via e-mail.


Bottle
information
Sir, — I write through your column to see if any readers can supply me with any information or photograph on a bottle I purchased recently. The label on the bottle has Ferguson and Philip Pharmacists Markinch.
I collect and archive shop letterheads and photos of local towns and villages and am working on an exhibition of shop memories.
If anyone has any information on the above or has photographs or receipts of old shops, please telephone Steve Penrice on (01334) 653687. — Yours, etc.,
STEVEN PENRICE,
Flat 8,
Jamieson Court,
Cupar.


Festive
events
Sir, — The planning for the Christmas lights switch-on event for Cupar this year is gathering pace. Once again, we would appreciate anybody who is planning any significant events between November 27 and the end of the year to let us know and we can hopefully include them in the events leaflet which will be prepared again for that period.
Many thanks for your help in hopefully repeating the success of last year. — Yours, etc.,
CLLR. MARGARET KENNEDY,
Chair of Christmas Lights Planning Group.