April 2007

View/Print as PDF file

1. Present : A. Arbuckle; D. Dallas; B. Forrest; J. Gordon; H. Grant; M. Grossert; D. Hamilton; H. Laidlaw; P. Laidlaw; A. MacGilchrist; G. Mossman; N. Mossman; H. Page; G. Smith.

2. Apologies : M. Kidd; J. Vaughan

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting : minutes of the meeting 12/02/07 were accepted.

4. Matters Arising :

• Play Park : Football Pitch/Goals due to be completed within the next few weeks

• Twinning : nothing to update this meeting in J. Vaughan’s absence.

• Bow of Fife Speed : still don’t have any speed figures

Recycling Centre: Basically the area around the recycling bins is a mess. It is supposed to be serviced once a week but this would appear not to be the case as the area is littered with empty bags etc – a photo showing the state at the weekend was passed around.

It would appear that the bins are only emptied if they are full which leads to over-flowing problems during the period just after they were supposed to be emptied! The plastic bins are being filled up very quickly and the question of a second bin was raised.

It is now more than 6 months since the bins have been on-site at the Hall and the cleanliness problems were never an issue when the bins were sited on School Brae. In summary, the meeting agreed that the bins were not being serviced as promised.allHa

Our concerns have been relayed to Laura Duncan at Fife Council.

• Toll Junction (BEAR) :

A letter has been received summarising the speed survey carried out between 12th &15th Feb. Over this period the speeds that 85% of the traffic does not go over ranges from 53-58mph with approximately 10% of the traffic travelling above 60mph. Of this, 4 vehicles were recorded in excess of 100mph. It mentions that the CC pointed out that the survey may not be accurate due to a couple of factors – police speed camera in the area for one of the mornings and some roadworks near the quarry on another occasion – the survey shows a slight drop these days!

The letter ends stating that they do not envisage recommending a change to the speed limit which is in accordance with national guidelines on setting of speed limits.

Mel Edwards (Road Safety Engineer – BEAR Scotland) has been out to look at the junction again

and taken photographs. He is recommending that at the very least we get road signs on the main road stating “Letham Village – please drive carefully”

The staggering of the junction is still on the two-three year plan and it was suggested that Mel Edwards at least be invited to attend a CC meeting in the near future to hear our overall concerns.

One option suggested at CC meeting – like Parbroath crossroads, what about flashing “slow down” signs? – This could be one option discussed with Mr Edwards.

5. Treasurer’s Report :

The account balance stands at just under £787 and we have received notification of this year’s £500 Floral Enhancement Grant.

6. Jimmy Stewart Memorial : The fund is currently sitting at just over £432 and we have now had a response from the Stewart family – they have agreed to make up the difference to a sum of £680.

7. Planning :

TPO’s (Tree Preservation) : need to write to the Council again on this. Cllr Arbuckle to follow up

Letham Farm/Paddock Area (across from Letham Lands) : the Community Council have received a copy of proposed plans for a house in this area. The main point to record is that instead of the previously proposed and passed application for 1½ storeys, the proposal is now to build a two-storey dwelling. As with the previous application 3 years ago, there is again concerns over the scale and height of such a development, especially as all other alterations to houses in the area on that side of The Row have been restricted to single storey.

The scale of the dwelling is illustrated well on one of the drawings with the first floor being at the same height as the roof-line of the White Cottage at the top of the Row!!

A major concern is that if this gets approval then it will no doubt set a precedent.

The majority feeling from the meeting was that the Community Council lodge and objection on the same grounds as previous and also the very fact of height being so out of scale

8. Jimmy Stewart Memorial : No progress on this as no response has been received from the Stewart family regarding the collection from the church service. Hopefully an update will be available at the next meeting.

9. Best Kept Village / Grant : As per Treasurer’s report, the £500 grant has been awarded. We have had a request regarding the pots at the Bow of Fife needing replenished. The various pots around the area are in a sorry state and need a degree of care throughout the year – volunteers are required for bot the upkeep and watering of said pots. The money is available to do this.

10. Village Hall Report

Recent Coffee Mornings held at the Hall, although poorly attended, have been a success with around £80 a time being raised for Hall Funds. The Hall Committee would like to thank all those who have spent time either coming along or baking items and/or donating items for selling.

The recent dance in march was extremely poorly attended and less than £10 profit was returned after expenses. The Hall Committee have now decided not to hold any dances except for the New Year Dance due to a lack of interest.

Donald Dallas has organised a group to get together and paint the outside of the Hall one weekend in the near future

11. Public Consultation : Wind Energy etc

The Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance :

Wind Energy

Renewable Energy Technologies other than Wind Energy

Have been received and are available for viewing. They can also be viewed and/or downloaded at www.fifedirect.org.uk/renewableenergy

12. Questions for Cllr Arbuckle

1. Bus Stop sign at the Bow of Fife end of the Bow Road is no longer there and needs replacing

2. Monimail New Cemetry : there is an open gap that used to have a post there. Now all broken and gates are needing attending to – painting etc

3. Water running down Monimail Rd is a potential hazard in icy mornings. There is a well/drain in the area and the Council are trying to be persuaded to sort out the problem. A resident in the area is following this up.

With the forthcoming election looming, Councillor Arbuckle took this opportunity to thank the Community and Community Council for being one of the better attended areas he visits and he hopes that he will back to see us in June!!

13. Any Other Business

14. Date of Next Meeting : Monday 11th June 2007, Letham Village Hall, 7.30pm