Facebook

Burgh Buzz May 2018

Facebook

Response from George Kay on Facebook –

“I am really disappointed to read in the Fife Free Press that after a feasibility study lasting five months by Fife Council transportation officials about parking in and around Burntisland station the only decision is not to make a decision . The cost for this study came from the ward budget and I understand cost £5000. A really disappointing conclusion for our money.

If this was a new study it would be bad enough but this lack of decision is on top of at least five years of similar work leading to similar inaction and disinterest. To spend this money and come back with nothing is clearly irresponsible.

This comes on top of a summer when the local newsletter highlighted the need for action on parking . A summer when the elected representatives had to intervene to stop the Links being used as a car park.

At a time when residents on the north of the station are looking for residents parking to be introduced to alleviate the conflict they have with station travellers.

At a time when those who once in the car make journeys which could be avoided by a local car park but are forced to find parking else where.

Inaction on this decision is probably the worst of all worlds because it simply side steps the problem. I can see a situation where this problem is simply going to be walked into the long grass . God knows there is sufficient long
grass around the station to hide it away for years.

I would urge our elected representatives to insist on value for their £5000 and get a meaningful conclusion”

Previous story (with link to report).

Rumours has it the refreshments will be worth waiting for.

In July 2016 Burntisland Community Council launched its Community Action Plan. This highlighted travel and energy as local community priorities.

At the end of 2016 and in early 2017 several meetings were held in Burntisland to introduce the idea of an ambitious plan for a pilot project to reduce energy use in the town, and seek local involvement, interest and comments.

The result was a highly detailed report (see below) which identified many issues and suggested a range of solutions.

Now Changeworks (an organisation which deals with “energy and fuel poverty advice and behaviour change”) is advertising a two year Project Officer job.

Changeworks will be working with Burntisland Community Development Trust and local people to develop and implement parts of the plan. They are currently looking for premises in Burntisland.

20 page brochure (Cover photo above.)

Burntisland Local Energy Masterplan – Methodology Paper (192 page report published 31st March 2017).

It’s only two months to go to Burntisland’s hottest night of the year.

The Bonfire & Fireworks Night is (nearly) always on the 5th and will be again this year.

Already a small band of volunteers from Burntisland Events Group is working away to make sure the night is another success.

The fireworks have been ordered, the pallets sourced and Radio Lollipop booked to provide entertainment and the PA for important announcements.

Community Payback people are due to erect the chestnut paling exclusion zone a couple of days in advance and volunteers will build the bonfire on the day.

Some shops and cafes in the High Street will open late and stalls and rides will return to the Links – for one night only.

Of course, in spite of all the volunteer effort, money needs to be raised to pay for fireworks, insurance etc. So, on the night, a mass of bucket shakers will be required.

You don’t have to be on the Links to watch the fireworks. The tide will be out so the view from the bay will be something like this.

It’s hoped that ScotRail can be persuaded to lay on extra coaches or stop a few trains that normally pass. Last year things were particularly bad as the 5th was a Sunday with half as many trains. Some people were stranded for an hour as the trains were full. They were also delayed at the platform for several minutes while people tried to cram on.

FFP 13.9.18

As previously reported, the desire for proper access to/from Platform 2 is decades old.

There have been other campaigns and calls from a succession of politicians for ‘something to be done’. In the past the response from the rail industry has generally been unhelpful and variations on ‘expensive’, ‘not enough footfall (passengers)’ and ‘there will be the chance for a major upgrade when the line is electrified’.

It used to be that electrification of the Fife Circle and/or the main line to Aberdeen seemed to be only ‘a couple of years’ away. It’s now clear that electrification is decades away. Some people believe it will be impossible to add overhead cables to the Forth Bridge, making any future project even more difficult.

Some local people are sceptical about the official footfall figures, thinking that surveys are taken at quieter times of day or parts of the year. “Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Burntisland from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.”

Unlike many stations, Burntisland’s is not just for commuters. Large numbers of people (including many under 5s, who presumably aren’t counted) come for the award winning Beach and Shows that are on the Links for nearly three months.

In addition there is great potential for encouraging more people to come to the town by train – particularly on sunny summer days and the Fireworks & Bonfire Night.

There have been attempts to increase the amount of carparking in Burntisland but it may not be particularly cost effective or the best plan at a time when there are also attempts to encourage Active and Sustainable travel. A well marketed, fully accessible station (perhaps with hire bikes available from a new sustainable travel hub as proposed in the Burntisland energy masterplan) might be better value.

Burntisland Community Development Trust recently convened a meeting attended by all three local councillors and representatives from various groups including the Community Council, Central Burntisland Tenants and Residents Association, FAB and the Toll Community Centre.

There was agreeement that Burntisland Station should be easily accessed by anyone, and it’s not just about ‘disabled access’.

It was felt that it would be ideal if the work was completed in 2020 when trains have to comply with new accessibility rules.

(Access for All: funding to improve accessibility at rail stations)

The campaign will continue until it is successful.

Latest delivery of timber arrived on Friday. Still unloading.

“As a result of increased customer demand from our site in Burntisland, we find ourselves in the position where our production capacity operating on a single day shift only has been exceeded.

We therefore intend to make the following changes to our current operations:

• from Monday 10th September 2018 an additional reduced service night shift will operate Monday to Thursday between the hours of 19:00 and 07:00

The purpose of this communication is to provide advance notice of this change.

Whilst we appreciate there may be some initial concerns from neighbours, the night shift will be a reduced service operation and all reasonable efforts will be made to minimise external activities in the yard and any impact on the surrounding environment.”

(From letter to local residents.)

Painting by Margot Hailey

“The Canadian owners of BiFab have insisted that its three yards in Scotland are “100% ready” to deliver on big offshore wind contracts, after rumours had been circulating that they were “not fit for purpose”.”

…

“It was clear at the point new ownership was secured that conditions would remain challenging for the yards and new contracts would have to be won to secure future work. The workforce played a major role in securing new investment for the yards and the prospect of securing future contracts which DF Barnes is working toward.

“We have confidence that everything possible is being done to secure new contracts and restore employment to previous levels.”

Owners insist BiFab ‘100% ready’ for big contracts as rumours circulate

“Scotland is an admired world leader in the offshore oil and gas and renewables sectors and we are excited to now have such a major presence in these industries in Scotland,” DF Barnes chief operating officer Jason Fudge wrote in a statement.”

http://www.thetelegram.com/business/st-johns-based-df-barnes-acquires-scotlands-bifab-202691/

Maybe they will soon need a prestigious Scottish Headquarters. There’s an ideal building very close by that’s currently for sale.

As seen in the 20th C, before the trees and shrubs grew so dense.

The last wind turbine bases of the previous order left in May.