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.

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 as 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.

Soothing
Sunday
Sir, — On behalf of my fellow complimentary therapy colleagues who took part in 'Soothing Sunday' (September 14) at Blossoms Salon in Cupar, I would like to let all those who received a treatment know that we raised £48 for 'Children in Need'.
Please note there may be another 'Soothing Sunday' in October, where you can book reiki, crystal healing and reflexology treatments amongst others. Thanks go to Wendy Cassells at Blossoms Salon. — Yours, etc.,
PAULINE NORMAND,
CLAUDIA DUNCAN,
MARION LAING.

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.

No change
to toilets
Sir, — I refer to the letter 'Toilet horror' (Fife Herald, September 19). What makes Mr Jennings think that the Tayport Harbour Group has any plans to have an automated loo installed? Where does this information come from?
Plans for phase II of the development have been on show and for comment in the local office and as can be seen from them there are no plans whatsoever to change the public toilets. The toilets may be changed in phase III of the redevelopment, but that is many years off.
Can I just assure Mr Jennings and the residents of Tayport who are concerned about the toilets that automated loos have never even been discussed. — Yours, etc,.
CLLR. MAGGIE TAYLOR,
Tayport.

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. After 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.

Fresh
perspective
Sir, — It's nice to have a fresh perspective on wind turbines, and a Danish one at that (Fife Herald letters, August 29). Aase Goldsmith tells us the initial objective was to save money on electricity. I presume she knows more of the origins than I do. Even today, most of Danish wind capacity is owned by wind 'co-ops' and local people. These are not small mills, but they are overwhelmingly popular. It is no bad thing that concern for carbon emissions was part of the reason for this. Indeed, the next conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) takes place in Copenhagen in 2009.
Aase Goldsmith will also be familiar with Jante's Law. A sort of social code in Scandinavia. If she forgives me I shall sum it up with the sixth law: Don't think you are more important than us. I shall turn the concept around and say, in a democracy, we are all equally responsible. Don't think it's up to somebody else to do something. So, I'm not in favour of a wind 'co-op' as an entrepreneur (though thanks for the compliment), and I do not have any, as she puts it, 'sponsors'. It seems that in some ways there is much agreement between Aase Goldsmith and myself (not about science). I think the point of debate is over the size of wind turbines local people should be using.
With regards to Harry Lawrie (Fife Herald letters, August 29), the question he again directs to me has been asked and answered. Yes, I do consider the concerns of local residents, and that is what the planning system is also there for. Can I remind him that the wind turbine proposal for Auchtermuchty was refused permission. Can we also remember that we (and the Danes) signed, and ratified, the UNFCCC 15 years ago. This obliges us to "prevent dangerous anthropogenic (caused by humans] interference with the climate system", and that "lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing such measures". — Yours, etc.,
GORDON PAY,
75 Bonnygate,
Cupar KY15 4BY.

Starting
school
Sir, — On behalf of the parents whose children started P1 at St Columba's Primary School, I would like to thank all teachers and staff who welcomed them into their biggest venture to date without any disruption.
As parents, it is emotional enough to watch them go into class for the first time and it would have been a big upset for everyone if they had not been able to return the next
day. It seems to have worked as all the children line up with smiles on their faces ready for class. The only tears now are from a few parents (no names!) — Yours, etc.,
GEORGE BROWN,
26 Upper Dalgairn,
Cupar.

Genuine
concern
Sir, — Mr Pay continues with his educational expertise as regards CO2 emissions (Fife Herald letters, August 22). However, not withstanding his interest in scientific evidence he again avoids the main point of the subject, that being the concern to residents living in the area adjacent to Ceres where the subject of the potential installation of a windfarm goes on and on and on.
The majority of local residents are probably more interested in the concern of obnoxious wind turbine structures being installed as opposed to visiting internet websites as referred to in his last letter.
The question is again directed to Mr Pay as regards his opinion where communities all over the U.K. are being radically affected because of these structures.
Wind turbines will never meet the future energy requirements of this country as admitted by this government, but meanwhile if there is not a sensible productive power generation policy there will be the continual decimation of the U.K. landscape, not forgetting the millions of pounds from taxpayers to subsidise the windfarm industry.
In summary, there is genuine concern about the long term unjustified impact of windfarms. — Yours, etc.,
HARRY LAWRIE,
Abbots Mill,
Kirkcaldy KY2 5PE.

Quality
of life
Sir, — Further to Gordon Pay's contribution to the 'Energy debate' a couple of weeks ago:
His flabber may well be gasted if we were told "the basis of how we go about science" – although it is a well-known fact that, "there are lies, big lies and statistics". 'Science' and 'statistics' have much in common — elasticated both ends and bendable in the middle, making it possible to 'prove' whatever sponsors pay scientists and statisticians to prove! Unemployment figures and the smoking hysteria are but two (of several) good examples . . .
His reference to windmills in Denmark and www links to energy homepages over there leads him to believe that "reducing carbon emission is the objective". This may well be the politically correct jargon over there now, but the initial objective was to save money on electricity. Hence the popularity of small mills — to generate electricity for the householder, with prospects of selling surplus to the net (and buying from there when/if wind drops and mills don't run).
The Danish idea was not for the Government to make mega-bucks on "climate change hysteria". Nor for entrepreneurs like Mr Pay to pave the way for mega-mills in all sorts of suitable and unsuitable places! Aestetics and quality of life are important factors in my old home country. Danes aren't likely to sacrifice that on Mammon's Alter, for the sake of gladdening the hearts of greedy politicians and mill-builders . . . there'd be all hell to play if Gordon Pay tried to plant a massive wind-factory in famous, rural places like Ceres and Auchtermuchty, and I am not surprised that he is "somewhat up against it" here.
But it is up to him and his sponsors — not to the objectors, to whom nobody listens! — to convince the UK government that, a serious re-think would save them, their local authorities and their public a lot of money, time and trouble! Small mills to serve local communities, and combined with other means of generating power, would be a sensible solution to the problem — so long as the main "problem" is serving communities large and small, rather than merely filling the coffers of public and private power managements!
The vision of Scotland as the 'Powerhouse of Europe' should fill VisitScotland (and its profitable golfing/spa-bla resorts) with dread at the prospect of losing business, and not meeting profit targets! But who would come to Scotland to see it's famous hills and glens (and idyllic rural Fife!) ruined by giant windfarms and powerlines — hurting the eyes and ears of poor 'humble and obedient tax paying locals' having to live with them. We'd all be as sick as the countryside, and not worth visiting any more! — Yours, etc.,
AASE GOLDSMITH,
Largoward.

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.

Home care
hypocrisy
Sir, — 'A vote for the SNP sends a clear message to the Government in London — that they have to act on rising household bills'. These are the words of Councillor Peter Grant, the SNP candidate for the Westminster by-election in the Glenrothes constituency. Has he no sense of irony? He is the man in whose name hundreds (and before long thousands) of bills are going out for the first time to disabled and older people charging them for vital services such as personal and domestic care; shopping delivery and the community alarm.
I've met people who are being charged £25 per week, £54 per week and others who expect to pay over £100 per week, some of whom were paying nothing or at most £4 per week for home care. No-one has had to pay for the shopping delivery or community alarm service in Fife before. There are hundreds of people who have given up their services because they fear the charges or feel degraded by the process of having to divulge their personal details to strangers from the council.
Campaign Against Charges wrote to Councillor Grant a couple of weeks asking him to re-think the implementation of the charges in light of the rises in fuel, food and energy bills, and were given short shrift.
The introduction of charges will undoubtedly be the one which this SNP/Lib Dem council will always be remembered for, regardless of what's to come. It's mean-spirited, immoral and illegal. It'll be interesting to observe which one of these parties will want to blame the other in the coming by-election for this kiss of death policy.
So, Councillor Grant, you want the Westminster government to act on rising household bills. Disabled and older people face all of these rises, but the new bills for home care are just about going to be the undoing of them. You have the power to do something brave — halt the implementation now before you're branded a hypocrite. — Yours, etc.,
MAUREEN CLOSS,
Campaign Against Charges,
1 Barassie Drive,
Kirkcaldy KY2 6HL.

Flower
power
Sir, — Cupar and District Flower and Horticultural Society held its show in Cupar Y on August 16 and 17. This attracted many exhibitors, including children who took part in both individual and a school competition, as well as many visitors who enjoyed a good wee show.
Thanks must go to Les Wheelans and all the very hard working committee for making this year's show most successful. Keep flourishing. — Yours, etc.,
G. LUNDIE,
Cupar.

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.

Moral
support
Sir, — A lot of people have been hit badly by flooding in the last couple of weeks. We had sooner sooner finished pumping out from the downpour the previous weekend, than we were hit again last Wednesday.
It has been tough over the last few weeks, and I would just like to say a big thank you to all those who have given me moral support, as well as chose who have been able to help in a physcial way. Thanks go to two of my daughters, Heather (13) and Kayleigh (11), for their moral support and for helping clean up my workshop so many times. Lots of big hugs and kisses go out to them.
Thanks also to Derek Wallace for the early mornings that he has got up to put the pump on, which has kept the storm drains clear for the next batch of rain and sewage. Also thanks to Derek's dad Willie for his support and all the little things that he has done for us to make the process of cleaning up the five times in the last four months a lot easier that it could have been.
Finally, thanks to the staff at Gray Fabrications for their moral support.
As much as this has been a horrendous past few months, with the support that I have been given from the surrounding businesses, I feel that I have been lucky to be where I am. — Yours, etc.,
DAVID PITBLADO,
JD Architectural Joinery,
Cupar Trading Estate.

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.

Scientific
evidence
Sir, — As Graham Lang points out, other views are available (Fife Herald letters, August 15). However, I hope in these columns we aspire to more than seemingly calling Nicholas Stern bonkers, and can justify our views. Again, if Mr Lang agrees with the critics of the Stern Review, he agrees that the well-being of future generations should be more heavily discounted. There is no getting away from this being an ethical question, even if in Harry Lawrie's view (Fife Herald letters, August 1) I am scraping the barrel in asking it. I should add the disclaimer, this does assume you at least take the precautionary approach to risks from our emissions of carbon dioxide.
The view is put by Mr Lawrie (Fife Herald letters, August 15) that Al Gore was found guilty by a judge in a court of law because of producing distorted information on the subject. Fortunately at www.bailii.org/ew/ cases/EWHC/Admin/2007/2288.html you can see what the judgement actually says. To quote the judge on Mr Gore's film 'An Inconvenient Truth': "The following is clear: it is substantially founded upon scientific research and fact, albeit that the science is used, in the hands of a talented politician and communicator, to make a political statement and to support a political programme." The judge ruled that the film could be used, with the guidance note, in schools (this is what the case was about, and Mr Gore was not a defendant).
The position is quite clear in the judgement that the central scientific theme of Mr Gore's film is now accepted by the overwhelming majority of the world's scientific community. Mr Lawrie says 30,000 scientists, on a worldwide basis, disagree. I am presuming, because of the figure, this comes from the Global Warming Petition Project (www.petitionproject.org), and is 31,072 in the United States. They all have at least Bachelor of Science degrees, and 40 of them work in climatology. For information, I believe there are over 200,000 Bachelor of Science degrees awarded, each year, in the US.
As for Denmark, the Danish Energy Authority does not agree with Mr Lang that only six per cent of domestic electricity demand is satisfied by wind. He also seems to be wrong that no conventional generation capacity has been decommissioned. Conventional capacity has clearly gone down. For information on their emission reductions he should go to www.ens.dk (and click on the English version flag), select the Energy Policy pull-down menu and click Danish energy policy. 'The Danish Example' is under read more. The information can also be found in several other places on the website, and is mentioned in the latest news section on the home page.
I'm sorry his search for this evidence has been unsuccessful up until now. As he hoped, actual CO2 emissions fell by 8.4 per cent in 2007 (latest news). As he pointed out they went up in the poor wind year of 2006 — this tends to make my point that wind energy played no small part in reducing Denmark's emissions. — Yours, etc.,
GORDON PAY,
75 Bonnygate,
Cupar KY15 4BY.

Cupar
allotments
Sir, — I read with interest about the proposal to set up an allotment site in Cupar.
From 1935 until 1952, my family home was at 12 Westfield Avenue, opposite which there was a large area of open ground, formerly the site of allotments. Houses have been built there.
Unfortunately I don't know the history of the allotments. – Yours, etc.,
MARGARET I. MACPHEE SMITH
Tigh Na Sgoile,
Lawhead of Radernie,
By Cupar KY15 5LN.

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.

Ceres
hearing
Sir, — I refer to your reporter's article in last week's Fife Herald previewing the proposed departure hearing scheduled by Fife Council to discuss the application by G. and G. Contracts (Fife) to build up to 18 houses at Doves Loan, on the outskirts of Ceres.
As an observer at the meeting last Thursday, I was amazed at the professionalism of the presentations made by those speaking on behalf of the objectors, the residents of Ceres. The key points raised: Erosion of the village's conservation designation; increased traffic problems on Anstruther Road, which is already regarded as a dangerously narrow, winding section of road; increased drainage problems due to the topography of the site.
The highlight of the evening was when the chairman, Councillor Andrew Arbuckle, announced that the agents for the developers, Graham & Sibbald, had indicated that they no longer wished to address the meeting. It is hoped that they will retreat completely, and not make any attempt to bypass the democratic process by re-submitting their proposals to what appeared to be a 'rather puzzled' planning committee.
The developer may, of course, have been perturbed to learn at the meeting that the position indicated on their plans for the required S. U. D. S. pond was within one metre of an existing dwelling-house, which is totally unacceptable under the regulations. One would have thought that they would have done their homework more thoroughly!
This proposed development is not about 'adding to the local economy' — it is about local landowner(s), and developers, becoming wealthier at the expense of those who enjoy living in the pleasant setting of Ceres. — Yours, etc.,
ROBERT I. G. SCOTT,
Northfield,
Cupar Road,
Ceres.

Electricity
generation
Sir, — Mr Pay's indignant response (Fife Herald, August 8) to my recent letter is disappointing, for after all I was only pointing out that there are views other than the ones he holds, but maybe he didn't pick that up.
As far as Denmark is concerned, I should have perhaps said that wind generates about 20 per cent of the annual production of electricity in that country, but due to its intermittent nature only about six per cent of domestic demand is satisfied by that source.
The provision of heat to homes from Denmark's conventional power stations is one part of the story and the undeniable need for back-up for intermittent wind generated electricity is another. For every megawatt of wind you need a megawatt of dispatchable electricity which can only be provided from conventional capacity. This is probably why no power stations have been decommissioned.
In my unsuccessful search for evidence from the Danish Energy Agency that there has been a reduction of emissions in Denmark, I came across statistics from the Danish Energy Authority which while not exactly current are recent enough to matter, pointing out that in 2006 compared with 2005 Denmark's emissions of CO2 rose by 16 per cent. If these figures are correct, I hope the figures in 2007 and this year are better.
As far as the proposed windfarm at Largoward is concerned, much more information needs to be provided and local consultation is required. Since Mr Pay has been working on this for a few years and he seeks local support both for the scheme and in financial terms, now would be a good time. — Yours, etc.,
GRAHAM LANG,
Ceres and District Environment
and Amenity Protection Group,
Westermost,
Coaltown of Callange,
Ceres.

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.

Eldorado
potatoes
Sir, — I was pleased to see that the Big Tent event got good coverage in last week's edition of the Fife Herald. The front page picture of two boys and "a big potato plant'' was not just any potato, but Eldorado! Not the lost city of gold or knowledge as in Indiana Jones, the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but yes Eldorado the potato.
This variety was bred by Archibald Findlay from Mairsland Farm, Auchtermuchty. Findlay, a publican/potato merchant from Markinch, was motivated to breed disease resistant varieties following the Irish potato famine. There was a lot of hype at the time with spectators eagerly waiting his next release. In 1904, according to a report in the Strathearn Herald News, one four once tuber sold by the town clerk in Cupar for £30. To put in context, the annual agricultural wage was £46 per year which would put the potato's value at least £1500.
Eldorado shortly afterwards was discovered to be identical to an earlier variety Evergood, so it quickly disappeared. Findlay went on to breed many varieties including Majestic which sustained the nation for over 50 years and through war-time food crisis. The potato is the fourth most important food in the world after maize, wheat and rice. 2008 as designated by the United Nations is the International Year of the Potato. The relevance at Big Tent was part of the theme about sustainable food production with global increases in population. In UK we eat around 100 kilos per head per year, whereas developing countries are only around 20 kilos. www.potato2008.org
The Fife Air Cadets Conservation Group in the Sugar Acre Garden project, Falkland, produced all the potato plants on the stand as part of a grow your own project and ran a competition to 'Guess the number of potatoes' in the wheelbarrow. Assisting with technical help over the two-day event, I was delighted and overwhelmed with a huge amount of interest and queries from growing in the garden to the wider issues of sustainable global food production. — Yours, etc.,
JOHN MARSHALL,
36 High Road,
Auchtermuchty KY14 7BE.

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.

Bus danger
in Cupar
Sir, — Can any of your readers please tell me the last time they saw the local Cupar town bus with any more than half a dozen people on board? Personally I can say never. It seems to me that a couple of small minibuses could do a much better job and at a fraction of the cost in fuel terms alone than running a mostly near empty gas guzzling monster as is the current situation.
There is also a major road safety issue in running a bus of this size in our side streets. Take the Bishopgate or Castlebank Road as just two examples on its daily route.The current bus takes up more than three-quarters of the width of these roads, effectively turning them into one way streets for motorists. Other drivers have one of two options as has happened to me: Either back up to let the bus pass or be forced on to the pavement, neither of which is safe, especially for passing pedestrians.
As a pedestrian I have had to move into the side of the pavement with my back to the wall to let the bus pass, and I have seen other pedestrians nearly have their heads taken off by its wing-mirrors. Purely on the grounds of public safety alone the current bus must be withdrawn from service and replaced by one or two smaller vehicles suitable for use in our narrow side streets.
If not,it is sadly only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed because of the poor planning from the powers above that make these crazy decisions inflicted upon us all.And remember one final point. It is you and I paying for this mess! — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Successful
open day
Sir, — The staff and patients of Weston House would like to thank all the people who came along and supported us at our open day on Saturday, July 5. The event this year was very well supported by the local community, given that this day was the 60th anniversary of the birth of the National Health Service.
Thank you also to all the staff and volunteers who work so tirelessly each year to make sure that this event is enjoyable for patients and visitors alike. Without their continued support the open day would not happen.
It is vital that people from the local community support the day unit. Given the rise in people experiencing mental health difficulties, the money raised at the fete, which was approximately £970, will go a long way towards providing resources for the unit, which will benefit all the patients.
Thank you all once again, everybody, for creating such a successful day and we look forward to doing even better next year. — Yours, etc.,
ANN McLEAN,
Charge Nurse,
NEIL KINMONT,
Committee organiser,
Weston House Day Hospital,
West Port,
Cupar.

Brave
Laura
Sir, — What a very touching story in the Fife Herald of July 4 under the heading 'Goodbye Little Miss Pink', the story of brave Laura Moore. This is an article I will always keep to remind me of how lucky I am to be still living at the age of 84.
I purchased my last reindeer dust at the Bonnygate dental surgery, the shiny dust to show Santa the way, the oats to feed the reindeer on such a busy night.
I hope to buy more reindeer dust this coming Christmas and continue to help other sick children. — Yours, etc.,
MRS McHARDY,
3 Dalgairn Crescent,
Cupar.

Windfarm
subsidies
Sir, — It was interesting to read Mr Lawrie's comments, under the heading 'Blowing in the wind' (Fife Herald, July 4), in which he yet again attacks windfarms on the basis of subsidies and an inability to meet all our power requirements. Just as fascinating was his suggestion that "people in authority" were largely concerned with "monetary gain by a certain few".
To put the subsidies in some kind of context, it is worth noting the conclusions of the recent Stern Report which estimated that the cost to the public purse of tackling climate change would be two percent of our total Gross National Product. The latest finalised figure I can find suggests GNP (for 2006) was roughly £1300 billion; two per cent of which is some £26 billion per year. Since both current and proposed subsidies to windfarms is a tiny fraction of this sum, it is clear that we are not doing nearly enough to invest, subsidise, spend, whatever you want to call it, on green electricity generation if we actually wish to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Since Mr Lawrie refers in his letter to the "carbon footprint brigades", it is clear which side of the argument he rests on. It is worth mentioning a recent comment from the Institute for Public Policy Research: "We are nearing the point of no return on climate change. We have very little time left to start reducing global greenhouse gas emissions before irreparable damage is done. It is vital that EU countries keep their promises to cut pollution."
Obviously it is true that wind turbines cannot produce power all the time. Actually, Government targets anticipate a capacity utilisation factor (CF) of 30 per cent, implying that 2GW of installed capacity will provide an average of 600MW to the national grid. A study by the Renewable Energy Foundation found that in practice only Scottish and some Welsh windfarms achieved this level, while turbines in lowland England were much less efficient, some operating at less than 10 per cent of capacity. The foundation argued that the subsidy had encouraged wind development on poor sites. This is often used by the anti-windfarm lobby to suggest that windfarms are inefficient and should not be built.
A moment's thought shows that in reality Scotland should be investing in this resource to maximise benefit to the public for the money it spends in subsidy, as long as proper study at the site suggests that the appropriate CF target can be reached. One simply cannot draw any conclusions on this basis until EnergieKontor finishes its study at the Ceres site and publishes the results.
It is interesting that offshore windfarms cost roughly twice as much to build, require around twice as much maintenance and have a shorter estimated service life than onshore windfarms, yet they are trumpeted as the solution by those who do not wish to see them on their own hillsides. Whatever you might feel about windfarms, there is now no sensible scientific argument to contradict the fact that, over the life of a project and taking all possible factors into account, a windfarm cuts carbon emission significantly per mega-watt generated when compared with the cleanest of fossil fuel generation.
If we are going to cut carbon we have to build clean generators and, somehow, that has to be paid for. If the Stern Report's two per cent of GNP figure is even remotely accurate, then the windfarm subsidy, properly spent, begins to look like something of a bargain. — Yours, etc.,
ALAN CLITHEROW,
Ceres.

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.

Shopping
in Cupar
Sir, — So Mr Dall and Mr Caira think the construction of a new and better Tesco would be detrimental to the town, taking business away from the local shops (Fife Herald, June 20). I beg to differ! Was Tesco directly responsible for shop closures such as Galloway's (men's wear), Margaret Urquhart (ladies' wear), Hendry's Giftware, M & Co., the Countrywear shop in the Bonnygate that lasted no time at all — I think not!
Mr Caira expressed his concerns about the number of food outlets in the town — what has that got to do with Tesco? They have been there for years and Tesco have always had a cafe.
There are several reasons for supporting Tesco, not least that it will provide more employment to the local people and encourage shopping in the town. We need shops that are within the realms of our everyday spending with reasonably priced items for everyday wear. At present you have to go outwith the town, so Tesco will hopefully fit the bill.
Traders should be encouraged to open up new ventures in Cupar and not discouraged as they are at the moment with very high rates that are thrust upon them.
Mr Dall said that people were not stopping in the town, but going on straight through to St Andrews. Of course they are. 1 They do not have to sit and wait at the dreaded traffic light system. 2 When they get to St Andrews they have a choice of shops with reasonably priced everyday wear for both adults and children alike. You cannot get that in Cupar.
At one time Mr Milne of Fisher & Donaldson was opposed to any further growth of Tesco on the south side of the town as that would be detrimental to the traffic situation and would make matters worse — why then did he proceed to build his new premises even further out on South Road instead of utilising an empty shop in Cupar itself? Has he promised to erect traffic lights or provide a means of decongesting the narrow street beside his new shop?
Fife Council has also added to the 'ghost town' by moving most of its staff from the County Buildings to Glenrothes, thus lessening trade in Cupar by staff who would normally shop in their lunch hour, or after work. Presumably they now do this where they work.
Another knock-on effect of that situation is the paying of council tax and rent. Where these were once paid at the 'one stop shop' in the County Buildings, that business has been moved to the Post Office, Crossgate and Westport (which we are led to believe is on the point of being closed down)!
Come on the powers that be! Do something positive for this town before it's too late! — Yours, etc.,
JANICE GRAY,
Address supplied.

Criticism
of Tesco
Sir, — Having read your article regarding the new Tesco in Cupar, and the comments of a couple businessmen (Fife Herald, June 20) there are a few questions I would like to ask them. Did they query the new Greggs, the Bagette Express opposite, or the new Fisher and Donaldson in Ceres Road ?
Did they query the new Lidl building opposite Watts? Oh, and what contribution did any of these businesses contribute to Cupar the way they are expecting Tesco to do? It would be interesting to hear their answers. — Yours, etc.,
SATISFIED TESCO CUSTOMER,
Name and address supplied.

Post office
consultation
Sir, — Many people in Cupar will be aware that the Post Office is currently consulting about the future of the Post Office Network. Out of a network of 14,000 branches, up to 2500 are under threat of closure.
Sadly, one of those under threat is the Westport post office in Cupar. The Westport is not under threat because it provides a poor service or because it isn't busy (we all know that isn't the case) — it is under threat because of what big organisations like the Post Office call 'rationalisation'. In short, what this means is increasing the profits of the Post Office is more important than the provision of a local and valued service.
Equally sad is the human cost. The Cleghorn family have been the 'postmasters' for as long as many people have lived in Cupar — currently Tom and before him his father. They have shown great loyalty to the Post Office and to many people in Cupar. Whilst the Post Office might be short of loyalty there is an opportunity for us in Cupar to 'repay' the Cleghorn family.
We can all this weekend write to the Post Office, as part of the consultation process, making the case for the retention of the Westport post office. The Post Office will not accept petitions so the onus is on each of us to act. The address to write to is: Sally Buchanan, Network Development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, Freepost Consultation Team.
If every reader of the Fife Herald writes then we may be able to make a difference. Let's all act this weekend — closing date for responses is July 8. — Yours, etc.,
BRYAN POOLE,
49 South Road,
Cupar KY15 5JF.

Civic
pride
Sir, — I read with interest the letter to your column headed 'Lack of civic pride' (Fife Herald, June 20). While the writer is possibly correct in saying that better use could be made of the town's riverside, I challenge the statement that there is no civic pride.
As chairman of Cupar In Bloom, no-one is more aware than I am of the concern that the population of the town in general have for its upkeep. Firstly I am very proud of my team of approximately 20 volunteers who work extremely hard on beautifying the town with planters and hanging baskets and attend all summer to their upkeep. Again we have vandalism here also, but we just have to combat it.
The support local businesses of all sizes give us in sponsorship and kind shows the pride they have in the town looking good. Fife Council gives us total support with assistance in kind and finally the citizens show their civic pride by supporting our fund-raising events.
All in all it is a team effort on everyone's part to make Cupar look its best. The detrimental factors of which the writer reports including litter is the work of a minority and this is difficult to eradicate. We work with all the schools in the town so hopefully the younger generation trained to be eco friendly will have a different outlook.
I am grateful to the writer for bringing to my attention areas where carelessness and vandalism happens. My team cannot survey everywhere at the same time and the indication from anyone of where the rubbish is is helpful.
I know many people in the town appreciate what Cupar In Bloom does so do not let the acts of a mindless few mar the esteem we all have for the lovely friendly town in which we live. It is our aim for Cupar to win the medium town category in the Beautiful Scotland Awards in 2008 — so let's make it happen. — Yours, etc.,
MARY LAW MBE,
Chairman,
Cupar In Bloom.

Blowing in
the wind
Sir, — As expected, Mr Pay's considered expertise responds to my last letter regarding wind turbine issues (Fife Herald, June 13). At least he acknowledges that wind energy will not fully resolve energy requirements.
One can refer to as many publications about the justification for wind turbines, but equally there is expertise data available that more than justifies opposition to the wind energy policy and therefore we will continue to agree to disagree.
Even this present government has conceded that no matter how many wind turbines are installed they will not sufficiently meet requirements, but sadly in the interim there are multiple contracts being awarded which are subsidised by the U.K. electricity consumers resulting from electricity providers having to achieve government renewable targets as determined by the EU.
It is ironic that a complete decade of power plant build has not been achieved because of government delay and political dogma. One of the reasons being that they must not be seen to upset the 'carbon footprint brigades' and which has resulted in the excessive financial waste expended on wind farms. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but pro-wind turbine groups should take cognisance of letter writers from all over the U.K. where people have suffered due to living adjacent to windfarms which were imposed by authoritarian decisions with the resultant concerns, not only stress on the residents health, the financial devaluation on their property and impact on the surroundings. And what for? An unreliable and intermittent source of electricity which has largely to be backed up by conventional power generation.
Relative to many years ago when people in authority protected the natural landscape, the present priority for the major (key) players appears to revolve around monetary gain by a certain few. Very sad. — Yours, etc.,
HARRY LAWRIE,
Abbots Mill,
Kirkcaldy.

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.

RNLI
thanks
Sir, — The RNLI Cupar branch held a house to house and a street collection during June in Cupar, the Ceres area and Springfield, when the excellent sum of £2779.72p was raised. I would like to thank all the people who supported the lifeboats for their generosity.
I would also like to thank all the volunteers who gave of their time and energy to organise their areas and collected round the houses and on the street. — Yours, etc.,
GORDON SUTHERLAND,
President,
Cupar branch RNLI.

Outrageous
headline
Sir, — 'Ghost Town' (Fife Herald, June 20). What an outrageous headline, worthy of the most contentious of our national press, and bordering on incitement to panic. That's of course if Cupar could be roused to that state!
The Herald headline appeared to be based on the ramblings of just two owners of local businesses, namely a pet food shop and a café. Can anyone take seriously the complaint that an enlarged Tesco would impinge on these two businesses any more than it has already! To give such prominent headline coverage as 'Ghost Town' is, I feel irresponsible and goes to excite and support the interests of the minority.
I am sure I am not alone among the residents who would welcome an early and rapid approval of this matter. It has been dragging on far too long! I remember that some six years ago I wrote to this paper supporting the development of the currently totally inadequate Tesco site and extolling the citizens of Cupar to 'wake up' and fully support the new development.
I am totally fed up, not only with the procrastination of officials, but the obstacles being placed before this prospective development, with so many red herrings being placed in the path of its final progress. I'm fed up also with the moans, groans and selfish negative reaction always presented by a minority purporting to be the saviours of the town.
Not much has happened to the town centre in the last 15 years; many of the properties haven't even had a fresh coat of paint. Those that have, are the responsibility of the newer, livelier entrepreneurs who have invested serious money in their own and the town's future. I have noticed that a previous vociferous protestor has opened other premises outwith the town centre yet maintaining a presence in the town. A bold and astute move, especially if the development is approved.
For the rest there is an air of stagnation which seems to arise from those longer term businesses that do nothing but complain about being overtaken by newer and more aggressive outlets in the town centre. They should not complain of any new venture in the town just because it supposedly undermines their individual business. That, fortunately (or unfortunately) is life!
Cupar must beware of inflammatory headlines and also beware of those who shout loudest. Of course, it is right that people's beliefs should be treated courteously, but it is a great mistake — made out of ignorance — to assume that those who shout the loudest (or produce the biggest headline) are the most representative. — Yurs, etc.,
F. PLUMB,
3 Well Place,
Cupar.

Don't destroy
our park
Sir, — I disagree with Fife Council when they state that the best way to spend £1.5 million is to destroy the Haugh Park and place the war memorial in the middle of a car polluting roundabout. Was it not consultants who advised Fife Council where to place the present traffic lights and which are now going to be moved at a cost to us of £60,000? There are better ways to spend £1.5 million such as developing the riverside and tidying up the shabby buildings. The boarded up building by the fishmongers in the Bonnygate is a disgrace.
I was under the impression from Fife Council that the by-pass plus 1250 houses was going to solve Cupar's traffic problems. Obviously not. It sounds as if this roundabout is, as Councillor Bryan Poole says, "a knee-jerk reaction".
Unless the increase in traffic year-on-year is tackled, then the roundabout through the Haugh Park will become just as congested over a few years. Future generations will still have our traffic problems, but no park to enjoy.
Imagine Cupar without its lovely park and the well-positioned war memorial. No picnic tables, flower beds, bandstand, or children play area. Councillor Roger Guy suggested that the proposed roundabout should be marked out so the area of destruction could be seen. It is no surprise that this has not been done.
Fife Council's biggest supporter is apathy. Unless people defend their park, given to the town to enjoy, there will be no use in complaining once the diggers have moved in as the dental building proves. — Yours, etc.,
DOUGLAS PROVAN,
78 St Michaels Drive,
Cupar KY15 5BS.

Bloom
support
Sir, — Well it's that time of the year again when all the wonderful flowers appear throughout the town by Cupar in Bloom team. It is clear to see that we are now more recognised by the public, as the usual comments did not happen this year.
I planted the war memorial on Monday, and had the usual toots from passing motorists, and a wave, but not a word about should I be doing this. The same at the Cross, but many folk said if I had a spare five minutes, I could make a start on their garden . . . no chance. On Sunday, it was time to tackle Ferguson Square. This is where my poor husband becomes a bit like a pack horse, as the trips from our garden to the Square transporting the many plants, are numerous, but the comments of appreciation were encouraging and very complimentary, it is great to know that the people of Cupar are as pleased and proud of the town as we all are. Many thanks to all for their kind words and support. — Yours, etc.,
VICKY COULL,
Cupar in Bloom.

Enjoyable
occasion
Sir, — On behalf of Ladybank Festive Committee, I would like to thank those who made Pageant Day such an enjoyable occasion, especially Mr Thomas Malcolm, of Premier Travel who sponsored the marquee and family night disco and also to Fife Council for their assistance towards the costs of running the event. Thanks also to George Manson who, as always, did a great job with the commentary; to Kirsten Oliver and Adam Simpson for doing a good job of being Gala Queen and King; and all the entertainers for a good weekend.
Thanks also to the children of Ladybank who tidied the Victoria Park each day and Alistair McNeill of Scotia Wings for providing two three-wheeled Honda motorcycles for transporting the King and Queen through the street and leading the procession. We hope to have another great pageant next year. — Yours, etc.
MAREAN LATTO,
Secretary,
Ladybank Festive Committee.

Entitled
to salary
Sir, — I write with reference to the report in the June 13 issue of the Fife Herald, headed 'Provost is top of council earnings table'. Councillors are democratically elected to their office and are entitled to claim a salary and any appropriate expenses. To use the words "pocketed", "took home" (used twice) and "got" in a report relating to these monies is a juvenile piece of journalism, verging on the insulting.
I suggest your reporter, from his or her salary, purchases a thesaurus before embarking on another such piece. — Yours, etc.,
MRS K. A. HENDERSON,
91 Robertson Road,
Cupar.

Honest
gentleman
Sir, — May I through your letters page, thank the very honest gentleman who picked up my wallet which I had dropped in the 'Co-operative Store', on Saturday, June 14. He handed it in "intact" — unfortunately the young male assistant did not ascertain his name — or I could have thanked him in person — so I hope he will read this and know how grateful I feel, he has renewed my faith in human nature.
Best wishes and my sincere thanks 'Sir'. — Yours, etc.,
MARGUERITE K. DOYLE,
Address supplied.

Ancient
name
Sir, — I was astonished to see in the Collessie news column (Fife Herald, June 13) the word 'shilisdairs' used as the name for the 'yellow flag' or wild iris.
'Shilisdair' is a phonetic version of the Gaelic name for the wild iris — 'seilisdeir'.
If that name is still used in Collessie, not only by the writer of the column, then it is a very ancient name indeed. — Yours, etc.,
MARGARET I. MACPHEE SMITH,
Tigh na Sgoile,
Lawhead of Radernie
By Cupar.

Drinking
in the park
Sir, — I am writing in response to Bryan Poole's letter 'Youth behaviour' in the Fife Herald on Friday, June 6. I walk my dog in the Haugh Park twice a day, and one recent Sunday morning I was once again disgusted to see the litter left behind by drinkers the previous evening.
It's the same most afternoons and evenings lately, and I feel not enough is being done. I have phoned the anti-social behaviour number numerous times about youths drinking in the park, but nothing is done. I have seen the police talking to these youths and moving them on . . . why aren't they enforcing the law which clearly states its an offence to drink in public i.e. a £500 fine.
I spoke to an officer on Sunday afternoon who told me about the scheme they are trying on Fridays and Saturdays where alcohol only be sold to over 21s. At least it's something, but this won't stop them — they drink in the park every afternoon and evening. This trial is only lasting six weeks, but I would like to see it extended to seven days a week on a permanent basis. I'm sure the public who use the Haugh Park deserve better. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Lack of
civic pride
Sir, — Cupar has so many advantages in terms of its beautiful surrounding countryside and fine old buildings and parks. In at least one respect, however, it really does disappoint. Over the past 20 years a very great number of British towns have developed their watercourses as impressive and pleasant water features with carefully managed walkways. They were not always so.
In Cupar, the river is still treated as an open access rubbish tip. If you walk from Millgate, through the Orchard, to the park and the Marie Curie Memorial Gardens you will find that the river itself is disfigured by the floating bottles, cans, footballs, rubber tyres, and even wooden pallets. The parkways are spoiled with discarded food and drink packaging, including broken beer and cider bottles, and dog excrement.
Why is this so? I don't pretend to know the answer but it has to be, to some extent, because there is no sense of civic pride among the users of these facilities and there is inadequate provision for disposing of litter in these areas. A general lack of civic pride is evinced by the trail of disgusting litter left through the town by the retreating hordes of Bell Baxter school pupils after lunchtime, even though there is more than adequate provision of waste bins.
Possibly it is because the town centre bins are underused the authorities fail to adequately furnish the riverside pathways with waste bins for rubbish and dog excrement. Specific to the 'Orchard', this area was developed by local schoolchildren and should be a place of great beauty and tranquillity. Instead it is a no go area for respectable local residents in the evenings when it is taken over by drinkers and drug users. These are the people who break bottles and scatter rubbish all over the pathways, planted areas and in the watercourses. The police visit occasionally but fail in the management of this situation.
This is all very sad. I visit so many places where the rivers and canals really are among the most beautiful features and treasured by local people. Cupar reminds me of a bygone time when it was not so. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Unacceptable
proposal
Sir, — I read of the latest Fife Council proposals for the Haugh Park (Fife Herald, June 13). It is quite unacceptable to have a road running through the park.
The proposal would have several effects. The trees on the outside of the park would be cut down as well as the trees in the avenue in the park. How does the felling of trees help with global warming?
The new children's play park, which has just been completed, would need bulldozed. This facility is greatly appreciated by the local children.
There could not be concerts in the refurbished bandstand — even if it was left standing — due to traffic noise from the new road. It is totally unacceptable to have the war memorial in the middle of a roundabout.
The loss in amenity in the park with a road running through it would be greatly missed. The proposals need to be rejected at an early stage. We also need a 'Save the Haugh Park' organisation to stop the Fife Council vandals implementing their proposal to wreck the park. — Yours, etc.,
ALEXANDER WYND,
Marnoch,
15 Tarvit Avenue,
Cupar KY15 5BW.

Event for
all ages
Sir, — Regarding the letter about 'Frightening costumes' in Cupar Children's Gala (Fife Herald, June 13), as a parent of a Gala Committee member and grandparent of a three-year-old also frightened by the 'Drumming Ants, I can give a balanced reply.
Firstly, through unforeseen circumstances the pipe band booked to lead the parade cancelled at the last minute. Many calls and contacts were approached, but to no avail. Rather than have no music heading the procession, it was decided the Drumming Ants would be asked to lead and help save the day.
Secondly, my three-year-old grandson reacted in exactly the same way and burst into tears as the one mentioned in the letter last week. Yet, my two other grandchildren, aged approximately two years, were fascinated. My nine-year-old granddaughter informed me they were "cooool". The community of Cupar has expressed more compliments than complaints. Please bear in mind Cupar Children's Gala has to cater for all ages.
Lastly, yet again, Fife Council, which does not run Cupar Children's Gala, gave wrong information, and the Gala Committee cannot be accountable for Fife Council. If the concerned parent had contacted www.@cuparchildrensgala.org.uk he would have seen there was no theme this year allowing groups to express their own ideas and individuals to participate.
It is not too late for the concerned parent — preparations are already underway for next year. I am sure if he contacts the Gala Committee his time and opinions will be gratefully appreciated. I can vouch that Cupar Children's Gala Committee work extremely hard throughout the year. All have family and commitments of their own, yet freely give of their time and ideas, not to mention the stress, exhaustion and injuries sustained to make the gala a success. I am not only proud of my daughter but all the committee and appreciate their hard work and achievements. Good luck for next year. — Yours, etc.,
L. A. TAYLOR,
11 Kinloss Crescent,
Cupar.

Gala was
best ever
Sir, — Duffus Park was certainly the place to be on Saturday, June 7, for Cupar's Children's Gala. 'Best Gala there has been' was the verdict, not just from the youngsters, but mums and dads, locals and visitors alike. The parade was spectacularly led by giant ants playing various types of drums, mind-boggling to say the least!
The non-stop entertainment at the park catered for young and old and was second to none. This all was only made possible by the new team of 'youngsters' who now form Cupar Gala Committee. Hard work, new ideas and dedication — they did Cupar proud and the sun certainly did shine for them, as they deserved. Very well done. — Yours, etc.,
M. C. NEVILLE,
Gala Committee supporter,
Braeview,
Chance Inn,
by Cupar.

Fantastic
day
Sir, — I am writing to congratulate the Cupar Gala Committee for a fantastic day. Whilst I appreciate the weather played a huge factor, the stalls, street entertainers and arena displays were original and very entertaining. It was easy to pass the day away. It seemed like the whole of Cupar had turned out to support the event.
Congratulations again to the committee and all volunteers. — Yours, etc.,
JEN CAMPBELL,
109 Balgarvie Crescent,
Cupar.

Edward
House
Sir, — In response to the letter from Mr Beveridge (Fife Herald, June 6), may I offer a different view on the proposed development at Edward House?
I am one of a number of Falkland residents who support the development, mainly as it offers an increase in the number of residents and from the aspect of the quality of accommodation a new building can provide. Any initiative that will enable more elderly residents to remain within the village in comfort and safety is a benefit for the long term; added to this is the additional employment opportunities that will be created. The elderly are an age group often ignored in forward planning and this should not be allowed to happen here.
I cannot comment on the meeting described by Mr Beveridge, nor can I supply any statistics regarding the balance of feeling in the village. I can, however, make a point regarding the loss of 'charming character' as depicted by the previous correspondent. All those who approach Falkland from the direction of New Inn are greeted by the following: A 1970s housing estate; a 1980s housing development and the 'stunning' backdrop of the factory.
Pleasant as the aspect of Edward House may be, it is obscured by trees and overshadowed by its' less attractive neighbours. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Edward
House
Sir, — Ref. Mr Beveridges's letter (Fife Herald, June 6), it is true that the vast majority of those present on December 11 opposed the original application for Edward House; this is not surprising, people simply do not turn out to support something, but will do so to oppose. There were about 100 people present, out of an adult population in the village of over 1000.
The applicant made substantial changes to his plans and on April 8, at the subsequent meeting to consider them, the views were more balanced. The community council voted by four to two to object.
Since Fife Council's decision to approve, I have had a lot of people saying how pleased they are, because of the job opportunities provided and, particularly, because of the fact that care facilities for themselves, relatives and friends will be available in Falkland. — Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY GARRETT,
1 Royal Terrace,
Falkland KY15 7AX.

Frightening
costumes
Sir, — Whilst I would like to convey my thanks and appreciation to everyone who contributed to the Children's Gala Day in Cupar on Saturday, June 7, I do wonder if a little more thought could have gone into the costumes for the drummers. My own three-year-old son was terrified and cowered behind myself and my wife as the admittedly talented, stilted drumming ants progressed their way along the Bonnygate.
According to Fife Council's website the 'theme' for this year's gala was 'circus'. To me that implies acrobats, jugglers, clowns and bright colours — not black, alien-like beings. It reminded me in some ways of the very first time I watched the 1958 film 'The Fly' — sheer terror when Helene Delambre revealed what her mutant husband, Andre, actually looked like after an experiment went wrong.
Even after we had patiently explained to him that it was people dressed up, he was (and is) still a little worried. I appreciate this might seem humorous to many, but given there were so many younger children present, I do feel that brightly coloured costumes would have been the order of the day, more in keeping with Disney/Pixar's 'A Bug's Life' or Dreamworks' 'Antz'. — Yours, etc.,
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Community
spirited
Sir, — On behalf of the children of the Yvonne Gray Dance Studios, I would like to publicly thank Mr Roy Finnie for allowing us to use one of his lorries for the float parade last Saturday.
Mr Finnie's company was featured on your front page last week in the article highlighting the plight of haulage companies during the fuel crisis. Despite this, Mr Finnie was happy to donate a lorry and a driver so our children could enjoy the gala.
The children had a great day and the Gala Committee did another great job this year. It's a fabulous community day — so next year, let's see more community groups taking part! — Yours, etc.
YVONNE GRAY.

Nuclear
comparison
Sir, — Like Harry Lawrie (Letters, May 30), I thank the Fife Herald for allowing this energy debate to continue (a sentiment I am not sure is shared by the rest of the readers). As Mr Lawrie recognises it as a debate, he really should read the letters from the opposing side. I think I've made it clear I don't think wind energy will "fully resolve energy requirements", and my last letter was mostly about other solutions to climate change.
I don't know who his experts are, or what he thinks their evidence is to prove wind energy is not a convincing part of the solution. He doesn't say. Perhaps they are related to the expert who proved a bumblebee cannot fly?
He simply ignores the reality that wind energy has helped Denmark to reduce its carbon emissions. That was with a poorer wind resource than Scotland, and mostly older technology.
His answer to changing our electricity generation is nuclear energy. It is truly ironic that he complains about wind turbines being at public expense (leaving aside who he thinks should pay for the energy we use). The energy from new nuclear build costs way more than that from wind turbines. Anyone interested should read the Nuclear Power Joint Fact-Finding report by the Keystone Centre (www.keystone.org) and, for a more forthright opinion, the work of Amory Lovins at the Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org), in their spring newsletter for instance.
I also find it interesting that Mr Lawrie raises "the example set by France" because they have now installed a greater capacity of wind turbines than the UK! In comparison, perhaps he could tell us how they are getting on with the two nuclear reactors they are building in Finland and France? — Yours, etc.,
GORDON PAY,
75 Bonnygate,
Cupar KY15 4BY.

M.E. group
thanks
Sir, — I would like to thank all the volunteers, patients, carers and friends who supported the M.E. coffee morning held at Age Concern, Cupar, on May 24. The sum of £582.50 was raised for research on M.E. at M.E. Research UK (Perth and Ninewells) and for the local support group. We particularly appreciated the support from the people of Cupar, St Andrews and the area, who came along on the day.
It is pleasing to note that awareness of the condition is improving all the time. Now that the Scottish Public Health Network is pressing ahead with a needs assessment of M.E. in Scotland, the day of proper NHS provision across Scotland, not just Fife, is a realistic expectation. — Yours, etc.,
CATHERINE LEWIS,
Chairman,
M.E. Support Fife.

Chilly
pool
Sir, — Can Cupar swimming pool please explain why the water has to be so cold? I was there with my two-year-old son recently, and while the pool was lovely and quiet and the facilities were clean, the temperature of the water was enough to put me off making a return visit.
I know that anyone going in for a few lengths or more would soon heat up, but not a child who cannot swim and needs to be moved around constantly to keep warm. — Yours, etc.,
L. ALEXANDER,
Cupar.

Cuparmuir
housing
Sir, — It was an interesting experience to find myself an object of derision, but bearable when comments are based on a lack of information. So I will try to assist Mr Kydd (Fife Herald letters, June 6).
In 2004 with affordable plots only worth 10-15 per cent of mainstream plots, I offered my land to two housing associations for totally affordable housing. Kingdom came to see Trynmuir first and Hillcrest the next day. Hillcrest was so keen that an application to Communities Scotland for funding was submitted that very afternoon and subsequently granted. Kingdom applied shortly afterwards. I would not have 'lined my pockets' with very much from that, but Fife's planners advised Hillcrest not to submit an application as, primarily, developments had to be a mix of affordable and mainstream houses.
However, the situation is not just about money. I live in a small rented house and have also seen the despair on the faces of people who, having come to a housing site office hoping to be offered an affordable home, were told that they would have to go on a long waiting list. I will never forget that despair.
Fife's figure for the current affordable homes requirement stands at 336 in the Cupar housing market area. This will be re-assessed in the next 12-18 months and is expected, understandably, to rise. Only nine affordable homes have been built in the last three years; numbers expected in the next few years will not meet requirements and the need for these homes is now!
Mr Kydd states: "The site at Cuparmuir will be developed eventually, that is inevitable, and I would welcome and support this." Refreshingly accurate and a truly common sense assessment; but then there is a reservation: "The village needs time to assimilate new residents." So I have to ask: "Assimilate into what?" Cupar Muir has always relied on Cupar's facilities, clubs, etc. as it has none of its own and this will continue very comfortably. So this means that only the timing is wrong. But while the application may be too early for Mr Kydd in his comfortable home in Cupar Muir, it is certainly not too early for families in inadequate housing.
The final paragraph repeats the envy of the first two and leaves me wondering if Mr Kydd has any charity in his soul. Young families are in desperate need of homes, and homes with gardens in particular. Some 18 or 20 such homes could be available soon at Trynmuir without spoiling the village in the least. — Yours, etc.,
NEIL M. MUNRO,
9 Lomond Crescent,
Falkland KY15 7AJ.