Dunfermline Press. » Opinion » Dunfermline isn't a city. It's a 'dark, disgusting hole'

As an ex "Dunfermliner" living in Edinburgh I'm deeply saddened to read that someone who had reached the dizzy heights of Dundee could be so blinkered. Ms Shields states she stayed in Edinburgh which is a "proper city" because it has cheaper buses and a wide selection of tartan shops. If she took a look around she'd observe that Edinburgh has nearly 10 times the population of Dunfermline within a concentrated area meaning more people use the buses travelling shorter distances. This is why Lothian Buses can afford to offer lower fares to bus-users. The bus service in Edinburgh is also owned for the most part by the City of Edinburgh Council meaning profits are less of an issue. She also appears to have turned a blind eye to the various bus routes that use standard buses with the bar inbetween the doors making them inaccesible to prams and wheelchairs. In fact, as an ex-resident she would know that Lothian buses actually ban prams (only buggies are allowed)!

Danielle also clearly never had the time to read the local newspaper where she'd find "constant moaning" about tram-works, the state of Princes Street and buses that don't allow prams. I'm just thankful she never noticed the St James' Centre as if she considers the Kingsgate to be an eyesore she'd be in for an almighty shock.

It's such a shame that people feel the need to waste their energy slating the town rather than promoting it's good points. At least she's seen sense and moved to Dundee which has plenty of baby changing facilities due to it being the teenage pregnancy capital of Europe!

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Ok your hardly a 'Dunfermliner' if your trashing about the town. Dunfermline is sanctuary for heritage, as the ancient capital of Scotland, ofcourse some patriotic folk are going to want it to once again be called a City as it rightfully was. However as a town it has gained many recognishions for several historic things. The world renowned Andrew Carnegie for one. I personally don't like all the new development going on, it's ruining Dunfermline, this is a historical City, and it is all getting over run by fat cats moving in from god knows where to the eastern expansion, causing the need for more amenities and facilities. Aswell as more businesses boasting in causing more wastage and heavy traffic. There was enough housing development a year and a half ago, so stop! It is ruining the landscape and most importantly our enviroment. I care a sincere amount for our beautiful town, and the last thing i want to see is our heritage getting shoved away for new housing or stupid tower blocks like what was happening in crossford. I wish the fat ignorant developers would just leave peaceful land like ours alone. The 'Real' people of Dunfermline should in all rights get in the way of progress, we've already progressed into such a culture rich town, with exception of the louts from brucefield and valleyfield. Your the one, Danielle, that's small-minded if you don't give a hoot about your own heritage and culture, or is it maybe your not from here, you just think you can say and do what you want with someone elses home. The Carnegie Leisure is fine as it is, full of heritage. The kingsgate is fine as it is too, however the new development next to it is a welcome for mostly everyone. The housing however is not welcome, we don't need more people who don;t know the first thing about Dunfermline up here. Tesco aswell, the employees in the stores that are already here are foul enough without us getting 2 more stores worth of them.

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Dunlopstar... I would agree and said so in my letter which wasnt printed that as the ancient capital of scotland our history needs to be advertised more as this is something we should be proud of and why should we move to a new purpose built leisure centre when we have the original building carniegie built for us with the original turkish baths, I was in dunfermline last thursday and still found the lack of shops and no baby changing room to be a hindrance there is nothing to stop dunfermline from having the likes of BHS, matalan, usc to name but a few as it would stop people having to travel to edinburgh, glasgow, stirling or even dundee. and i quite agree that they have built too many house's when what they really need to do is clean up the high street and attract more business's for example when jjb move into the kingsgate whats going to move into its place or will it be another empty shop front?? To reply to char's comment on dundee having lots of changing rooms because of the large amounts of teenage mothers well, we have four changing rooms one in bhs, one in debenhams and both the wellgate and overgate have there own independant rooms aswell. I was actually basing my expirience more on dundee and was merely using edinburgh as it is now the capital of scotland although i did find it very easy to use the buses certainly on the route i stayed on in edinburgh.

I would love to see dunfermline compete with the likes of edinburgh, glasgow, dundee, inverness and aberdeen and even livingston which has a lot of shops to draw custom from elsewhere in the country, All im saying is that some of the things that are being complained about are in my opinion are what will make dunfermline a better place to visit and i look forward to seeing the new shopping centre. Something must be done however regarding the bus fares as right now how can stagecoach justify there costs when others can undercut by so much theres enough people using them to bring the costs down.

im not saying dundee is perfect its not but it has a lot of variety, attractions and very parent friendly. if there was on thing i could bring here from dline it would be the glen an amazing place to have in the middle of town.

I would love to move back home however cannot possibly when the living costs are so much higher i do not drive so rely on public transport and cannot possibly justify paying the high prices for buses that arent any better than here.

dunfermline can be a wonderful place and has been in the past it just needs some tlc and a good clean.

maybe you should visit dundee and spend the day shopping, having lunch and taking in the sights we do have some!!!

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