Street has got to go!
Siew Peng Lee • Published 15 Jul 2011 08:10
30 Comments
IT'S got to go - that's the view of Inverkeithing councillors on the town's infamous Fraser Avenue.
They have underlined that the only way forward for the street is to demolish it, following a ward meeting on the street's future.
The matter had been raised at the South West Fife area committee in June but councillors did not agree to any of the recommendations after deciding the matter required further consideration and moved for a more detailed discussion.
Councillors had been asked to agree either to the street being retained and modernised by Fife Council, or completely or partially demolished and replaced with new-build housing by a potential developer.
Following the ward meeting, Councillor Alice McGarry, chair of the committee, said councillors were united in "wanting it to come down".
She said, "There's no money available to achieve this overnight, which we all know, but there's no doubt that everybody wants Fraser Avenue to come down - it's a matter of when it happens and how much money will be needed.
"All of that will be up for debate at the next South West Fife area committee meeting in August.
"It's what the public want and at the end of the day nobody feels there's any long-term future for the street, no matter how much you refurbish it.
"We're definitely united and we're looking at how to get it down in the shortest time possible and everybody rehoused."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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DB Resident
Unregistered User
Jul 15, 10:15
Report commentit is not the street that is the problem, rather the people in it.
It is a massive waste of money to demolish and rebuild.
Recommend?
Yes 31
No 2
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Shah Hoorsur
Unregistered User
Jul 15, 10:39
Report commentTotally agree with DB Resident.
This street and surrounding area have been used as a dumping ground for years, to house mostly anti-social folk who can't (or won't) live normal lives without creating trouble; so yes, it is defintely the people (most of them) rather than the street itself which needs to be tckled.
Before anyone tries to have a go, my grandparents lived in Fraser Avenue for years, so I have first-hand experience of the area. This was a nice street for a long time, then slowly but surely the anti-social crowd and their various offspring moved in, and made it into the hellish place it is today. Sure, there are some good folk left, but they are in the minority nowadays.
I resent the fact that large amounts of council tax money is to be used to build brand new housing after demolishing the old flats, and then move the same anti-social crowd back in afterwards. Before long, the 'new' Fraser Avenue will be just as bad as it is now, mark my words.
Recommend? Yes 27
No 3
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frasavedude
Unregistered User
Jul 15, 12:19
Report commentyour talking a load of crap Shah, I lived here for last 15 years and lived in inverkeithing practically all my 43 years of age , It's the minority not the majority who give this street a bad name
Recommend? Yes 5
No 16
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******
Jul 15, 17:45
Report commentThis comment has been removed by a moderator
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scott1970
23 posts
Jul 15, 22:03
Report commentIt's a horrible street,well past it's best about 20years ago.knock it down like they did to barr cresent years ago,then rebuild there.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 8
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Scotbox
18 posts
Jul 15, 22:19
Report commentIt's the minority residents, not the buildings. The problem is just moved on to another area.
Recommend? Yes 11
No 0
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normalresident
Unregistered User
Jul 16, 12:22
Report comment@ SIckof it, how incredibly judgemental of you, I live in this street (unfortunately) but i have respect for my neighbours, i have two children and a husband WHO WORKS! I have never had the police at my door (other than in cases of them making enquiries) in the four years i have been resident in the street. Yes i am well aware of the fact that there are some people who live here who are exactly as you have described, but PLEASE dont tar us all with the same brush!
Oh and for your information, the flats are not "perfectly fine" as you put it, they are poorly insulated, damp, suffering from subsidance to list but a few of the issues. I have a back yard area where i cant hang out washing as this results in being stolen and where my children cant get out to play as the area is not secure and one neighbour is an alcoholic and I have previously found discarded needles out there. Surely my children have a right to a safe place where they can play?
Not everyone in this street is work shy or just spewing out kids for the sake of benefits. Some of us are desperate to improve our situation in life and have better things for our children!!
Recommend? Yes 15
No 2
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unsteady teddy
Unregistered User
Jul 16, 14:22
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tidybaws
Unregistered User
Jul 16, 15:09
Report commentwhats point in taking them down to put the same people in to the new houses when they are built. its a total waste of time and tax payers money! give it a little while and the old fraser avenue will be back again just like it is now. except they will be living in brand new houses. disgusting min. obv not every one in the street is the same. it has its good people but most are down and outs who havent worked a day in there lifes.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 2
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jan the man
Unregistered User
Jul 16, 16:00
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Shah Hoorsur
Unregistered User
Jul 16, 18:31
Report commentYet again, the majority of wasters from Fraser Avenue have somehow ended up with even more vast amounts of taxpayers money to maintain their anti-social lifestyle. I really do feel for the decent law-abiding folk left in the street.
Councillor Mcgarry, you should be ashamed of yourself. Perhaps you could post a comment here, explaining (truthfully now) your interest in having the street demolished and rebuilt?
I won't hold my breath councillor, but please bear in mind that the local council elections are not too far away.......................tick tock tick tock
Recommend? Yes 9
No 1
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NotHappyJan
192 posts
Jul 18, 03:45
Report commentWell done on a breathtakingly simple decision by Inverkeithing councillors. You should have made that decision years ago.
Demolish and turn the area into a park for all of the town residents. If you rebuild you will end up with the same no hopers and another ghetto. Once its cleaned out, leave it clean. As the current population will be moved to areas more suited, let’s not build something they can come back too.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 1
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Jesus
Unregistered User
Jul 18, 15:42
Report commentThese people have created some new species, get the Human Planet Team In!!!
No wonder some of the windows are boarded up, its better than looking at your grass
growing half way up the hoose!!
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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lucifer
Unregistered User
Jul 18, 17:57
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hammy
Unregistered User
Jul 18, 21:26
Report commentwhat a shower of idiots,
the council knocked down 80 flats in barr crescent rebuild of about 40,
which only about 10 were rehoused there,
where did the rest go? mmmm i wonder
there is 200 flats in fraser avenue, if the council demolish they will build about 80 to 100 new houses about30 will get rehoused there.
where do the rest go? mmmm i wonder
all you that want it demolished will get what you deserve
trouble in your streets,the council wont give them all new houses
council need to get the finger out and do checks on the trouble makers and rehouse the ones that look after their flats,stairwells and gardens,
keep the rest together where you can keep an eye on them,
Recommend? Yes 4
No 2
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NotHappyJan
192 posts
Jul 19, 03:55
Report commentHammy, you have a point. Perhaps the ghetto should remain but it really should be fenced off so as not to contaminate the rest of the populace.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 4
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dirtydivit
Unregistered User
Jul 19, 09:54
Report commentI agree its a lot of the people in it, not the houses, start moving them out into the rest of inverkeithing into the niven estate, whinnyhill, hillfield etc and spread them about instead of keeping them all hearded together. most of them are born and bred there so keep them there.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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Bailseye
Unregistered User
Jul 19, 12:01
Report commentGather the repeat offenders and get them to clean there street!!
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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hammy
Unregistered User
Jul 19, 17:46
Report commenti dinny live in the ave uncle bawheed
and after reading yer bile over the last few weeks i ken whos needin put in a top floor flat
and gettin it knocked doon
Recommend? Yes 1
No 1
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******
Jul 19, 21:38
Report commentThis comment has been removed by a moderator
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Guy Fawkes
Unregistered User
Jul 20, 14:23
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helter skelter
Unregistered User
Jul 20, 14:25
Report commentaw thi gadges frae thi ave,tell yi wit min,pit them oan inchgervie(mind they hud rats on there a,fore)
Recommend? Yes 0
No 1
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Jeremy Beadle
Unregistered User
Jul 20, 14:40
Report commentUncle joe. Co'mon now, thats not funny!
Recommend? Yes 0
No 1
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dirtydivit
Unregistered User
Jul 21, 14:56
Report commentMore of divit is getting bad, even the niven estate is looking run down and filling with idiots and people that think there better than everyone else. good luck to them i wouldnt want to stay there.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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OneTimeResident
Unregistered User
Jul 21, 23:55
Report commentOh dear, the usual Fraser Avenue hysteria. I lived there for 5 years and can without question say that it's the minority that created the reputation that Fras Ave has today. Which was caused by isolated incidents usually involving one idiot hurting another idiot, not hunting down poor wee souls for fun!! In the years that i stayed there i found a good community spirit amongst the majority, and never felt threatened or uncomfortable. What nobody seems to be talking about is the lack of social housing programmes that exist in Fife as a whole, like it or not there is a very significant need for this. Fraser Avenue due to its poor physical condition must surely be near the top of the list for regeneration?? My overall point was that unless you've actually spent any time down there perhaps you shoudn't be so quick to judge..
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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dontjudge
Unregistered User
Jul 22, 03:23
Report commenti live in fraser avenue avenue with my boyfriend and son, and i have lived here for 4 years and have hated every single one!! its not the neighbours it how poorly the flats are as my son has had broncolitis i have to keep him in my bed as there is damp and mold in his bedroom which the council have put it down to drying clothes in side when we had the bad snow!!! my son also cant play in the back garden as the council say it is a drying place not a place for kids!!! what life has my son 2 look forward to if he cant even play outside his home?
also as for the young ones at the weekends causing disruptive behaviour, well i say its down to having nothing to do with their time. so my view is the sooner they knock it down the better!!!!
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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NormalResident
Unregistered User
Jul 22, 14:51
Report comment@dontjudge, i wouldnt be prepared to accept that from the council about the damp and mould, they should be doing something to sort that out, the property belongs to them, i would lodge a formal written complaint stating that you want a senior member of the housing team out to look at it, and i would contact helen eadie too, she should be able to help, we had issues with damp in our bathroom and the council said there was nothing they could do, i stuck my heels in thought and they came out to sort it! the fact that the buildings are made from concrete doesnt help, but drying clothes inside isnt going to create so much condensation that mould is created, i live in Fraser Avenue too, and all external walls have an issue with mould or damp to some extent.
I hope you manage to get it sorted out for the sake of your wee boy. As for him not having somewhere to play outside i can completely relate to that, we are the same, although it more that i wont let my two out because of all the broken glass outside, its disgusting. :(
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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NormalResident
Unregistered User
Jul 22, 14:56
Report commentoh, and helterskelter "aw thi gadges frae thi ave..."? If you have read the comments you would at least notice that the people from Fraser Avenue are the ones commenting in proper english!
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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******
Jul 23, 16:25
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helter skelter
Unregistered User
Jul 25, 15:49
Report commentn resident--bitter because you stay in ave
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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phatboy
Unregistered User
Jul 26, 16:54
Report commentall the councilors must be stupid,its the people in the flats not the flats themselves,that are running the place down and the quicker they realise this the more money they will save.moving the people on isnt gonna solve the problem just move the problem on to another area and what are the local council gonna do then,knock the next place down.soon there will be nowhere left for the people to go if the council keep knocking problem areas down.kick the problem people out on the streets is what i say and if u take offence to this then obviously ur one of them people.........
Recommend? Yes 1
No 1
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B2the B
Unregistered User
Jul 28, 13:40
Report commentThe problem is twofold.
I lived in the ave for 10 years, so I've done my time.
I also worked the whole time, and paid my rent and council tax in full, so am no sponger
Yes, I agree, it has more than it's fair share of undesirables. Some of the stairwells are an absolute disgrace. I always tried to look after mine, but was fighting a losing battle, since my neighbours didn't seem to care.
If that's what the close is like, I'd hate to see their houses !
There seems to be a mentality among some of the folks down there that "it's only Fraz Ave, it doesn't matter".
Some of these folk forget that they have neighbours, and some of us tried to make it a decent community to live in. Sadly, we had no chance.
That said, there are a lot of decent folks down there too
The houses ?
Well, much as mine was in a "better" area of the Ave, it wasn't exactly a palace.
There's no sound insulation at all. I could hear every word my neighbours said, I always knew what they were watching on TV, and I could even hear them snoring at night.
I lived in a top flat, and could even hear the people on the bottom !
Hell, half the time I could smell what my downstairs neighbour was cooking for tea !
There's no heat insulation.
You could have your heating blasting away, and it would get nice and warm, but within 30 minutes of it going off, the place was freezing again. Heating bills were astronomical. In winter you would often need a blanket or duvet wrapped around your legs, because you could feel the draught blowing around your feet !
Hardly any of the windows closed properly, no matter how many times the council came out to adjust them.
Several of the walls in the flat were thick with black mould from dampness. Notably the main bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. At first I wiped it off, but it was another losing battle.
I note a previous respondent had the same issue, and the council blamed this on drying washing in the house. I accept this could be a factor, however, due to the kids trashing the garden, it was impossible to dry your washing outside. Clothes poles lasted a week or two at most, and normally made a climbing frame or goalposts for the "lovely" children. More often than not if you used the drying green, you'd find your washing either lying in the mud, or just gone altogether.
The flat was also infested with a variety of insects. There was evidence of woodworm, also tiny little "spider beetles" were absolutely everywhere. Also in evidence in the house were silverfish, and significantly larger beetles.
So, on balance, while everyone has a point about the "scum", and there is an element that by dispersing them, the council is treating the symptoms, and not the disease, the flats have to go.
They're typical of the flats built at that time, built on the cheap, and with poor planning.
They've served their purpose, and are not fit for it any more.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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whatajoke
Unregistered User
Aug 23, 16:15
Report commentI was given a flat in fraser avenue because my landlord decided to sell the house i lived in. I really didnt want to take it but i needed somewhere for myself and 2 children to live, I have found that most of the people where i live are good honest people just trying to surviveFraser avenue has a bad rep because people on things like this spend all day talking rubbish my flat is too small, damp and so awful but u know we make do. I hope they get demolished then maybe people would stop thinking they are better than the people forced to live here.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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