Summit to tackle Dunfermline's 'big issues'
Published 15 Jun 2012 08:39
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Councillor Rumney with members of Fife Council's street-cleaning team in Dunfermline's High Street.
DRUGS, underage drinking, dog-fouling, roads and pavements - these are the "big issues" facing Dunfermline's communities, says the new chair of the City of Dunfermline area committee.
And Councillor Mike Rumney is already planning a 'Dunfermline Town Centre Summit' where local groups, businesses and schools can come together to share concerns and ideas for tackling the problems.
Councillor Rumney laid out his concerns for Dunfermline and hopes "working in partnership" with the community will help rejuvenate the city.
He said, "We have anti-social behaviour where teenagers have managed to gain access to alcohol for quite a while.
It was quite a serious problem in Duloch but those problems move about all areas.
"On occasion they do congregate with up to 100-150 people - we saw something like that recently in Lochore Meadows.
"It's not confined to young people from Dunfermline, they come from around West Fife and it seems to be the thing with youngsters nowadays."
He also wants the community to help rid the area of the "scourge of drugs".
He said, "I'm aware the police are having success in tackling the problem.
"One of the benefits we've seen in recent months is the use of community engagement meetings where priorities are being set by communities and in Abbeyview, Pitreavie and Pitcorthie it's been a great success.
"We have had drug dealers in council properties with arriving at all times of day and night, openly dealing in drugs. It happens all over, it's a national and widespread problem."
Another item on the agenda is dog fouling and Councillor Rumney said, "Dog-fouling happens in every community. Hopefully with the new dog warden dedicated to the Dunfermline area we can tackle that problem."
The City of Dunfermline area committee has approved £28,000 for a Dunfermline dog warden's post.
Other improvements include the roads and new businesses.
He explained, "In Pitcorthie the only shop in the area is in Aberdour Road.
"It does surprise me that there's not a shop in that whole estate - I think there's an opportunity there for somebody.
"The wider issue in the area is the problem of roads and pavements - the local roads maintenance programme is something that we will have to look at as a matter of urgency."
He is planning the 'Dunfermline Town Centre Summit' for August and by working with local organisations and individuals, "hopefully we can come up with a masterplan".
He said, "Dunfermline could be a lot better than it is - we've just got to go by the amount of letters to the local press about the state of the High Street, pedestrianised zone and shop fronts.
"We had the 'Eco City Project (in 2010) that's still on the shelf - that could the starting point.
"One of the main priorities of this administration is to take people along with us.
"We want to bring decisions down to a lower level than just a committee in Glenrothes."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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vinoboy35
70 posts
Jun 15, 23:58
Report commentSurely if a shop was viable in an estate like Putcorthie somebody would have opened one ?
This statement sorry to say is a like something out of Little Britain .
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hidinidentity
10 posts
Jun 20, 14:08
Report commentseriously did none of yous not drink when you were underage
you cannot stop kids from drinkin yeah u can take theyr drink n pour it out end o the day they can easily get more drink and move away find some where else to drink.
never mind concentrating on kids drinkin concentrate on the top priorities
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