Church to be fenced off after drugs find
Siew Peng Lee • Published 27 Sep 2012 09:00
6 Comments
THE new owners of a derelict Dunfermline church where a "complete drug kit" was found recently will take measures to help cut down on anti-social behaviour.
Last week, the Press reported how a local dance teacher had been horrified to discover needles, drugs, swabs and even spoons on the steps of the church while carrying out a clean-up of the site.
She called for action for the church to be cleaned up and better lighting and CCTV to be installed to deter anti-social behaviour and drug users from the area.
The church is owned by the Yes U Are Partnership, a Dunfermline-based, multi-denominational Christian group, which intends to turn the building into a wedding and conference venue and community hub.
This week, development manager John Macdonald told the Press, "Fencing was meant to have been put up two months ago but there were delays on the contracting side.
"It will be up by next weekend and go right round the front and area behind the statue.
"We have appointed a volunteer from the community to clear the place up and I completely sympathise with the dance studio because they've had to deal with it.
"It won't be a problem once the fencing goes up."
In June, the Press revealed that Yes U Are were planning a complete revamp of the church, parts of which date back to 1798.
Over the next three years, Yes U Are intend to create a space for community arts, exhibitions and business. The new venue will have a capacity of 800 as well as a community bistro.
The entire project is expected to be completed by October 2015 and the first step of refurbishment, repairing and making the roof watertight, got under way on Sunday.
Mr Macdonald added, "Making good the roof is the first essential step to enable the renovation and development of the church to proceed.
"Nothing can be done till we can dry out the many damp areas which have developed over the years the church has lain empty and the structure neglected.
"We are finalising plans with our architects and are looking forward to having a presentation of our vision for the building in the course of the next few months.
"We believe that vision will inspire the public and potential funders alike and that three years from now we will be opening our doors to welcome in the people of Dunfermline to what we are sure will quickly become a vibrant community hub at the heart of the town."
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 25 Sep 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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HughJeego
48 posts
Sep 27, 12:58
Report commentYou don't appoint a volunteer.
Volunteers volunteer.
Recommend?
Yes 4
No 6
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itsonlyagame
19 posts
Sep 27, 15:45
Report commentI will be good to see the building getting used again. if you are going to fence off areas that druggies use Dunfermline would need at lot of fencing. Probable enough to reopen British Steel.
Recommend? Yes 7
No 4
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ChuckD
65 posts
Sep 27, 21:04
Report commentAnother great building which needs to be brought back to life
Recommend? Yes 9
No 1
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char
136 posts
Sep 27, 21:42
Report commentGreat to see it being reused, shame it'll take that long though.
Something needs to be done about these drug users. It's the same in Edinburgh. Group of them hang out at the RBS on the High Street. Always going down the closes to take drugs. You wouldn't imagine this would go on in the heart of Edinburgh's tourist area! Even worse if you go down to the Kirkgate in Leith.
Surely it would make more sense to house drug users in hostels AWAY from temptation rather than in town/city centres where it's easily found?
Recommend? Yes 6
No 0
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stormxxx
170 posts
Sep 28, 03:15
Report commentChar, do u know where the 'local hostel' is in town? This fencing may be a good idea but the offenders may well just join the rest at the entrances to The Kingsgate! This is getting really bad now and i know i am not alone in saying this. We have Big Issue sellers at two entrances most days but when it comes to the others asking for cigarettes or bus fare to wherever then well this just goes beyond a joke!! These people are so intimidating and i have to say that i lie to them and say that no, i cannot give or sell them a 'fag' and i am not in the habit of telling lies. Last week when i was in town there was almost an outright fight between one guy selling the B. I. with his partner and some guy sat INFRONT of one of the main entrance doors at The Kingsgate drinkin whatever he was drinking, could hardly walk or talk, had staples in his head! Who can we turn to in these circumstances? The police? well, a couple of them were walking around the area that day so...Kingsgate security? why don't those guys an gals move them on or talk to the police? Maybe they do but as far as i can tell..nothing is changing! This must be so frightning for children, elderly people and anyone in general to be honest. Not a nice place to go shopping at all anymore and i have only noticed this in the last two or three months. Nip in the bud now..someone please!!!
Recommend? Yes 15
No 1
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maclam
333 posts
Sep 29, 22:52
Report commentzero tolerance ? i think not , but we can all live in hope.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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