Published: Tuesday, 23rd September, 2008 09:55
Oor Wullie
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Dunfermline and West Fife MP Willie Rennie has just completed his third annual summer tour around his constituency. Here’s a flavour of what he encountered…
On Saturday outside Asda in Halbeath a crafty wasp crawled under my collar to give me the benefit of its defence mechanism.
Until then I had managed to avoid these grumpy pests during my week-long, 55-stop, summer tour.
The tour is my annual whistle stop journey around the High Streets, villages, communities, schools and industrial estates of West Fife.
From a three-minute-four-letter-word-filled diatribe from a disapproving gentleman in Oakley to the warm welcome at Transy Post Office it’s a blast of life in the raw.
From the extensive range of issues brought to my attention here's a taster of some. . .
With the introduction of higher charges for home care and an ongoing debate about the arrangements for Supporting People Charges, I included sheltered accommodation complexes in this year’s tour.
The debate about means testing is an age old debate that is still running.
Most people won’t be affected by the increase in home care charges but it’s important that the level of charging for those who are being asked to contribute is fair and based on the ability to pay and I am determined to make sure that this is the case.
From anti-speed bumpers in Limekilns to objectors to charging for parking.
From Rosyth residents who feel earth shocks in their house to Torryburn parents who need a pedestrian crossing at the school.
And from neighbours of the Inverkeithing railway station desperate for a parking permit scheme to Kingseat pensioners wishing a new bus stop.
Whatever the local factor, transport is an issue that is a common concern to thousands of people.
Once the new Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine is opened the Kincardine Bridge will close for renovation.
The traffic heading to and from Dunfermline will be trundling through the streets of the village, again, which will have a significant effect on their quality of life.
Residents of Carnock, Oakley, Comrie and Blairhall are also concerned that some of the traffic might head their way to avoid the congestion.
I have urged Transport Scotland to manage this so that chaos does not ensue.
The new Kingsgate shopping centre is buzzing – in fact it’s as busy as I can remember.
On my two stops at the centre at the beginning and the end of the tour the feedback was, in the main, glowing.
I saw many new residents who have moved to the east of Dunfermline enjoying the experience – long may that continue.
It’s depressing to receive so many requests from homeless people for a house.
They are desperate and many have been forced to wait for far too long.
With the Kincardine flats about to come down, Abbeyview being regenerated and part of Fraser Avenue decanted because of asbestos there is extra pressure being faced in West Fife.
Some people are living in conditions that I think are unacceptable.
We need to build more social housing – and quickly.
The staggering increase in fuel bills was raised with me throughout the constituency.
I and my Lib Dem colleagues want the energy companies to stump up to protect the most vulnerable by using the £9bn worth of free permits they received from the Government.
My summer tour is an opportunity to engage with constituents outside the pressure of an election campaign.
I met around 5000 people and have taken up around 200 items of casework.
Seventy hours on the road in six days is exhausting but I believe that this is what politics is about and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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'Too sexy' shop finally opens in Dunfermline