COMMUNITIES are being asked to seek outside funding to help maintain green areas that the council does not have the money for. 

South Dunfermline Community Council told the Press they had been advised to apply for funding after years of fighting for landscaping maintenance at roundabouts at Pitreavie Business Park and the King Malcolm Hotel, stating they are a mess. 

Chairman Alasdair Kay said that Dunfermline was not getting a fair deal after the Press revealed last month that Kirkcaldy receives £400,000 more for its parks, streets and open spaces. 

Although Councillor Ross Vettraino explained at the time that “every part of Fife gets the funding it needs”, Mr Kay said the council only needed to look around Pitcorthie to see that is not right. 

The community council met Cllr Vettraino recently and he revealed that Kirkcaldy had 80 staff members working on maintenance while Dunfermline had 55 – a 30 per cent difference. 

“I think that is why we are seeing the mess that we are,” Mr Kay said.

“We have been promised for the last three or four years that something will be done at the roundabout at the King Malcolm but nothing’s happened. 

“It’s the gateway to Dunfermline. 

“If we look at Glenrothes in comparison to Dunfermline, it’s like chalk and cheese and we’re not the only area that’s complaining. 

“Councillors have told us that they are now receiving more complaints about landscaping than even the state of the roads, now that’s telling.”

Volunteers from the community council have been tidying up different areas but say the King Malcolm roundabout is beyond them. 

Last year, four volunteers cleared the roundabout at Nationwide, filling 51 bags of weeds. 

Mr Kay added: “We just would like to see the area like it used to be, especially when council tax has risen.”

However, Cllr Vettraino said with a limited budget, the council could not do everything in the same way or level as it had done before.

The convener of the environment, protective services and community safety committee said: “The needs of different parts of Fife in terms of roads, property or grounds maintenance depend on the size of the area and the assets to be maintained. The geographic area covered by the City of Dunfermline area committee is 37.3km2, whereas the Kirkcaldy area covers more than twice that at 80.4km2. 

“The council is committed to building a fairer Fife full of thriving places and opportunity and people must stop trying to play communities off against one another.

“For a number of years, we have been talking about the need to make difficult choices about how the budget is spent and the pressures that a changing society are placing on services such as home care and support for children and families.

"I think everyone would agree that a proper balance needs to be struck between the needs of vulnerable people and services like grounds maintenance.

“Of course, we all want our towns and countryside to be attractive places and the council therefore allocates an appropriate amount of funding to each area of Fife to be used to best effect. 

“I applaud the efforts of the many individuals and community groups who take pride in their own area and play their part in making their towns and villages welcoming places. The council is also increasingly looking at different funding models and partnerships to help deliver improvements in our communities.

“Area budgets, services and local priorities are, however, continually monitored. I have met with members of South Dunfermline Community Council and am in communication with the Chairman, who I will keep up to date.”