BURNTISLAND COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 2016 - 2021 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 2 OUR COMMUNITY NOW 5 OUR COMMUNITY NOW LIKES 6 OUR COMMUNITY NOW DISLIKES 7 OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF BURNTISLAND 8 MAIN STRATEGIES AND PRIORITIES 11 ACTION 16 MAKING IT HAPPEN BURNTISLAND COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN INTRODUCTION This Community Action Plan summarises community views & information about: • Burntisland – our community now • Our Vision for the future of Burntisland • Main strategies & priorities - the issues that matter most to the community • Our plan for priority projects and actions The plan is our guide for what we - as a community – will try to make happen over the next 5 years. BURNTISLAND COMMUNITY FUTURES STEERING GROUP The preparation of the Community Action Plan has been guided by a local steering group which brings together representatives of the Burntisland Community Council, local community groups, businesses and interested local residents. LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY The Community Action Plan has been compiled on the basis of the responses gathered through extensive community engagement carried out over a four month period from June – September 2015. The process involved: • a community views survey, delivered to a representative sample of 1,000 households and also available on-line and in community venues • stakeholder interviews and meetings with different groups and individuals representing all aspects of the community • a visitor survey carried out face to face with visitors to Burntisland • preparing a community profile detailing facts 545 COMMUNITY VIEWS SURVEY and figures about the community FORMS WERE RETURNED • a Community Futures Event held on 26 29 STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WERE HELD September 2015 INVOLVING OVER 70 PEOPLE 229 VISITOR SURVEYS WERE COMPLETED AROUND 320 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY FUTURES EVENT THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART – IT’S A REALLY GREAT RESPONSE AND GIVES WEIGHT TO THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 1 OUR COMMUNITY NOW Street. The town centre benefitted from a Town Centre We have summarised below some of the main Heritage initiative some years ago which provided facts and figures from the Community Profile - a partial grants for shop front renewal, signage, and report produced by the Steering Group to give a street furniture. As with many small town High Streets, picture of Burntisland as it is now. there are a number of empty properties and gap sites. Burntisland has been a popular destination for day trippers and visitors since Victorian times. The summer BURNTISLAND COMMUNITY fairground and “market day” are a longstanding PROFILE SUMMARY tradition on the Burntisland Links over the summer LOCATION months. However, there has been a drop in visitors Burntisland is a small seaside town located on the Firth over the last 30 years, and a corresponding decline in of Forth, in mid-Fife, 6 miles west of Kirkcaldy between the hospitality sector. Aberdour and Kinghorn. From Burntisland there are stunning views across the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh, With good rail and road connections and affordable and down to the Forth road and rail bridges. house prices, Burntisland is increasingly popular as a base for commuting to Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh and POPULATION Glasgow. The population of Burntisland is around 6,600 and has grown significantly over the last 15 years. The latest figures available for 2013 show a population growth of 16.74% since 2001, compared to a growth of 5% for Fife over the same period, and 4.6% for Scotland up till 2011. The greatest growth has been in the population of children, and the over 60 age groups. HOUSING There are around 3200 households in Burntisland, compared to just over 2500 in 2001. This growth has largely been due to new build, particularly on the site of the Alcan Aluminium factory, which has brought many families to the town. There is further housing development planned on several sites in the town including the old primary school. LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT Burntisland has an industrial heritage which includes shipbuilding from 1918 to 1969, the Grange distillery - that started as a brewery in 1767 and was still used as a warehouse until 1987, the shale oilworks at Binnend, the vitriol works and the limekiln at Lammerlaws. The British Alcan plant (previously British Aluminium) closed in 2002 after 85 years of operation in Burntisland. Present day industrial businesses include: • BiFAB - Burntisland Fabrications Ltd which produces fabrications for the oil and gas industries • Briggs Marine – marine and environmental services • Scott Pallets – timber pallet manufacturing Burntisland has a good selection of independent shops, cafes, fast food outlets and pubs on the High 2 PRE-SCHOOL & CHILDCARE • Burntisland Playgroup, Parent and Toddler groups at the Young Hall and the Erskine church, private day care nursery and several childminders. • Burntisland Primary School has places for 30 under 3’s and 160 children aged 3 - 4. • Burntisland Out of School Care (BOSS) operates daily from the Toll Centre and during school holidays. Attendance has grown in 3 years from around 28 children to over 40. PRIMARY EDUCATION The new Burntisland Primary School was built in 2014 and has a current roll of 530. This has increased by around 100 children in the last 10 years. SECONDARY EDUCATION Most children go on to Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy. HEALTH & CARE The Masterton Health Centre is home to two medical practices providing comprehensive health services. There is one small pharmacy in the town. Nearest hospital & emergency services are at Kirkcaldy – Victoria Hospital. Care and housing for the elderly includes: • Links View Care Home • Allan Court sheltered housing • St Andrews Court sheltered housing COMMUNITY FACILITIES & ORGANISATIONS Several of the community facilities in Burntisland are in the Common Good; • The Young Community Hall • The Burgh Chambers • The Unity Hall Other community facilities include Church Halls and The Toll Centre. The Toll Centre was built in the 1970s as a youth and recreation facility, and is run by a voluntary community management committee. There are many community organisations in Burntisland. A list can be found on the website www.burntisland.net 3 In 1601 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met in Burntisland Parish Church in the presence of King James VI. The King proposed - and the Assembly agreed - that a new translation of the Bible was required. This led to the King James Bible which had a transforming effect on the world. Burntisland Heritage Trust aims to protect and promote all aspects of Burntisland’s heritage. The Trust volunteers run the Heritage Centre, summer exhibitions, heritage walks, various projects and www.burntisland.net Scotland’s only Museum of Communication is in CHURCHES Burntisland. There is also a small heritage exhibition in • Burntisland Parish Church the library. • St Serf’s Scottish Episcopal Church • Erskine United Free Church • St Josephs Catholic Church • Salvation Army Church All the Churches play an important part in supporting the community, and work collectively under the banner of Churches Together. SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES INCLUDE: • The Links & beach area • The Beacon Centre (swimming pool and leisure centre) • Golf course • Bowling green • Skateboard park • Multi Use Games Area • Astroturf pitches • Toll Park grass football pitches • Play areas ENVIRONMENT • The Firth of Forth is a SSSI (site of special scientific interest) and Ramsar site • The Binn, Dunearn Hill Wood and Stenhouse Reservoir are all designated wildlife sites • Fife Coastal Path extends from the Forth to the Tay – a distance of 117 miles. Burntisland benefits from access to the Coastal Path between Aberdour and Kinghorn. FAB (Floral Action Burntisland) was formed in 2012, with the aim of “making Burntisland fabulous by caring for and improving the local environment”. FAB achieved a Silver Gilt award in Beautiful Fife 2015. HERITAGE The Royal Burgh of Burntisland was granted its first royal charter by King James V in 1541. The Links were gifted to the townspeople by King James V. Over the years they have served for the drying of fishing nets and clothes, the grazing of livestock, and recreation. They were used for golf from 1668, and were the home of Burntisland Golf Club (founded in 1797, the 11th oldest in Scotland, now playing at Dodhead). 4 OUR COMMUNITY NOW LIKES COMMUNITY VIEWS SURVEY 545 responses were made by local residents in our Community Views Survey. Here is what people said they like about the community now ...and what they were not so keen on! LIKES % of responses Scenery and access to coast and 61% countryside Community spirit 53% Location and accessibility 29% High street and amenities 24% Sport and leisure facilities 23% Character of town 22% Public services and facilities 16% Environmental enhancements 8% WHAT PEOPLE SAID: “Best of both worlds – sea and countryside with beautiful views across the Forth” “Walking up the Binn Hill is one of our favourite things to do as a family” “The Links is attractive in the winter, spring and autumn” “Good outdoor facilities for fun and exercise, such “Feel part of ‘a community’ and opportunities to meet as play parks, skate parks, all weather pitch and a people through social, community activities” swimming pool” “Has a friendly community, events during the summer “We do have an excellent golf club and an excellent fireworks display on bonfire night” which is well patronised” “The town’s location is ideal for road and rail links to “I like the library which offers internet access and the east and west of the country” assistants are very helpful” “Transport links within Fife are good, especially the “It’s historical and everyone seems proud of that” main line train services.” “I love our health centre and dental practice” “The independent shops on the high street – great mix – and it’s rare to get a high street like this nowadays” “.. the school has been a great institution for my children and has given them a good grounding” “You can buy a lot of things in the high street and it really feels that local people like to use and develop “Floral displays are beautiful and areas that have been local amenities.” beautified e.g.