Markinch Matters
COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS
Chairpersons Blog Welcome to the latest edition of Markinch Matters. You will note we have SCOTTISH CHARITY NO: SC45810 had a bit of a makeover and hope you like the new design. Let us know
what you think. I am delighted to announce that Markinch Community Council now has charitable status. We have always struggled to secure November 2015 funding for projects and this status now provides us with access to a Pages 1 and 2 variety of grant schemes. In this and future editions we will give you the latest news on current and forthcoming projects and are always keen to Community Council News hear any ideas or suggestions residents may have on how Markinch can be Find out about the work of the enhanced and improved. Community Council and important Finally, with Christmas just around the corner we would like to wish you all issues affecting Markinch. a very Merry Christmas and good health, happiness and prosperity in 2016. Page 3 Angela High .
Community Safety
Meet our Local Community Police
NADFLY Safer Routes Project Gets Green Light Team and find out about the latest A new project designed to introduce a number of traffic calming measures,
Police Scotland initiatives in our improve road safety and increase awareness of safe and enjoyable ways to area.
walk and cycle around Markinch has recently received grant funding. The
Local News project involves a collaboration between Markinch Community Council, Fife
Find out what’s happening in and Council, Markinch School, Sustrans (sustrans.org.uk) and award winning around Markinch and we show our public art company NADFLY (nadfly.net). appreciation for some extra special Th e project originated through the Living Streets Audit commissioned by Markinch residents on our new Local
Markinch Community Council and completed in 2014. This audit clearly Heroes Bulletin Board. identified a number of road safety issues within the 20 mile an hour zone
and linked to road safety issues identified in the Markinch School Travel Page 4 Plan . Subsequently, several initiatives were implemented around the school
Markinch School with the assistance of Police Scotland, but with limited success. As a result,
the Community Council looked to identify alternative solutions in Read the Head Teachers latest blog and meet the budding artists who collaboration with Fife Council Transportation Services. This resulted in the
created our fantastic new logo forthcoming project and Markinch School children have already been and mascot Marty the involved with NADFLY in the development of an ABC ROUTES map within
Markinch Cockerel. the Markinch 20 mile an hour zone. Over the coming months residents can
expect to see a new pedestrian crossing on the main road at Balbirnie, Where’s Marty? improvements to lighting, gates and paths in John Dixon Park and a staged
Find out how to enter our introduction of the ABC ROUTES art installations across Markinch. Children’s Christmas Competition.
Speeding/Parking Issues in Commercial Street
Markinch Community Council was approached by residents regarding If you would like to comment on this speeding issues in Commercial Street. Traffic monitoring and calming edition or include a local event in the
measures were subsequently introduced and this situation continues to be March 2016 edition, please contact us:
at monitored by Fife Council. Business owners also raised concerns regarding www.markinchcommunitycouncil.org.uk the lack of parking available to customers due to the extent of double
www.facebook.com/ yellow lines on both sides of the street. We subsequently reviewed this with
MarkinchCommunityCouncil Fife Council and it was agreed in September that some of the double yellow
Please note charity events will be included lines could be removed subject to consultation with residents. This
free of charge, but a fee may be chargeable consultation is currently underway. for a business event.
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COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS
Summer in John Dixon Park
Over the summer we opened the Pavilion in John Dixon Park providing refreshments and access to toilets for residents and visitors using the park. Children took part in some art in the park and we asked everyone who visited to complete a short survey so we could understand the facilities residents would like to see in the park. We had a fantastic response with lots of exciting ideas and are now discussing the potential for the introduction of a number of new features and improvements to the park environment with Fife Council. We have also recently funded extensive repairs to the Cage within the park. If you have any ideas or suggestions for John Dixon Park, please get in touch.
Historic Environment Scotland - Balbirnie Historic Scotland recently conducted a consultation on the potential to remove Balbirnie from the Historic
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Markinch Community Council and Markinch Heritage
Group raised a number of concerns with this proposal and as a result Historic Scotland has now confirmed that Balbirnie will remain on the directory with the entry updated to more accurately reflect the interest of the site.
Fife Council will also now commission a proper management plan for Balbirnie as part of the future management of the site.
Markinch Library We recently posted flyers all over Markinch to encourage residents to get involved in the consultation on the th closure of our library. The consultation closed on 6 November 2016 and we await the outcome from Fife Cultural Trust. For more information on the proposals go to: www.fifedirect.org.uk/libreview
MARKINCH COMMUNITY COUNCIL (MCC) is one of over 1000 Community Councils established as the most local
tier of statutory representation in Scotland. We are a non public body, composed of elected volunteers from within the community. Our primary purpose is to ascertain and express your views to the local authority and other public bodies on a wide range of issues which affect the community. Your involvement is therefore
essential and very important to us, so you are always welcome to attend one of our monthly meetings to listen to discussions, raise any concerns you may have and talk directly to Community Council members. If you cannot
make one of our meetings or your issue is urgent, you can contact the Community Council Chairperson through
the ‘Contact Us’ page on our website.
COME ALONG TO ONE OF OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS GET IN TOUCH
We meet at 7.00pm on the first Wednesday of every www.markinchcommunitycouncil.org.uk
month at Banners House Hotel, High Street, Markinch. www.facebook.com/MarkinchCommunityCouncil
MARKINCH GALLERY We are currently redeveloping the Markinch Community Council website and want to establish an online
gallery. Have you taken photographs or produced artwork of Markinch which we could feature? If so, please
get in touch through the ‘Contact Us’ page on our website.
Markinch Medical Practice Markinch Banking Services
The Practice will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period on: The Royal Bank of Scotland Mobile
th th Branch now visits Drummonds Car Park on Friday 25 and Monday 28 December 2015
st th the following days each week: Friday 1 and Monday 4 January 2016
Tuesdays 2.45pm to 3.45pm
Should you require medical assistance whilst the practice is closed, please contact NHS24 (Dial 111). Wednesdays 1.00pm to 1.30pm
Repeat Prescription Requests can be submitted one week in advance Services include cash deposits and nd th of their due date and must be submitted no later than 22 and 29 withdrawals, bill payments and account
December 2015 to ensure these can be fulfilled before the public administration.
holidays. This takes account of the 48 hour waiting time (excluding An ATM Cash Point is available during Saturday and Sunday) for collection of prescriptions at the surgery or 72
opening hours at the Co-operative Store. hours if collecting at a pharmacy.
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COMMUNITY SAFETY
Markinch Local Community Police Team I am delighted to have the opportunity to provide information on some of the initiatives we will be undertaking in and around Markinch and that community
safety will now be a regular feature in Markinch Matters. I am sure many of you already know PC Paul McGlashan and regularly see him walking/cycling around the village. Paul is the permanent Markinch Community Officer and he can be contacted at Glenrothes Police Station. Please phone 101 or contact us online at
www.scotland.police.uk (Fife Division). Remember, in an emergency always dial Sgt Kenny Greig 999; when someone is in danger, a crime is in progress or a suspect is nearby. PC Paul McGlashan
Glenrothes Police have recently launched Operation After We continue our efforts to increase road safety and address
Dark , an initiative which will run until March 2016. Local concerns surrounding driver behaviour, anti social driving
police will be out speaking to residents in the community, and speeding and parking issues outside the school. providing a reassuring presence and supplying helpful Operation Park Safe has seen co-ordinated patrols outside
security information and advice. Other measures will schools to encourage safe parking. Our Road Traffic Action include leaflet distribution, additional road checks and Plan has tackled driver behaviour utilising speed detection
increased high-visibility foot patrols, particularly during the equipment and our ‘Pop Up’ Police Officer affectionately hours of darkness to reassure the public. This initiative known by the team as ‘Pop Up Jim’. This is a specially built
coincides with Police Scotland’s commitment to tackle life size model of one of the team pointing a speed detection housebreaking across Scotland, ensuring that resources and gun towards oncoming traffic. This has been deployed on
support are in place, providing extra resilience in tracking identified roads in response to local concerns identified at down offenders and bringing them before the courts. I have the Community Council meetings and has gone some way to
outlined some simple measures that everyone can take to provide a visible deterrent to speeding and dangerous help ensure that they and their property stay safe and drivers on our roads. We think the forthcoming NADFLY
secure during the hours of darkness and this information is Safer Routes Project is a fantastic initiative and look forward nowLocal available officers on the Markinch Community Council website. to getting involved.
The After Dark initiative coincides with the police's commitment to
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
LOCAL HEROES BULLETIN BOARD th The Markinch Post Office in Betson Street closed its doors on 8 October and Markinch Post Master, Stevie Wheelan retired. Stevie pictured on his last day, has provided a wonderful service to Markinch residents over the last 30 years.
Markinch Schools Gardening Group delivered lots of delicious vegetables from the School
Allotment to Balbirnie Court residents, the Wednesday Club and Markinch School Nursery.
Bryce Sutherland championed the local campaign to prevent the closure of Markinch Library.
Markinch in Bloom Markinch Heritage Group
Calling all budding Markinch gardeners
and green fingered residents. The first
MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS FAYRE Markinch in Bloom Competition will
be launched in 2016. Categories Saturday, 5th December 2015 include: 1.00pm to 4.00pm (Free Admission) Most Beautiful Markinch Garden
252 Memorial Hall, Betson Street, Markinch Kids Miniature Box Garden
Special Guests - Medieval Methil Look out for Competition details in the
Make your own Christmas Decorations March edition of Markinch Matters. Family Fun Activities & Dressing Up Refreshments & Raffle
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MARKINCH SCHOOL
Head Teachers Blog It was a quick first term for everyone in Markinch Primary and the Nursery School. All of our classes have
been busy getting to know each other and have been working hard to start the year in a really positive way.
Our school roll is the highest it has ever been and we have welcomed lots of new pupils and families to the
school. We hope they are settling well into life in Markinch. This year we are twinned with Star Primary. The Head Teacher from Star retired in August and a joint management arrangement has been set up between the two schools. This will open up a lot of possibilities for pupils from both schools to link together. We will be
continuing to have a big focus on ‘Rights Respecting Schools’ and pupil voice within the school will be one of the main drivers for school improvement. Who better to tell us what is going well and what we could do to
be even better! Over the coming year, we look forward to being involved in community events and sharing our pupil voice at the Markinch Community Council. Katherine Easson
Markinch Community Council Art Competition Thank you to all of the pupils at Markinch School who sent in entries for the Markinch Community Council Logo,
Character and Colouring competitions. The winners were each presented with an Amazon Voucher and a framed copy of their winning entry at the Community Council Open Day on 16th May 2015.
Logo Winner Character Winner Colouring Winner
ADAM LISTER JEANNIE GREGG AILSA OWENS
Ailsa and her family have now moved to
Oban and we have
made sure she has
received a copy of
this Newsletter. When I think of Markinch, I think of I have red and white chickens and a
the church. I wanted my design to cockerel is the Markinch symbol.
show this and really stand out. I That’s how I got my inspiration for
like drawing and enjoy illustrating Marty. I think he could get up to lots
stories and designing comic strips. I of mischief and I would like to see
have really enjoyed my time at him used across Markinch and in
Markinch School. Miss Thomson the school to highlight important
has been a great teacher for my information for kids. I’m looking
final year and has inspired me to forward to P7, I love the old building
become a teacher. and the teachers are great.
CHRISTM AS COMPETITION – WHERE’S MARTY?
We agree that Marty is a mischievous character and in December you will find him hiding in lots
of different places a round Markinch. You can pick up a ‘Where’s Marty?’ Competition Form at
st Markinch School from 1 December or by downloading the form from our website
(www.markinchcommunitycouncil.org.uk ). Simply list as many places you see Marty on the form
th and make sure you post your entry by 16 December in one of our ‘Where’s Marty?’ Competition
Boxes. You will find more information about the competition on the form, including the location
of each of the boxes. Each entry which correctly identifies all of Marty’s’ hiding places will go
into our ‘Where’s Marty?’ Competition Sack. We have asked Miss Easson to pull out one lucky
winner from the sack. The winner will be able to select a gift to the value of £25 from the
fantastic BRIGHT MINDS Catalogue (www.brightminds.co.uk).
GOOD LUCK & MERRY CHRISTMAS
© is produced by Markinch Community Council (MCC) and our thanks go to RWE who kindly printed this edition. Markinch Matters
MCC Logo designed by: Adam Lister Marty the Markinch Cockerel designed by: Jeannie Gregg Logo/Marty Graphic reproduction: Eilidh Atkins
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