S4M-03121: Forth Bridge World Heritage Site Status Bid

31/05/2012

That the Parliament notes that the Forth Bridge has been selected as the first of only two UK sites to be submitted for UNESCO World Heritage Site status after the iconic bridge topped the recent UK tentative list of 11 proposed sites; considers that the Forth Bridge is recognised around the world as an emblem of Scotland and of pioneering Scottish engineering and thus richly deserves World Heritage Site status; notes that the Forth Bridge was designed and built generations before the advent of computer-aided design and manufacturing; believes that World Heritage Site status would be a tribute to everyone who has worked on the Forth Bridge over its 130-year history, particularly to the 73 men who died building it, and eagerly anticipates the announcement expected in 2015 as to whether World Heritage Site status will be granted.

Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Kevin Stewart, Fiona McLeod, Liz Smith, Richard Lyle, David Torrance, John Mason, Stuart McMillan

Date Lodged: 30/05/2012

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S4M-03090: Big Lottery Funding for Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline

30/05/2012

That the Parliament congratulates Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline on receiving a grant of £5,940 from the Big Lottery Fund to develop its extracurricular sports programme; understands that the school will use this award to purchase and install rugby posts, basketball stands and basketball markings; considers after-school programmes to be of great benefit to pupils and parents; believes that young people should be encouraged wherever possible to take part in healthy exercise, and encourages local groups and organisations to be aware of funding, such as Big Lottery grants, that might be available to them for their community projects.

Supported by: Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Kevin Stewart, Margaret Burgess

Date Lodged: 29/05/2012

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S4M-02988.1: Celebrating Fife’s Outdoor Education Centre

30/05/2012

As an amendment to motion S4M-02988 in the name of John Park (Celebrating Fife’s Outdoor Education Centre), insert at end “praises the way in which Fife Council recently worked constructively in partnership with the Ardroy Ambassadors group to secure Ardroy’s future in spite of what it considers the neglect of the centre over decades by previous Labour administrations, and considers that this neglect necessitated the previous SNP-led administration to seek alternative ways of delivering the desired outcome without allowing the renewal campaign to become a burden on the public purse.”

Supported by: Richard Lyle, Kevin Stewart, Kenneth Gibson

Date Lodged: 26/05/2012

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World Heritage Status Bid for Forth Bridge

29/05/2012

The Forth (Rail) Bridge is the first of only two UK sites being submitted for UNESCO World Heritage status, after the iconic Bridge topped the Tentative List of 11 UK nominations, followed by the Gorham’s Cave Complex in Gibraltar.

MSP Bill Walker, whose Dunfermline constituency is just a short distance from the Bridge, said he was hopeful it would be recognised by UNESCO. Read more of this post

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Queen Anne High School £6,000 Sports Funding

28/05/2012

Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline has received a grant of nearly £6,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to develop their extra-curricular sports programme, which is open to all pupils. The school will purchase and install rugby posts, basket ball stands and basketball markings. Read more of this post

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Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker Signs ‘Yes Scotland’ Independence Declaration

28/05/2012

The cross-party, Scotland-wide Independence campaign has officially launched — and Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has pledged his support by signing the declaration on the new Yes Scotland website.

The declaration, which has already attracted well over 10,000 signatures, begins: “I believe that it is fundamentally better for us all, if decisions about Scotland’s future are taken by the people who care most about Scotland, that is, by the people of Scotland.” Read more of this post

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S4M-03054: Playground Funding for St Leonards Primary School in Dunfermline

28/05/2012

That the Parliament congratulates St Leonards Primary School in Dunfermline on securing a grant of £8,231 from the Big Lottery Fund to redevelop its playground; understands that the grant will be used to purchase artificial grass, pencil weaver posts, an I-spy trail, a bench, a pergola, a music panel and wall games; welcomes such attempts to encourage children to enjoy outdoor activities, and wishes the children many hours of quality playtime in their new and improved playground.

Supported by: Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Kevin Stewart, Colin Beattie

Date Lodged: 25/05/2012

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Progress on Energy-Efficient Housing in Dunfermline

25/05/2012

Local MSP Bill Walker has welcomed the progress of four super-efficient affordable houses being built in Dunfermline’s Inchkeith Drive.

The houses, constructed by Beattie Passive for Fife Housing Association, are said to require 90% less heating and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 100%. Read more of this post

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International Study Programmes

24/05/2012

International Study Programmes (ISP), a well-established training company from Cheltenham,  has made Dunfermline its official Scottish learning centre for training European teachers of English. Read more of this post

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Parliamentary Snooker

24/05/2012

In Parliament, I recently lodged successful motions to recognise the professional impact of two famous locals on the world of snooker.

Dunfermline resident Michaela Tabb has now refereed for her second time at the recent World Snooker Championship final.

Ms Tabb, also known as ‘Lady Ref’, has achieved several ground-breaking milestones in the sport — as the first woman to referee at a professional-ranking snooker tournament, at a world-ranking snooker final and at the World Snooker Championship final itself. Read more of this post

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Council Elections

24/05/2012

Congratulations to all the recently elected Fife Councillors. I look forward to working with them as Dunfermline MSP.

Our councillors have a vital duty towards the people of Fife to provide the best possible standards of service. Their decisions affect all of us, whether our concerns are with housing, roads, social work, recycling, education or the wide range of other services Fife Council provides. Read more of this post

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St Leonards Primary School Awarded Playground Funding

24/05/2012

MSP Bill Walker has welcomed news that a Dunfermline Primary School has received a grant to redevelop its playground.

St Leonards Primary School has secured £8231 from the Big Lottery Fund, through Awards for All. Among other things, the school will buy artificial grass, a pergola, a bench, a music panel and wall games. Read more of this post

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S4M-03015: West Fife Villages Win Big Lottery Floral Funding

24/05/2012

That the Parliament congratulates Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council on receiving a grant of £9,895 from the Big Lottery Fund for a floral displays scheme; understands that the community council hopes to encourage more local people to become involved in community gardening so as to help beautify the villages and enhance civic pride, and believes that such projects enhance the enjoyment that residents take in their environment as well as creating a positive image for visitors.

Supported by:  Dennis Robertson, Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan, Kevin Stewart

Date Lodged: 23/05/2012

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£10,000 Floral Funding to Help Beautify West Fife Villages

23/05/2012

Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council has received a grant of almost £10,000 to run a floral displays scheme. The Council hopes to encourage locals to become involved in community gardening, so as to help beautify the villages and enhance civic pride.

Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker welcomed the news: Read more of this post

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S4M-02975: Launch of the Green Room in Dunfermline

23/05/2012

That the Parliament extends its best wishes to proprietors Neil and Fiona Beattie on the launch of the Green Room restaurant in Dunfermline, which is situated next to the Alhambra Theatre; believes that the new restaurant will enhance Dunfermline by providing another attractive facility for discerning diners and theatre-goers, and recognises that new businesses such as the Green Room play a vital role in stimulating the economy during challenging times.

Supported by: Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie

Date Lodged: 21/05/2012

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S4M-02869: Building Technologies Showcase 2012

14/05/2012

That the Parliament considers the forthcoming Building Technologies Showcase 2012 to be a positive step in promoting energy-efficient and sustainable construction; understands that the event, which is due to be held on 30 May at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Conference Centre, will cover such themes as renewables, the importance of well-insulated and well-ventilated buildings and legislative and regulatory changes, and hopes that the hosts, Fife Construction Forum and Edinburgh Napier University’s Low Carbon Building Technologies Gateway, build on the success of the first showcase, which was held last year.

Supported by: Richard Lyle, Kevin Stewart, Kenneth Gibson, Fiona McLeod, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Dave Thompson

Date Lodged: 11/05/2012

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Black Watch Identity Must Not Be Compromised

11/05/2012

Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has voiced support for an MP’s calls for Westminster to debate the future of Scotland’s regiments, following reports that the names of the Black Watch and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders are to be merged.

Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP, Pete Wishart, has demanded the UK Government abandons any plans that would further compromise the identity of the battalions, which he says would be a bid to mask cuts to the army. Read more of this post

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Building Technologies Showcase 2012 Comes to Dunfermline

10/05/2012

A showcase event exploring the commercial possibilities of new building technologies takes place on the 30th May at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline. 

Building Technologies Showcase 2012 will be hosted by the Fife Construction Forum and Napier University’s Low Carbon Building Technologies Gateway, who hope to draw on the success of last year’s first-ever Showcase. Read more of this post

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S4M-02815: Samantha Barber Appointed as Iberdrola’s Corporate Social Responsibility Chairman

10/05/2012

That the Parliament congratulates Samantha Barber from Dunfermline on her appointment as chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of Scottish Power’s parent company, Iberdrola; understands that Ms Barber’s previous roles have included director of Business for Scotland and chief executive of Scottish Business in the Community; notes that she serves as an advisory board member for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and sits on the 2020 Group on Climate Change, and wishes Ms Barber success in her new appointment, where, it understands, she will seek to improve social policies and community relations.

Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle, Margaret Burgess, Kevin Stewart, Maureen Watt

Date Lodged: 09/05/2012

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Overseas English Language Teachers Visit Dunfermline

10/05/2012

An acclaimed training organisation for overseas English language teachers has confirmed Dunfermline as their Scottish learning centre.

International Study Programmes (ISP) specialises in courses for English teachers whose first language is not English, as well as holiday language courses and tailor-made educational visits to Britain. Read more of this post

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Dunfermline Woman Appointed Corporate Social Responsibility Chairman

09/05/2012

Samantha Barber, of Dunfermline, has been appointed chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of Scottish Power’s parent company, Iberdrola — which is responsible for improving social policies and community relations.

Ms Barber, who was appointed to Scottish Power’s Advisory Board in 2007, has previously served as a Policy Advisor at the European Parliament in Brussels, as Director of Business for Scotland and as Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community. Read more of this post

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S4M-02805: Michaela Tabb Referees a Second World Snooker Championship Final

09/05/2012

That the Parliament congratulates Dunfermline-based Michaela Tabb on refereeing the World Snooker Championship final for the second time; considers that Ms Tabb has made a significant contribution to the sport as the first woman to referee at a professional-ranking snooker tournament, at a world-ranking snooker final and at the World Snooker Championship final, and wishes Ms Tabb many more successes in her career.

Supported by: Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle, Colin Keir

Date Lodged: 08/05/2012

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S4M-02801: Stephen Hendry Retires from Tournament Snooker

09/05/2012

That the Parliament sends its best wishes to the Fife-raised snooker player Stephen Hendry MBE on his retirement from tournament snooker; recognises Stephen’s achievements as seven-times winner of the World Championship, which he won for the first time as the youngest ever world champion, at the age of 21; recognises that Stephen is the holder of 36 world-ranking titles, which is more than any other player, and wishes him well for the future.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Nanette Milne, Mike MacKenzie, John Mason, Colin Beattie, Colin Keir, Maureen Watt, Stuart McMillan, Richard Lyle

Date Lodged: 08/05/2012

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S4M-02782: Dunfermline Delivers Secures Funding for the Bruce Festival

08/05/2012

That the Parliament welcomes confirmation that Dunfermline Delivers has secured funding from Fife Council and EventScotland for the 2012 Bruce Festival; believes that the festival, which celebrates the history of Dunfermline and Scotland, is an important cultural event that delivers a significant economic boost to local businesses, and wishes Dunfermline Delivers every success in its attempt to achieve the record target of 20,000 visitors to the Bruce Festival 2012.

Supported by: Margaret Burgess, Mike MacKenzie, Richard Lyle, Colin Beattie

Date Lodged: 04/05/2012

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Funding Boost for 2012 Bruce Festival

04/05/2012

A medieval village recreated in Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park will be the busy hub of this year’s Bruce Festival, taking place on the 25th and 26th of August.

The 2012 celebration aims to be the best Bruce Festival to date, after last year’s event drew a record 18,000 visitors to watch jousting and re-enactments, as well as browse arts and crafts and sample the wares of the food village. Read more of this post

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