Former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dunfermline
13/04/2012
Tourism in Dunfermline and West Fife looks set to enjoy a boost, thanks to a Fife-wide series of visitor guides and a new branding strategy — initiatives welcomed by local MSP Bill Walker.
The colourful, up-to-date 32-page guides highlight Fife’s many attractions and include maps setting out sections of the Fife Coastal Path. They are free to pick up at visitor attractions, transport hubs and in tourist accommodation. Read more of this post
12/04/2012
That the Parliament commends what it considers to be the hard work and dedication of the Valleyfield Heritage Group in West Fife; understands that the group consists of local volunteers whose stated aim is to preserve the Valleyfield woodland and return the area to its former glory; congratulates the group on the success of its recent clean-up, in which volunteers of different ages removed rubbish and undergrowth, and hopes that the enthusiasm and energy of the volunteers will encourage more villagers and young people to take interest in the woodland and preserve it for their own children and grandchildren and also for visitors to the area.
Supported by: Alison Johnstone, Dave Thompson, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Richard Lyle
Date Lodged: 11/04/2012
12/04/2012
Schoolchildren from Dunfermline are the latest to benefit from Big Lottery grants, aimed at encouraging involvement in sports.
Five primary schools and Dunfermline Athletic Girls Football Club received awards totalling £7,758. Four of the schools — Blairhall, Wellwood, Milesmark and Pittencrieff — will use their funding for Olympics-themed sports, while Cairneyhill Primary School aims to provide a wide range of sporting opportunities for all pupils, including those with significant additional support needs. Read more of this post
11/04/2012
That the Parliament congratulates David Austin, owner of the Dunfermline café-deli, Reuben’s, on brewing what it understands to be the town’s first beer in over 200 years; understands that Mr Austin has named the beer, de Brus, after the Bruce clan, and that it has been given the “thumbs up” from Lord Elgin; notes that it is a traditional Scottish beer with a nod to the past brewing history of Dunfermline; considers that innovation is important for small businesses, particularly in what it believes are difficult economic times, and wishes Mr Austin every success with his efforts to have de Brus adopted as Dunfermline’s local beer.
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, Mike MacKenzie, Richard Lyle, Colin Beattie
Date Lodged: 30/03/2012
10/04/2012
On Saturday, 7th April 2012, following a Hearing with the Disciplinary Committee, I was expelled from the Scottish National Party (SNP).
The Committee upheld the Complaint from the Party’s National Secretary that I had withheld from the Party information about unproven allegations concerning my former marriages when applying to become an approved Parliamentary Candidate for the 2011 Scottish Elections. I deny that such was the case and still maintain that I completed the relevant application form in a full and proper manner.
At no time during the vetting, selection and confirmation processes was I ever asked about my declared previous divorce proceedings and related matters. Read more of this post
05/04/2012
The second bow section for the aircraft carriers being assembled at Rosyth Dockyard has arrived, excellent news for the many people in Dunfermline employed at the Dockyard. Read more of this post
05/04/2012
The Scottish Government’s target of producing all of Scotland’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020 is ambitious but it can be met — and for the sake of future generations, I believe it must be. Read more of this post
05/04/2012
Despite claiming the lives of two men every day in Scotland, prostate cancer — the most common cancer among men — receives less media attention and funding than many other major cancers. Read more of this post
02/04/2012
With council candidate nominations now closed, West Fife and Coastal Villages councillor, Bill Walker, has wished the best of luck to two candidates hoping to replace him in Fife Council in May. Read more of this post
30/03/2012
Dunfermline once again has its own beer, after more than a century — thanks to David Austin of popular New Row deli-café, Reuben’s.
The ‘de Brus’ blonde ale is named after the Bruce clan and already has the seal of approval from the current Clan Chief, Lord Elgin. Read more of this post
27/03/2012
Dunfermline Delivers is inviting suggestions for local heritage plaques to bring the history of Dunfermline up to date. Read more of this post
26/03/2012
Bill Walker: To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are in place to encourage the implementation of run-of-river hydroelectric schemes in West Fife and the rest of the country.
Date Lodged: 26/03/2012 Read more of this post
26/03/2012
That the Parliament congratulates the West Fife Multi-Cultural Group on receiving grants of over £25,000 from LEADER, Awards for All and Fife Council; understands that the group will use this funding for classes in glass-fusion jewellery-making; considers that local voluntary groups provide a valuable service by bringing communities together; encourages other community groups to be aware of possible funding options available for voluntary projects, and wishes the West Fife Multi-Cultural Group well with its project.
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, Margaret Burgess, Dennis Robertson, Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Gil Paterson, Colin Beattie
Date Lodged: 26/03/2012
23/03/2012
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has welcomed the progress of his parliamentary colleague Mark McDonald‘s efforts to legislate for high hedges. Read more of this post
23/03/2012
That the Parliament welcomes the arrival of the second bow section for the aircraft carriers being assembled at Rosyth Dockyard; believes that the dockyard is uniquely placed to undertake projects of this complexity and scale, due to having both the largest dry dock in the UK and a workforce with first-class experience and skills; understands that, as a result of this, Rosyth will undertake not only the current assembly of the carriers, but their future servicing and refitting, and welcomes the skilled jobs that it believes this project will create and maintain in west Fife for decades to come.
Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie
Date Lodged: 22/03/2012
20/03/2012
MSP Bill Walker has referred to a question about Rosyth Dockyard, raised by Labour MP Thomas Docherty to the UK Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, as “scaremongering at its absolute worst”. Read more of this post
20/03/2012
That the Parliament welcomes the construction of four social housing homes by Beattie Passive in Inchkeith Drive, Dunfermline; understands that Beattie Passive Build System Limited is a patented build system that uses traditional, readily available construction materials in an energy efficient way to build properties of Passivhaus certified standards, which it is understood require 90% less heating and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 100%; further understands that Beattie Passive has proved successful in the private residential market and that the build system could be used for schools, nursing homes and factories; considers that, in recent years, high fuel costs have combined with a shortage in affordable, energy-efficient social housing to trap many households in fuel poverty; considers that this style of construction could potentially eliminate fuel poverty; welcomes the fact that the build system will be manufactured and erected by young local trainees from the Fife Skills Development Centre in Kirkcaldy, and believes that the simplicity of this build system will help make more jobs available to young people throughout Scotland.
Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Richard Lyle, Maureen Watt, Kevin Stewart, Gil Paterson, Mike MacKenzie, Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan
Date Lodged: 20/03/2012
20/03/2012
MSP Bill Walker has called on Dunfermline people affected by prostate cancer to provide feedback on a draft set of standards for quality prostate cancer care. Read more of this post
19/03/2012
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has responded to a Labour Fife councillor’s criticisms of the Victoria Hospital by pointing out that the decision to shift services from Dunfermline’s Queen Margaret Hospital to Kirkcaldy was made by Labour. Read more of this post
16/03/2012
That the Parliament congratulates the Abbeyview Project in Dunfermline, which it understands provides a successful training, advice and support service; notes that it aims to help local unemployed people, especially young people, into work; understands that the scheme offers a variety of support, including assistance with application forms and CVs, advice about interview skills and dress codes, and also supplies stationery, newspapers, stamps and internet access; congratulates the project, which, since launching in January 2012, has already helped several people into employment, including an apprenticeship for a 16-year-old girl; commends the centre manager, Jackie Walls, for what it sees as her hard work and dedication in launching and running the project, and considers that the Abbeyview Project is a valuable service to the community.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, Kenneth Gibson, Kevin Stewart, Colin Beattie, Margaret Burgess, Gil Paterson, Sandra White
Date Lodged: 16/03/2012
15/03/2012
Casualties on Fife roads are at a record low, with fatalities having already dropped to the Scottish Government’s target for 2020 and serious injuries falling to the 2015 target. Read more of this post
15/03/2012
I was pleased to speak recently in a Chamber Debate about the living wage. Supply and demand can drive progress, but there must be a manageable system based on human values — a decent living wage as part of the regulated limit below which no one should fall. Read more of this post
15/03/2012
Another community group, this time in the West Fife Villages, is providing a valuable service and is currently seeking volunteers and fund-raisers.
The Saline First Responders cover Saline, Blairhall, Comrie, Oakley, Carnock, Gowkhall, Steelend and outlying farms, delivering emergency medical assistance while ambulance crews make their way to patients. Read more of this post
15/03/2012
Dunfermline and West Fife Local Tourist Association are progressing with an innovative idea that they say could boost the Fife economy by £1.1 to £2.25 million p.a.. Read more of this post
14/03/2012
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Bill Walker 