The Collapse of Scottish Coal

The mothballing of the Blair House opencast mine between Oakley and Saline last year was an omen of things to come.  At that time, geological difficulties and falling prices for the coal extracted were given as reasons.  Coal prices on the international market are now very low and shall probably stay that way for some time.  It is far cheaper for coal users such as Scottish Power at Longannet to import from half way round the world than to buy local.  Scottish Coal just couldn’t sell its opencast coal and make any profit. Read more of this post

£90K funding for Saline pathway project

Big Lottery FundSaline Environmental Group is to receive £90,000 funding from a total of almost £5m granted across Scotland through the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces Scotland scheme.

The grant will be used to construct a pathway between the west Fife village of Saline and Kinneddar Park, along with a bridge and fitness equipment en route. The aim is to encourage local people to have a greater interest in their environment.

The project represents the first phase of a larger initiative to link four individual communities by providing easily accessible pathways that can be used for access and recreational purposes such as walking, cycling, horse riding and mobility vehicles. Read more of this post

Blair House Trust Community Funding

Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has welcomed almost £19,000 funding to the Blair House Trust from Scottish Coal, which the Trust will award to local groups for projects of long-term community benefit. Eligible projects must be in the Saline/Steelend and Oakley/Comrie areas or along the coal haulage route to Longannet Power Station.

Mr Walker, a former and founder member of the Trust while serving as a Fife Councillor, said: Read more of this post

Steelend Saline Group’s Lottery Award to Drum Up Interest in Music Workshops

Steelend Saline Drumming Group is set to launch the first of a series of drumming and music workshops, assisted by an Awards for All grant of £3,868 from Creative Scotland. The launch, at a forthcoming community festival, aims at raising interest in future workshops.

Local Dunfermline MSP, Bill Walker, said: “Congratulations to drumming tutor Mr Ian Holmes-Lewis and everyone taking part in the workshops. I hope the launch will generate lots of interest from the community. Read more of this post

Saline Show Gets Visitor From Down Under!

The “Saline Show”, more fully known as the Saline & District Horticultural & Handcraft Society Show, took place this weekend in Saline Community Centre.

Society President, Mr Gareth Turner, along with Show Manager, Mr John Crane, and their many Society colleagues and helpers organised a show worthy of the long heritage of the event, which first took place in 1905. Read more of this post