Here's the gazette article:
www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1019&ArticleID=1333394Which was edited from this e-mail, just thought I would post it too, as the article makes it look like I've nicked Slim's letter!:
Hi Mark
I wondered if you could either give me a call or answer my questions online about the petition you've launched on your website?
Why are you against any proposals to close down the Institute?
I agree with Matthew McLean’s letter (printed in the Gazette on Wednesday):
“I, like tens of thousands of other local residents, have grave concerns about the plans to close the Fife Institute and sell the land for housing purposes. Considering the size of this town and the amount of people already living here, there is little enough to do at the best of times.
If anything, we should be looking at building more facilities like the Institute in Glenrothes that can be used by people of all ages to enjoy healthy and active hobbies as well as creating much needed jobs. I bet the same people who advocate the closure of the Institute are the first to complain about the problems of anti-social behaviour, vandalism and suchlike. Their vision seems to be the need for houses, but nothing for the residents of these houses to do. This can only lead to a worsening in the social problems that already exist in the town and it cannot be allowed to happen at any cost.
An alternative new Sports facility in Kirkcaldy would also be of little consolation to the residents of Glenrothes, many people who use the Institute (which includes a large percentage of young people) are unable to drive, our inadequate, unreliable and overpriced public transport system is a joke and would make it extremely hard and unrewarding for people to travel to and from any such facility outwith the town itself.”
Why did you decide to set up the online petition?
The news about the institute was posted on the GlenrothesSpoon forum, and one of the members, Matthew McLean, put a copy of the letter he was sending to the Gazette on to the site. Another member, Ross Sutherland, suggested a petition, and since we were all agreed with Matthew’s letter I used it as the basis for the statement, and created an online petition to allow the number of objections to be recorded. It’s the main reason that the site was created – to allow the people of Glenrothes to discuss relevant issues in a central place online, and take action if necessary.
Are you pleased with the feedback you've had so far?
The feedback has been impressive so far, we’ve had 125 signatures in 4 days, but would like to get many more – to the point where we have a good representation of the people of Glenrothes’ opinions. I’d appreciate it if you could stick the
www.glenrothesspoon.com web address in the article, with a bit of a call to action.
What is the general consenus from comments you have received?
People are upset, outraged and disillusioned. The overwhelming consensus of the petition comments seems to be an anger that the council have the audacity to remove the Fife Institute as a facility, due to the varied, wide-ranging consequences such an action would have on the community. The comments are all available to see on the site.
I haven’t read or heard one statement in favour of the change since it was announced as a possibility.
How long has the petition been on the web?
I set it up at on Sunday the 22nd January.
How many signatures are you hoping to collect and what will you do with the petition once you've received them?We’re hoping to collect as many signatures as possible. (As above) (Any exposure the Gazette can add would be great!) I’d expect to hand the finalised petition over to Douglas Sinclair, the council’s chief executive.