Benarty Community Council held an online meeting which included the 2020 AGM. The Chairman gave an annual statement and this is presented below.
The Annual Statement 2021
The year 2020 will be remembered as the year of COVID-19 and I would like to begin this annual statement by sending heartfelt condolences to all who have suffered a bereavement in the past year. There will now be a minute of silence in remembrance of those who passed away.
Thank you.
As the events of 2020 unfolded and it became clear that our lives were going to be turned upside down by the pandemic, the community reacted, as it always does, with a sense of duty and concern. As the new rules were announced on how we were to conduct our day to day lives, the people of Benarty did what they could and we largely weathered the worst of the storm. We did however lose members of our community.
There are things we could and should have done differently, with hindsight. I was personally dismayed when we were informed that all Community Councils were to stand down and do no business and take no action as far as COVID-19 was concerned. Responsibility for dealing with the emergency was handed off to Fife Voluntary Action, and whilst I have the greatest admiration and respect for that organisation, I personally felt that there should have been a Public Health organisation taking the lead, issuing professional, public health guidance and supplying the necessary PPE.
Nevertheless, we had the Benarty Emergency Response Team led by Councillors McLelland and Lockhart who rallied support and made sure the most vulnerable in Benarty were shielded from the virus. As a community, we owe the entire group of volunteers who manned the phones, went shopping, picked up prescriptions and did the deliveries a huge thanks. They put themselves on the front line at great personal risk for the benefit of others, so thank you to the entire Benarty Emergency Response Team.
As the year went on, the virus infections declined and it looked like we were through the worst of it, but as we know now, this virus mutates and comes back stronger. We missed our annual Benarty Gala, our Pipe Band Championship and Rockore. Fingers and toes are all crossed for good times ahead this year.
There was one remarkable story of happiness and cheer to brighten an otherwise dismal year however. The legend of the Fairies of Lochore was brought to life at the Country Park, with dozens of bird boxes, fairy doors and other colourful creations all painted by the local kids.
This year, our special mention goes out to Derek Davidson who has created something very special, our very own Fairy Wood with an amazing Fairy Trail. This has given the children something to do and a place to go and explore with their family members in a COVID safe outdoor environment. Word spread fast, far and wide and visitors now flock to the park in ever higher numbers as the trail grows and more and more fascinating attractions are added to it.
Thank you Derek, and thanks too to the army you have recruited to help make it all happen. It’s a phenomenal achievement and I think the entire community is proud of you all and what you have done with the Fairy Wood.
Before I move on, I’d like to just say thanks to everyone who is part of any of the volunteer groups in Benarty, for hanging in there, keeping things ticking over and just holding things together during the pandemic. It hasn’t been easy, far from it, so just know that folk are appreciative even if there hasn’t been the usual activity going on. My thanks in particular for his work in keeping the Community Council ticking over go to Mr John Purdie, our Secretary. Thanks for the updates John.
Moving on, and as we got into last summer, things almost returned to normality, not quite, but almost and housebuilding resumed. Another phase of new housing was completed at Kirkland Farm and the population of Benarty grew a little, so to everyone who has become a citizen of Benarty this year, welcome.
Other developments which occurred include the decision not to install a gas turbine power plant at Westfield, opting instead to go with a huge solar farm. The planning permission has been passed for that so we should be seeing it starting fairly soon. The waste to energy plant will begin construction later this year too and is expected to be operational in 2024. That prompted me to ask our area committee to look closely at the state of our Hill road, as I expect it will be used more when we have 500 lorries a day going in and out of Westfield.
I’ve been promised that the road will receive some remedial works to bring it up to a higher standard and it looks like that work started today.
Looking to the year ahead and I expect we’ll see another new housing development at Ballingry Road bus turning circle with 24 new houses being recommended for approval.
Something else I’m hoping to see completed this year is the ongoing saga of the Benarty Bells Project. I have asked the Cowdenbeath Area Committee to confirm that the project will surely be completed this year? This involves building a stone cairn at the entrance to the Meedies and mounting two historic church bells inside. This project has been dragging on for about 10 years now and it really must be brought to completion. Here’s hoping.
Before I finish, I would like to add thanks to all of the keyworkers in Benarty who were forced to carry on regardless whilst most others were paid to sit at home. Your predicament didn’t go unnoticed and I think most folk feel that was unfair. I sincerely hope there is some sort of recognition of what you all did during the worst of the pandemic and just know you are all appreciated and due quite a substantial reward in my opinion.
I had better stop there before I get too carried away, so I’ll say a thank you to our members on Benarty Community Council for your continued service to the community. As if to remind us all just how necessary our places are on this Community Council, the threat on our boundary remains real and we must repel the invaders.
In closing, I’ll repeat what I said at the end of my previous Chairman’s statement, that we look forward to inviting former members Stephen and Mary Nardone to unveil the Bells as soon as the cairn is completed.
That concludes my statement for this year, thank you all.
