Winter Newsletter
As may already be aware, 2018 is the 70th anniversary of Glenrothes. This a massive opportunity for the town to celebrate its history and encourage local investment. I have recently raised this issue in Parliament with Culture and Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP, who has promised to meet with myself and Fife Council to discuss plans for the anniversary. As mentioned in my last newsletter, I have also been calling on the owners of the Kingdom Centre, Mars Pensions Trustees, to step up and present plans for the town's future.
In December I was delighted to welcome the Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary, John Swinney MSP, Glenrothes High School. I also managed to meet both pupils and staff at a number of other schools in the run up to Christmas, the highlight of which was presenting talented St Agatha's pupil, Owen, with a new bike after winning my Christmas card competition.
Over Winter, I met up with North Glenrothes Community Councillors to walk the '5 hazards' of the A92. Being a regular user of the road, I have been involved with the campaign to improve safety on the A92 for some time now and with the help of determined campaigners a visit by the Transport Minister Humza Yousaf MSP has ben secured for February.
With a visit to Glenrothes town centre from Housing and Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart MSP also on the horizon, there is certainly plenty to look forward to in the coming month. I am excited to welcome both Ministers to our constituency and will report back again shortly.
|
|
|
|
-----
Yours for Scotland,
|
|
|
|
Jenny Gilruth MSP
MSP for Mid Fife & Glenrothes
|
|
|
|
|
Glenrothes' 70th Anniversary
In January, I raised the 70th anniversary of Glenrothes in Parliament, paying tribute to David Nelson and his tenacious commitment to the town.
I have called on the owners of the Kingdom Centre in Glenrothes, Mars Pensions Trustees to step up and be more transparent. With the 70th anniversary in mind, I think it’s high time this wealthy landlord stepped up to the plate with its plans for our town’s future. After facing a wall of silence from Mars Pensions Trustees for many months, I recently secured a meeting with Managing Director, Simon Usher. I look forward to working closely with the company regarding investment in Glenrothes and plans for the town's anniversary. I started a campaign on this issue in late October and have written to every single business who hold tenancy in the Kingdom Centre – thanks to those who have responded.
I have recently secured a meeting with the Culture and Tourism Secretary, Fiona Hyslop MSP, where we will discuss how the Scottish Government can work with Fife Council to ensure this anniversary is celebrated fittingly. I will also be welcoming Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart MSP, to my constituency in the coming weeks.
|
|
|
I was honoured to be at the opening of the new CISWO in Glenrothes in November alongside my friend, Tricia Marwick.
|
|
|
Road Safety on the A92
Following a meeting I hosted in Parliament on behalf of North Glenrothes Community Council, the Transport Minister, Humza Yousef MSP, is to visit Mid Fife and Glenrothes and walk the ‘5 hazards’ of the A92. As someone who uses the road regularly I know all too well of the dangers on that section of the A92. North Glenrothes Community Council should be commended for keeping the road safety of the area in the public eye. I look forward to welcoming the Transport Minister and continuing to work with the Community Councillors to make the road safer for us all.
|
|
|
|
I look forward to discussing the serious safety issues of the A92 with the Transport Minister when he visits the stretch of road next month to walk the '5 hazards'.
|
|
|
Royal Bank of Scotland Services
Following the Royal Bank of Scotland’s decision to close their branch in Leven last year, I have been in regular contact with the bank. With a mobile banking service only visiting Leven for a shocking 4 ½ hours a week, I have been fighting for assurances that RBS customers will not become isolated from services. I will be visiting the mobile branch in the coming weeks to witness first-hand the accessibility issues that many disabled customers face when using the service. I will also be raising these issues directly with the Head of UK Regional Public Affairs at RBS, Michael Crow, at a meeting in the near future.
On top of this, I have gained confirmation that the RBS cashline on Leven High Street will remain open, after a long period of the service being out of use.
|
|
|
Levenmouth Rail Campaign
UPDATE *
|
|
|
Fife Women's Aid
In December, I invited constituents to come along to my constituency office in Markinch for a festive catch up, warm drink and a mince pie.
I encouraged those who attended bring along a small festive donation to help Fife Women’s Aid as part of their Christmas appeal for gifts to women and young people in need. I was very humbled to see the generosity of constituents and local businesses as we managed to collect a huge number of gifts, toys and toiletries for women and children in need this Christmas. I was also very pleased to have donated my earnings from my Daily Record column over December to Fife Women’s Aid.
|
|
|
|
I was taken a back by the generosity of my constituents and local businesses following a successful collection drive over the festive period for Fife Women's Aid.
|
|
|
|
Presenting the winner of my fantastic Christmas Card Competition with his prize! Well done to St. Agatha's RC Primary pupil - Owen!
|
|
|
I have been very busy this Winter visiting 7 schools - meaning I have now visited every school in my constituency!
In December, I presented the First Minister's Reading Challenge awards at Thornton Primary School and I was happy to be invited along to Parkhill Primary School to hear the pupils' views about their own futures, hopes and aspirations for the town centre in Leven.
Just before the Christmas break, I visited St Agaatha’s RC Primary School in Leven to give a huge congratulation to the winner of my Christmas Card competition. Thanks to Scottish Power, the talented winner won a new bike for his effort.
I also had time to chat with pupils and staff at Kennoway Primary, Markinch Primary, Balcurvie Primary and Thornton Primary.
Before the Christmas break I welcomed pupils from both Glenwood High School and Glenrothes High School for a tour of the Parliament and to watch First Minister's Questions last month. The group were accompanied by Marc Fleming from Fife College for their precedence study, the visit was a great experience both architecturally and politically.
|
|
|
|
I was delighted to welcome the Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary, John Swinney MSP, to Glenrothes High School's Professional Learning Conference where he met with pupils and staff.
|
|
|
Committee Work
Within the Scottish Parliament I sit as member for the Health & Sport Committee and the Local Government & Communities Committee.
Committee work is vitally important to the Parliament as parties really get the chance to work together. Topics such as Child Protection, NHS Governance and Health Innovation have been covered in Health & Sport. In December, I heard evidence from the Chief Executive of Bield Housing, Brian Logan, following the announcement the company will close 12 care homes across Scotland. During the committee hearing I managed to secure confirmation from Bield that an offer has been made to buy Finavon Court, Glenrothes - securing the future of its 24 residents and 25 members of staff. I have since been in touch with Bield Homes who hope the transfer will be complete by July.
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, the Local Government Committee have been examining the safety of Scotland’s high rise tower blocks. The committee have also been looking at the impact of Scotland’s City Deals. I have been critical of how little Fife gets out of the Edinburgh & City Region Deal – this was echoed in the committee’s final report on the deals, published in January. What is clear from the report is that Fife Council - and specifically David Ross, who was the Labour Council Leader at the time - completely failed to actually speak to local communities in Fife about what they wanted from the deal. Plans to reinstate the Leven Rail Link should have been the number one priority for Fife Council in these negotiations. As the MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes I will continue to push for the Edinburgh Region City Deal to provide greater investment for Fife.
|
|
|
In the Chamber
In December I was pleased to recognise the work of Willow & Plum and Eden Fyfe Accounts in my contribution to my colleague Gillian Martin MSP’s member’s debate that focused on global entrepreneur week and the role of women in business.
I raised the closure of Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre’s waiting list directly with Nicola Sturgeon MSP, at FMQ's. This service is a vital life-line to victims of sexual violence. The organisation is facing budgetary pressures due to proposed savings cuts by Fife Council. I am also raising this directly with Fife Council. Later in January, I raised the liquidation of local kitchen manufacturer Murray & Murray at First Minister’s Questions. The firm’s closure has led to the loss of 40 jobs in Glenrothes and the First Minister has assured me that the Scottish Government will do all it can to work with company to minimise any threat to employment.
Following an event I sponsored on Children with Exceptional Support Needs (CEN), I highlighted the experience of Laura McCartney and her son Tom to underline that all children in Scotland should have access to necessary support and education that they are entitled to. I raised this issue as part of a debate on Scotland's Year of Young People 2018. You can watch my speech here: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/debate-celebrating-our-future-scotlands-year-of-young-people-december-12-2017?clip_start=15:00:45&clip_end=15:06:11
I spoke in a Member's Debate, led by my colleague Kate Forbes MSP, on the recent Royal Bank of Scotland branch closures. I raised RBS' decision to close the local branch in Leven and called on the bank to improve access to services for its customers in Mid Fife and Glenrothes.
I was proud to support my friend & colleague Gail Ross MSP’s members’ debate on Adverse Childhood Experiences, a term that covers abuse, neglect and household adversity, the effects of which can cause chronic stress responses and have a lasting impact on children as they grow into adults. Research suggests that instances of adverse childhood experiences rise with the level of deprivation that a child is living in, and with new statistics reporting that 30% of children growing up in Glenrothes are living in poverty we must take action now to mitigate against these experiences. You can watch my contribution here: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/members-business-adverse-childhood-experiences-january-24-2018?clip_start=17%3A44%3A06&clip_end=17%3A48%3A06
|
|
|
Parliamentary Events
In December, I was delighted to host an event in the Scottish Parliament on Children with Exceptional Healthcare Needs (CEN). The event was organised by Kindred, an organisation who provide information, advocacy and emotional support to parents of children and young people with complex needs. The event offered a unique perspective, as we heard from both medical experts and CEN families themselves.
I also had the opportunity to sponsor a Parliamentary reception in January on behalf of Youth Scotland. As we embark on Scotland's Year of Young People, the charity were keen to demonstrate how Youth Scotland Awards help young people achieve their potential.
|
|
|
|
I was honoured to meet with Laura McCartney and her wonderful son Tom, at the Children with Exceptional Healthcare Needs (CEN) event in December.
|
|
|
Parliamentary Motions
In my role as an MSP, I lodge a number of Parliamentary motions each month to congratulate achievements within the constituency. Recently, I have lodged motions on the following:
- Congratulating Castle Furniture Project on winning a gold award in the Employer of the Year Health and Disability category at the Fife Business Diversity Awards,
- Congratulating Fife Community Food Project on being awarded the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland President's Award for 2017,
- Welcoming a grant of £4,000 from the Corra Foundation for the Muirhead Outreach Project,
- Celebrating SAMH's award of £175,657.52 from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Our Place Programme, which will be used to develop green spaces in the Auchmuty area of Glenrothes,
- Appluaded the work of Ritchie Wilson, who is from Glenrothes, for raising an incredible £7,100 for the homeless project, Social Bite,
- Paying a special tribute to the life and work of David Nelson, a true community champion of Glenrothes,
- Thanking Balbirnie Park Golf Club for its £1,000 donation to Dementia Friendly Glenrothes to support the project’s ongoing work,
- Appluading the work of Michael Woods Leisure Centre staff who have raised £3,440 for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland over the last four years,
- Congratulating Fife College student Andrew Huxtable and his fellow students of Fife College's HNC Furniture Course, who were tasked with producing a design that reflects and complements the Formonthills woodland area of Glenrothes,
- And, recognising the working in partnership with Fife Cultural Trust, Dan Brown and the Scottish Book Trust who are compiling a digital storytelling project as part of the celebrations in 2018 for the 70th anniversary of Glenrothes
|
|
|
Constituency Surgeries in February
|
|
|
If there are any issues which you feel I may be able to help you with, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at one of my constituency surgeries.
Monday, 19th February
Constituency Office, Markinch
11am - 12 noon
Friday, 23rd February
Sainsbury's Café, Leven
11am - 12noon
If you aren't able to come along, please contact my office on 01592 764815 or 0131 348 5792. Alternatively, I can also be reached by email at:
|
|
|
|
