Published: Tuesday, 6th January, 2009 10:10am

Community council make their views known on carbuncle issue

by Jim Stark

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CARDENDEN and Kinglassie Community Council have hit out at the village being nominated for the Carbuncle of the Year award.

And they have written to the organisers of the award, Architecture Scotland magazine, to state their resentment of the recent publicity to promote the awards.

In their letter to the magazine the council stated, 'We have read in the local and national press that someone has nominated our community for a carbuncle award in your forthcoming competition.

'Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we accept constructive criticism, but deeply resent cheap publicity in an effort to promote your forthcoming event.

'Carbuncles in towns and cities are created by architects, planners and developers, not by people who live there. This is why our community council scrutinises every planning application to ensure this does not happen.'

The letter was penned by council secretary David Taylor who added, 'A few years ago our community won a Best Kept Village award which demonstrates that people take a pride in their area.

'We are a former mining village and over the years major efforts have been made to transform it and at present we are working with a major developer who is keen to create the first ECO town in Scotland which will be an ambitious project involving many stakeholders.

'Towns are like people, what they make lack in glamour, they make up for with their heart, soul and personality and this is highlighted in our latest newsletter which can be read at www.communtynewsletter.co.uk';

The secretary went on, 'The person who nominated Cardenden said, "it is struggling to forge a distinctive identity under the shadow of larger neighbours and the loss of the coal mining industry which sustained it. A lack of ambition has seen a wealth of natural and geographical opportuities squandered, this should be promoted for Cardenden to embrace the future with confidence not surrendered to suburban sprawl".

'We disagree with these remarks which do not justify the area being classified as a carbuncle. There is no way Cardenden can be compared with Kirkcaldy or Glenrothes, both of which were also nominated for carbuncle awards.

'Since the closure of the mines major reclamation schemes and improvements have been carried out with new employment opportunities, new housing and new countryside footpaths while the new regional road and Fife Circle rail line give good transport links to the cities of Edinburgh and Dundee.

'The area is certainly not stuck in the past and as far as being a dismal place with no future, there are numerous communty facilities, actitivities, opportininities and great community spirit. 'There is no one more critical of the area than the people themselves and even they feel this nomination is unjustified.'

Mr Taylor concluded, 'When the judges visit our community they will see for themselves that there is more to our community than just mere buildings, it has community spirit. One person"s blinkered opinion does not count.

'We are not complacent, however, and if anyone feels they can help us further improve the area they are welcome to contact the community council, Environmental Group or any other numerous groups which are active in the community'.

The nomination for the Carbuncle Award upset many people and groups in the Cardenden area and when the judges visit the village in the New Year they will find a community united.