AS a resident who had turned up at the public meeting about flaring at Mossmorran back in July, and who had offered support, I am frustrated with the lack of action and communication from the Mossmorran Action Group (MAG).

I live at the south end of Lochgelly and have a clear view of the flaring instances at the Fife Ethylene Plant, and have written to Exxon and Shell a number of times to complain about the noise and light disturbance during the frequent flaring in the last five years.

I turned up for the July public meeting organised by the Mossmorran Action Group and as requested put his details down at the end of the meeting to be contacted for further updates and meetings.

After a conversation on a commute to work with a neighbour who had done the same I contacted the Mossmorran Action Group Facebook page and offered a couple of ideas for the group to take forward.

No further updates were received by me.

Then I read the article about a meeting being hosted by Lesley Laird and felt there had been missed opportunity for this 'Community' based group to be present on the basis that the meeting had been set up by a Labour MP, with them no attending.

Whilst there were concerns that no other politicians were going to be present it was important that the community should have had representation, even if there was a minuted objection and stated they were only going as obsevers!

I felt concerned at this stage and went to look at the MAG website for a copy of their governance documents. There was a lack of this community organisation's constitution and minutes and there did not seem the ability to see them anywhere, whilst referring to an overall management committee, there was no indication of how this community organisation ran this board in regard to elections and appointments. The organisation’s constitution appeared on their website dated 13/01/18.

I raised his concerns on the MAG Facebook page and one of the Management Committee had committed to sending me a copy of minutes.

On Sunday though there was a terse rebuttle by MAG Spokesman, James Glen, stating that they would not be releasing any minutes as they do not want Exxon and Shell getting wind of what they were doing and accused me of “Trolling” and “Political Schilling”.

So apparently asking serious questions about the governance of this community group is trolling and because I stood up for the MP who initiated the meeting I was political shilling? I think I have a right as a resident to question a community organisation that speaks in my name on how it is managed.

There is no mention on their many media forums on where they meet, where are the minutes and who the management committee board is? The openness and transparency that Mr Glen DEMANDs from other community organisations is sadly lacking in his own. It appeared to me that if the meeting had been organised by any other representative, other than a Labour one, than it would have been ok?

It also went over MAG’s head that they cannot point the finger at Exxon and Shell not attending their Public Meeting in July if they didn’t accept their invitation to MP Laird’s meeting. Maybe the invites should go back to a properly run and accountable community organisation like the Community Council?

The reluctance for MAG and their spokesman, James Glen to refuse to answer any of the 5 points I raised is very hypocritical given the demands that are made on a constant basis, often making personal accusations of the personal representative who have served our communities for many years. The whole exercise just seems to be a bashing session for an MP for has taken the initiative and done something they have been incapable of doing themselves. Who really cares if it was a Blue/Red/Labour/SNP/MP/MSP or traffic warden would got these professional people around the table. The opportunity was there for the community to be at the table and they failed at the first hurdle.

I have removed myself from the MAG Facebook page and am still waiting on the answers to my 5 questions on the organisation's openness and transparency.

PAUL McGOWAN,

Lochgelly.