Minutes from September Meeting
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No meeting in July
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Minutes of Meeting of Elie and Royal Burgh of Earlsferry Community Council held on 3rd June 2025, Earlsferry Town Hall
Present: Angela Anderson, Kirsty Barclay, Grizelda Cowan, Cath McIntosh, Nicky Nicholson, George Cowan, Alison Christian and Cllrs Alycia Hayes and Fiona Corps
Apologies: Carol Birrell and Christian Aitken
April minutes: Proposed by Kirsty and seconded by George
New declarations of interest: No new declarations
The meeting welcomed Fiona Houston and Charles Abram from the Elie Harbour Trust who updated us on the repeating sewage problems at the Toft and in the general harbour area.
Fiona has been in discussions with Scottish Water, SEPA, Fife Council and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust in a bid to address these problems. The several issues that have to be addressed are:
· The water running on to the sands from the Loch Run and houses on Elie Estate is of very poor quality. Independent test results evidenced that the water, especially after heavy rain, failed to meet EU bathing standards and the water from the Loch Run failed every time on at least 1 of the 3 metrics of E-coli, Enterococcus and Coliforms.
· The three separate CSO pipes into the sea the Harbour end, bottom of School Wynd and by the Cockstails are also regularly and much more frequently pumping raw sewage into the sea.
· The build up of the sand along The Toft and road to harbour is regularly blocking the drains and the illegally parked cars make it impossible to clear the roads on the few occasions that this is attempted.
· There is a river of sewage around the toilet blocks and on the Watersports Centre and the beach and the sewage system itself is ‘backing up’.
Scottish Water workers have been down to clear it up but their efforts don’t last long particularly as the parked cars do not allow them to access the whole area. In short, it is evident that the entire waste infrastructure has failed and urgently needs upgrading.
Cllr Fiona Corps assured the meeting that FC are aware of the severity of the problem and have ‘escalated’ it. We were assured that the road problems of illegally parked cars and constant build up of sand will be addressed There is to be a meeting next week between EHT and SEPA and it is hoped that a meeting with all relevant bodies can be arranged asap.
Councillors’ Updates
Cllr Fiona Corps
In addition to her efforts to address our sewage problem Fiona informed the meeting that illegal parking fines have been increased to £100 (£50 if paid quickly) but agreed that this measure was a bit pointless if there are to be no traffic wardens to police the offenders.
Cllr Alycia Hayes informed the meeting that the 20 MPH rule in all the local villages has been approved and will be implemented as long as there are no objections.
She is still trying to find out when we might expect our long awaited ‘Watch Your Speed’ signs which were promised last month.
We are still awaiting decision from FC re provision of a new flagpole.
Discussions are taking place at FC re the proposed visitor levy. It has been suggested that accommodation providers should receive a percentage of the tax but that there have been no assurances that taxes collected will necessarily be spent in the area where they are collected.
She informed us that the Elie Seabox Trust has approx. £20,000 and that there is one remaining recipient who receives £400 quarterly. This is administered by Thorntons Solicitors who take £3,200 annually for their services. Some member of the CC thought this to be a bit steep! We also learnt that there is 14.5 acres of land which is believed to be among that owned by Elie Estate and farmed at present by Donald Thomson. It was agreed that we should try to determine its exact location and if it is good arable land.
Questions from the Public
Better signs for the toilets at Stenton Row have been requested both on the toilets themselves and in Park Place.
We have received a request that there should be double yellow lines at the cul de sac in Wadeslea.
We have received a request that the disabled access to harbour beach be reinstated.
There was a proposal put to the Community Council to operate an evening, pop up, takeaway food stall on Elie Toll Green during the months of July and August 202. After a discussion at the meeting and subsequent emails including the members who had been unable to attend the meeting it was agreed not to oppose the proposal.
Restricted Parking
It was agreed to reject the proposal to extend the pavement in Elie High Street by one metre as proposed by FC as it was felt that making the road narrower would make exiting from the parking bays dangerous.
We wish the proposed restrictions on parking outside the shops in Elie High St to be implemented
Planning issues
Angela has written to the FC Planning Department asking why they are not adhering to the guidelines listed in our Local Place Plan and, again, has requested a site meeting with representatives from the Planning Department.
Mobile Phone Mast installation, Park Place Ref. 25/00116/TPA. Despite numerous emails to both FC Planning Department and the agent it has transpired that, as the Planning Department have not replied to the application within the required 56 days, work is about to start on the installation of the new mast. Angela will write to the Planning Department for clarification on this.
Strathneuk Cottage Ref. 25/00914/CAC An objection to this application has been submitted and can be read on the planning portal https://planning.fife.gov.uk/online/
Sandbank, Liberty Ref. 25/01285/FULL. An application has been submitted requesting radical alterations to a traditional house, including the removal of the roof and installing a third storey. It was agreed that an objection should be lodged to this application.
Sauna at Elie Holiday Park 25/01360/FULL It was agreed that no objection should be lodged for this application.
Update on Elmwood
No further progress – see https://www.elieandearlsferrycc.org/news.asp for most recent information.
Treasurer’s Update
No change
EAG Update (by email from Graham Meacher)
General
· Planting-out by volunteers started on Sat 31 May, with more to be done.
· There are a lot of weeds growing along various streets and pavements, with many drains blocked by sand and weeds. Main roads also need a good sweep. A good tidy up required!
CC requested to seek action from FC.
· Weeding, litter-picking and general tidying continues to be done by members of the EAG.
· The annual fundraising effort has been started and the GoFundMe campaign is up – see flyer below. All donations gratefully received!
· The Church gates need repainting; the Church clock is still out of action and more recently the Church NB fell off the wall! Anything the CC can do to encourage ENT Parish Church to improve its community indifference would be appreciated.
Toll Green
· The fence around Toll Green has now been painted. This was achieved through the combined efforts of the EAG (preparation) and the FC Community Service Team (painting). Due to some scaffolding being tied to the fence to do with the refurbishment of TG Cottage, it was not possible to paint that section. The FC team did a great job and we are grateful to them.
· The posts on the TG information board have been repainted by the EAG.
· The popular picnic benches have been given a good clean to keep them useable.
· The broken section of fence between the garden and TG behind Callum's bench has been repaired.
· The old rosemary and its planter have been cleared and the herb box refreshed. Some decorative stones have also been added and it now looks much better.
· The half barrel, which was beside Callum's bench, has been relocated to beside the herb box and planted with new rosemary. The smaller tub which was next to the herb box is now beside Callum's bench. This provides a much better balance and improved effect.
· The half barrel beside the phone box has been weeded.
Projects
CC requested to seek action from FC
Elie Church Group
It was agreed that the CC should donate £500 towards the cost of a feasibility study.
CC Meetings
It has become apparent that the Council meeting room in the ETH is in need of a little TLC. Over the recent months it has become more of a storeroom and is becoming increasingly unsuitable for our meetings, particularly when members of the public attend. It was agreed that Kirsty should speak to Emma to see if it could be made more suitable. It was suggested that we maybe could claim off our insurance for a replacement table and chairs as the original ones disappeared some time ago. Cllr Alycia Hayes agreed to look into this.
Next meeting Tuesday 5th August, 7.30, Earlsferry Town Hall
