Angry city MP blasts 'snobs' and 'NIMBYS'

Ally McRoberts • Published 27 Jan 2012 08:55 17 Comments

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FURIOUS MP Thomas Docherty has blasted the "snobs" who criticised Dunfermline's Eastern Expansion (DEX).

The Dunfermline and West Fife MP was angered by Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council's grim assessment of the new housing estates.

They had called DEX "ugly", "architecturally dire", "disastrous" and "uninspiring", insisting it was only "a dormitory town for Edinburgh" in their submission to Fife Council's plans for similar development to the west of the city.

But Mr Docherty hit back and said, "They are a bunch of snobs who oppose every single development in West Fife.

"This disgraceful slur on the residents of Duloch and Masterton is the latest in a long line of whines.

"They have opposed the container freight terminal (in Rosyth) and these people really are pathetic the way they sit on high and slag off the rest of West Fife.

"I don't believe they speak for the community as a whole and I think most people there will be horrified by these remarks."

The community council made written comments in the context of a proposed new development of 4000 houses as well as new schools and transport improvements earmarked for the south-west, west and north of Dunfermline over the next 20 years.

They had a number of concerns about the proposals included in the draft Dunfermline and West Fife local plan and said, "We have no faith in Fife Council's ability to ensure that any developments will be well planned and done sympathetically, judging by the experiences of the eastern expansion.

"The latter is incoherent, ugly, architecturally dire and with poor community infrastructure and there are no sustainable environmental considerations incorporated in the houses which are built to minimum environmental standards."

This infuriated Mr Docherty, who stays in the Masterton area, and said, "To call DEX ugly and architecturally dire is a slur on everyone that lives there and it's also untrue.

"They're a bunch of NIMBYs and this is a disgraceful attack on another community in West Fife.

"I have many friends who live in Limekilns who are embarrassed by these comments.

"It's bad enough moaning about the freight terminal but this is a real slap in the face."

He continued, "DEX breathed new life into Dunfermline retail and another myth is that everyone goes across the bridge to work.

"It's quite clear they are anti-dockyard and NIMBYs, if they had their way there wouldn't be any jobs in West Fife.

"I think their comments were absolutely disgusting and I think the members of the community council should consider their positions."

The row broke out over the Fife Structure Plan 2006-2026 which requires the Dunfermline and West Fife Local Plan 2010 to identify sites for a minimum of 3800 houses and 80 hectares of employment land on the opposite side from DEX.

The eastern expansion includes Duloch and Masterton and consists of around 4000 houses, which were built over the last 10 years, with plans for up to 2100 more new homes likely to come forward in the next decade.

There are three primary schools, a leisure centre and library, a Tesco Extra, a small retail complex and a - soon to be completed - new place of worship for the Church of Scotland.

The community council was unable to respond before the Press went to print.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Woodmill
2 posts
Jan 27, 10:11
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Rather than slag off the community council in the local press, perhaps it would be more productive and positive for Mr Docherty to meet with the community council and discuss their concerns?

Might I also ask how stating an opinion about the architectural merits of the mass-market housing developers (very few of whom commissioned unique architectural designs for DEX, I suspect, using identikit boxes they use up and down the land with impunity) is a 'slur on everyone who lives there'? It's not a personal criticism at all! They weren't responsible for the architecture or planning of their homes - they just wanted a place to live. Were they given any choice as to the architectural style of their home? Of course not: it is up to politicians like Thomas Docherty to ensure that we build modern homes appropriate to the communities where they are built, rather than pastiche boxes that haven't changed design in decades. Acres and acres of identikit housing centred on a Tesco Extra does not a community maketh.

Sadly this seems to be typical of Thomas Docherty - slagging off others from the safety of his office, rather than meet people face-to-face. Interestingly he seems to have been more concerned about the leaning of Big Ben of late, and the architecture of Westminster than anything going on in his constituency. What on earth does this man actually do for West Fife, apart from moan and bitch about people who actually try to make a POSITIVE difference in the area? Or perhaps, as a typically arrogant Westminster Labour politician, he doesn't actually accept that anyone is allowed to have a different opinion to him?

Recommend? Yes 41 No 29
Woodmill
2 posts
Jan 27, 10:19
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I might add, it would be interesting to compare the salaries of these community councillors (i.e. £0 - they are voluntary), with the massive salary that Thomas Docherty gets to sit at Westminster apparently twiddling his thumbs. Or making up expensive wish-lists for ways to spend £bns of taxpayers money on weapons of mass destruction. What do Scottish MPs actually do these days, apart from vote on issues which don't affect their own constituents? He's clearly bored and frustrated - hence the angry outbursts.

Recommend? Yes 30 No 29
Tradesman
30 posts
Jan 27, 10:44
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It would appear that snobs are not limited to those from Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir

Dunfermline Press; 7 May 2009

“THE 'disgusting' attitude of private home owners in Dunfermline"s eastern expansion, opposed to the building of social housing next to them, has been condemned by their own councillors.

Existing residents are unhappy at the prospect of their future neighbours in 64 new affordable houses and 24 flats, with claims that the incomers would bring anti-social behaviour into the area.

They also fear the new development would reduce the value of their own homes and that mixing social housing with owner/occupied 'will create a social divide and social problems within the area', the City of Dunfermline area committee heard yesterday (Wednesday).

One objector suggested that people moving into the new social housing would be better suited to Abbeyview and the money should be spent on renovating derelict properties there.”

Recommend? Yes 77 No 24
DunfermlineEast
71 posts
Jan 27, 11:44
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It is the job of community councils to be reactive and act as a valve against councilors egotistical leanings to be fair. Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council is full of NIMBY 'are you local' types though and they are a bit rich is saying anywhere is ""ugly", "architecturally dire", "disastrous" and "uninspiring". Charlestown consists of just fugly 1970's buildings, some of which have had a bit of timber cladding added on for the nautical look and some grim housing away from the Forth. Apart from Main St and a few other buildings, there is nothing to note in Limnkilns and most of the village is again dreary 1970's concrete boxes. Apart form the view a few houses have, the place is a suburb of Dunfermline, which is a suburb of Edinburgh and the central belt. No Georgian, Victorian and few houses built till 1980 will have any environmental standards, and will leak and waste energy and money.

"a dormitory town for Edinburgh" - that sums up those villages, as there are no jobs there - hence the thousands of cars to get people out to work and have things to do, just vacuous housing, there are no shops of note and The Ship Inn opens part time or when they feel like it and was last decorated in the dark sometime in 1982. You have to drive to, erm Duloch, to go to a decent Tesco or darkest Clackmananshire or Edinburgh.

@ Woodmill "Acres and acres of identikit housing centred on a Tesco Extra does not a community maketh."

At least there are shops in Duloch, unlike most parts of Dunfermline and Fife. The houses are far from identical, if you want identical then any council estate in Europe will cater for that you. Most of Pitcorthie, Pitreavie, Rex Park are all full of cement huts if you like that sort of thing, then that is the sort of thing that you like. The worst looking housing in Duloch are Kingdom Housing and other low cost houses, not main stream builders. There are some architectural buildings in Duloch - mainly takes on English vernacular, but I doubt you would know what that is.

Recommend? Yes 30 No 21
DBResident
27 posts
Jan 27, 14:04
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Oh dear, it seems as though the esteemed electorate of Dunfermline and West Fife have returned an idiot to Westminster.

Let's look at just a few of his comments, or rather sections of a poorly argued rant:

"They had called DEX "ugly", "architecturally dire", "disastrous" and "uninspiring", insisting it was only "a dormitory town for Edinburgh" in their submission to Fife Council's plans for similar development to the west of the city.

"They are a bunch of snobs who oppose every single development in West Fife.

"This disgraceful slur on the residents of Duloch and Masterton is the latest in a long line of whines.

SO Mr Docherty,

How does commenting on architectual design and implementation to a planning brief qualify someone as a snob?

How can the comments made be construed as a slur to the residents of Duloch and Masterton?

I can only conlcude that you are a misguided fool who rather than investigating the valid comments of statutory consultees to the proposed local plan, decides instead to castigate them as snobs and NIMBYs. I am afraid that we expect better of our elected members Mr Docherty, you are paid by us to represent the wishes of the public, not to judge and publicly castigate other elected representatives. I think that perhaps you should reflect on your comments and we all look forward to a public apology through this newspaper next week.

OH and DP can we PLEASE stop the use of DEX - it is hateful and unecessary.

Recommend? Yes 35 No 16
justsayin
6 posts
Jan 27, 20:51
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What silly and obvious partisan comments about Thomas Docherty (maybe secret members of limekilns community council). Especially when is this very edition of the press there are stories about mr docherty's contribution to the successful campaign to save the hospice and his private members bill to introduce a min age for shotguns. This along with a quick google alert also shows stories (this week) about his work the HoC administration ctte which includes the big Ben stories, a number of defence stories relating to Rosyth and leuchers, carbon capture and storage, and CAP reform.

Recommend? Yes 15 No 24
bigbarryobama
10 posts
Jan 27, 21:03
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Don't worry folks, that numpty Docherty will be out on his ear at the next election! What an embarrassment of an MP he is!

Recommend? Yes 24 No 20
logster
28 posts
Jan 28, 16:09
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Some very interesting comments on this story but you know what, people who live in glass houses as the saying goes.Did Limekilins community council seriously think they can say what they want without there being some kind of reaction.Grow up.

Recommend? Yes 19 No 10
brucehaven
1 post
Jan 28, 17:52
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Perhaps Mr Docherty would like to come clean on why it has taken him some two years before launching his attack on an active and hard working community council? Could it be related to the strange linkage with the current public inquiry into the container terminal development application by Babcock and his recent letter in support of them? This unreserved support without making any effort at all to consult with the community council that is supporting and representing the residents (his electorate) potentially most affected by the plans. Perhaps he would like to explain how he sees this as representing those that elected him? It does make one wonder about his motives and the impartiality that is reasonably expected of those in his position.

Recommend? Yes 20 No 11
DBResident
27 posts
Jan 28, 22:30
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bruce - his motives are easy to explain. Like all westminster MPs, many MSPs, and a great deal of local authority councillors he is in it for the money - your money and my money, in fact anyone's money. He will do pretty much anything and say absolutely anything, frequently he will contradict what he has said previously. He will jump on a band waggon that gives him any form of public profile. He will do this for as long as the electorate continue to elect him...when he loses an election he will collect a parachute payment of around £65k, he will have a gold plated MPs pension and he will more than likely go into some for of consultancy with a company he has "supported" whilst in office.

In short he has no impartiality, he has motives driven by greed and self interest and as he has shown he has nothing but contempt for those he is supposed to represent.

We elected him (although many of us didnt vote for him), we pay for his inflated salary and expenses and we are entirely to blame in not holding him and the rest of our politicians to account.

Recommend? Yes 31 No 10
NotHappyJan
182 posts
Jan 29, 20:32
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This so called representative of the people is only out for himself. He is lazy, clearly uneducated and lacks the moral fibre to meet the very people he is slagging off. Its time for this idiot to go, he does nothing, not one thing for the people in his elctorate. All he cares about is toeing the party line.....

Recommend? Yes 18 No 44
Chorthie
26 posts
Jan 30, 15:54
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I reckon he is right to be fair, a bunch of NIMBYs who are against everything! Instead of working with Babcock who want to pour millions into an unslighty hole and get concessiosn about woring hours and road upgrades they jsut want to say no stop, dont bother, not near us! Get real and wake up to the fact this "community Council" is only worried about their own land values!

Recommend? Yes 37 No 9
AnonResident
1 post
Feb 1, 11:03
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"CLPCC"do they exist? I understood them to be mythical creatures that are only spoken of, live in the dark and never circulate within the community within which they are alleged to live! They do little/nothing to support local businesses/economy!

I believe their motto to be "We work as a team but do it our way!"

Recommend? Yes 12 No 3
DrewCarnegie
38 posts
Feb 2, 20:21
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Mr Docherty is showing great respect for his constituents.

I remember when MP's were respected members of the community and acted with a little bit of decorum.

He maybe right or wrong with his views but again it is a cheap attempt to get in the paper. I am just wondering what career path Mr Docherty will take after the next elections, because I think the people from West Fife can easily see through this wannabe politician.

Recommend? Yes 6 No 1
Catlady57
3 posts
Feb 4, 17:07
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If Mr Docherty is so keen to have 4,000 new houses built, no matter where they are in Dunfermline, then should he not be campaigning for us to have our hospital upgraded and put to the use it was built for?

I have heard stories from various sources about the problems currently being experienced (and hushed up?) in the new Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, i.e. People lying on trollies in corridors for hours due to lack of beds and a sickness and diarrhoea bug in some of the newly opened wards.

There is also a letter in this weeks 'Press' about someone from Cairneyhill going to the Vic for a knee operation trying to park within reasonable walking distance from the hospital and ending up having to park 15 minutes away!

Come on Mr Docherty, stop being so sensitive about your favourite housing estate and get down to the more important issues in the town!

Recommend? Yes 8 No 0
Tradesman
30 posts
Feb 6, 13:27
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Re: NHS hospital provision in an ever expanding Dunfermline

February 6th 2012

New mum's trauma as she has baby on icy pavement outside hospital after ringing buzzer for six minutes

A woman has given birth on the pavement outside a Fife hospital after she was unable to get inside the building.

She waited six minutes in temperatures of minus 4 degrees centigrade for nurses to answer the buzzer at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

She had rung ahead, but the doors to the unit were closed. Temperatures were around freezing at the time; the baby was born before anyone was able to answer the door.

A statement from NHS Fife confirmed a woman had phoned ahead to say she was on her way to the hospital.

NHS Fife and Fife Council planning fails yet again!

Recommend? Yes 16 No 1
ItsErnie
44 posts
Feb 21, 15:59
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Is our newbie MP (who is little more than an incomer foisted on us by Labour) really saying that Duloch is something other than an eyesore? I know noone at all who'd agree with him about this Edinburgh dormitory-land. Sad that he thinks that everyone else should share in the sort of housing wasteland that he and his 'non-snob' neighbours have to endure. Born and bred Fifers know different Mr. Docherty!

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

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