Fife’s Conservatives have published their manifesto with 50 specific proposals ahead of May 5th local council elections.
The party is hoping to increase its 14 elected councillors. Robin Lawson is the Scottish Conservative & Unionist candidate for St Andrews
Dave Dempsey, the Tories’ group leader on Fife Council described the Labour/SNP administration as “woebegone and lacklustre” – and only the Conservatives could use the funds available more effectively.
The manifesto pledges include:
The Local Economy: More and better scrutiny of council decisions, better value for money and decentralising decision making and budget
Support for a mixed economy of council (in-house) and commercial service solutions to maximise value for money
Free parking for one hour stays to encourage local shopping and encourage more local town markets,
Council owned business to give disabled people work experience and skills to help with longer term employment.
Health: Better access to GPs, will raise the hourly rate for care at home workers to £12, and encourage the private sector to build more care homes in towns where they are most needed.
Environment: Fund and build a new recycling centre in Cupar as part of its environment strategy,
Increase the number of community wardens to tackle fly tipping, dog fouling and other anti-social behaviour, and bring in smaller waste bins for houses and flats to cut down on street bin clutter.
Ensure that opening hours of leisure centres meet the needs of the community, investigate the potential for commercial sponsorship of leisure facilities, and examine the viability of building a new, state of the art leisure centre for Dunfermline and West Fife.
Education: A guarantee of at least one STEM qualified teacher in every primary school
A one-stop shop for those on the autistic spectrum and their carers in key location
Strengthening child mental health services, and maintaining the current leadership structure in schools.
Expand capital investment into new schools, including Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy.
Roads: More park and ride facilities, deliver a Fife wide charging infrastructure for electric vehicles by 2026 and reduce speed limits in appropriate built-up areas to make the roads safer and cut emissions.
Additional parent and child parking spaces, and bring road surfaces in Fife up to acceptable standards by 2024 by additional funding and better use of commercial contractors.
Mr Dempsey said: “We see Labour and the SNP promising greater powers for Fife’s seven area committees yet whenever we’ve proposed that for the past five years it’s been voted down. They have had umpteen opportunities, all squandered.”
“Talking the talk is not enough. It’s time to entrust Fife to those who can bring ideas to life.”
For the full Conservative manifesto go to: https://fifeconservatives.uk/images/stories/FCUA_Manifesto.pdf
