Cynicism over town’s regeneration plans

Sir, - Whatever happened to the SNP local election manifesto commitment last spring to reopen Glenwood library?

I see that Planning Aid Scotland’s Julia Frost claims that new plans for the regeneration of the entire Glenwood complex would mean the building would be replaced by a ‘community hub’ with a book lending capability (Courier, January 6).

I don’t want to belittle the fine work her organisation has done in the last two years to at least provide some hope that the area can be renewed.

However, perhaps the new administration at Fife House – effectively a Labour/SNP coalition – could have made clear to her that a library facility (run, if necessary, by the council rather than the cultural trust) should have been included in the plans.

It might help convince the local community that the plans are more than a pipe dream.

For, make no mistake about it, there is still a lot of cynicism in the west of Glenrothes about council promises.

The closure of a primary school and a well-equipped and much used library in the space of two years has left a sour taste in the mouth.

Whilst Labour never hid its support for the closure of 16 libraries throughout Fife, the SNP did express serious concern about the impact on many parts of the region.

But it is not too late, councillors still have the opportunity to show some drive and uphold the promise to keep a library in the west of Glenrothes.

Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.

Picture: Steven Brown. The Glenwood area is in line for “regeneration”.