🧭 35 Fife Families Facing Eviction

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• 35 Fife Families Facing Eviction

• 38 Events to See This Weekend

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

TODAY’S TOP STORY

🏠 35 Fife Families Facing Eviction

We have been touching on several stories recently around the difficulty of finding housing locally, with plans for restrictions on Short Term Lets in Fife and calls for more council housing to be built. As such, it is tough news to hear that 35 families in West Wemyss and Denbeath are facing eviction within months, some having lived in their properties for over 40 years.

This comes after the properties were sold by Wemyss Estates in September to Torah Capital, who have now announced plans to evict the tenants and sell the propeties on again that they just bought. Local MSP David Torrance said Wemyss Estates had given him assurances at the time of sale that residents could remain tenants. However, this has clearly not happened in practice, with some residents reporting that Wemyss Estates sold their properties at huge discounts and questioning why they weren’t offered to the residents first at the same price.

John Mills, Fife Council's head of housing, has requested an urgent meeting with Torah Capital and assured affected tenants that the council will do all they can to help them remain in their homes.

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🚻 Fife Coast and Countryside Trust’s public toilets have won big at the UK’s ‘Washroom Oscars’, being named Scotland’s top local authority toilets, with Craigmead in the Lomond Hills winning best eco-friendly facilities and the Trust’s in-house cleaning team crowned the best in Scotland.

• 🛡️ With UK defence spending set to rise to 2.36% of GDP by 2027, Fife Council’s Defence Ready Programme has successfully helped 13 local SMEs build capability, secure new customers and access global defence supply chains in 2025.

• 🧑‍💼 Fife Council is encouraging Christmas school leavers and young people seeking a fresh start to explore a wide range of local job opportunities, highlighting flexible roles, apprenticeships and training pathways that support progression. See available jobs here.

• 🚢 Babcock has signed a deal with Indonesia as part of a £4bn Maritime Partnership Programme, securing the delivery of two Arrowhead 140 frigate licences and securing hundreds of high-skilled jobs at Rosyth.

• 🌊 Fife Council has launched a new river level alert system in Cupar, using real-time sensors on the Lady Burn at Skinners Steps to email residents warnings of rising water levels. Fife Council also offers grants of up to £5,000 to help locals purchase and install property flood resilience products.

• 💻 DigiTay has reached a major milestone, supporting over 1,000 people across North East Fife, Angus, Dundee, and Perth & Kinross with digital and data skills, backed by more than £1.5m in Scottish Government funding to strengthen the region’s future digital economy. Learn more about the scheme here.

• 🚨 John Anderson has been appointed Fife’s new divisional commander. With 27 years of policing experience, he aims to lead a shift from reactive policing to prevention and problem-solving, with officers organised into community policing, incident response, and community investigations teams.

• ✈️ A major NATO air exercise, Exercise Point Blank, will take place over Tayside and Fife from January 26th to the 29th and and from February 2nd to the 5th. The drill will involve up to 90 aircraft from the UK, US, and Norway and feature supersonic flying, air-to-air combat, reconnaissance, refuelling, and jamming exercises.

• ⛴️ A Dunkirk Port executive has said that they hope the new Fife to France ferry could be in operation in time for bringing Scotland rugby fans to their six nations match against France in 2027.

• 🏥 The proposed Lochgelly Health Centre is no longer guaranteed to proceed following the Scottish Government’s 2026–27 budget review, with its business case needing to demonstrate value for money.

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

📅 Friday, 23rd January

Creative Craft Club For Adults - Come and enjoy a regular Friday morning of creativity.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Letham Village Hall | 🎟️ £15

Ladies Burn's Lunch - Three-course lunch, bagpipes, DJ, raffle, and auction.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 12pm | 📍 The Adamson, St Andrews | 🎟️ £60

Burns Night Music and Ceilidh - Night of traditional Scottish tunes and lively dancing.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Queens Hall, Charlestown | 🎟️ £10

Paul Jones & Dave Kelly - The Blues Band are now retiring from touring, but their two lead vocalists will continue with their Acoustic Duo concerts.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £41.80

Jamie Adamson and John Muir Jr - Performing originals and covers.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📅 Saturday, 24th January

Feta, Halloumi and Mascarpone Masterclass - Step into the world of artisanal cheesemaking in this hands-on workshop led by cheesemaker Kristen Allan.
📁 Food | 🕢 10am | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £130.67

Introduction to Sculptural Portraiture - Opportunity to explore the approaches to sculptural portraiture using a variety of building methods, materials and processes.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £130

Felted Icelandic Fleece Rug Workshop - Wormit Woolies will lead you through the ancient craft of wet felting your own felted fleece rug.
📁 Art | 🕢 12:30pm | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £89

Ready - Experience the encouraging details and shapes built into READY, hosted by dancer/teacher Matthew Hawkins.
📁 Class | 🕢 1:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

Burns Night Celebration 2026 - Four-course Taste of Scotland Dinner with piper, address to the haggis, Burns poetry, and ceilidh.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:15pm | 📍 Lower College Hall, St Andrews | 🎟️ £69.50

Burns Night Whisky Tasting with The GlenDronach - Intimate guided whisky tasting in the atmospheric surroundings of Room 116.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm & 9:30pm | 📍 The Bridge, St Andrews | 🎟️ £22

Burns Night Party 2026 - Come celebrate Robert Burns at our unique party. There will be live music from William Hershaw & The Leid.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £22.38

Alternative Burns Night Cabaret - Contrived Cabaret presents Alternative Burns Night Cabaret.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £15

Lhamo Grace - Lhamo Grace Live in Fife supported by David Latto.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Barty's, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.75

Tartan Twilight Burns & Ceilidh Night - Dram on arrival, the stirring sound of a piper, and a beautifully crafted 3-course set menu.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Forgan's St Andrews | 🎟️ £65

Around the World Whisky Tasting - From familiar Scottish malts to exotic world whiskies, we'll take your taste buds on a journey.
📁 Food | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Culross Stables | 🎟️ Donation

Burns Night Ceilidh - Join us for a family fun night of Scottish tunes and dancing to celebrate Burns Night with James Coutts Ceilidh Band.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Auchtertool Village Hall | 🎟️ £10

Burns Night with Hortus - Collection of sung delights exploring the music and song traditions from which Burns' genius emerged.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Falkland Palace | 🎟️ £15

80s Live - Get ready as we bring you the biggest 80s party show to tour the UK.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £32

Scott Watson & Friends - Scott & Friends will have you on the edge of your seats with Live Music, Live Singing, Dancing, Comedy & Very Special Guests.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £15+

The Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - Our classic, electrifying SAHB set! All the classic songs and hits.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £27.50

📅 Sunday, 25th January

Lego Play Day - Open throughout the day for families to get creative with Lego.
📁 Children | 🕢 10am | 📍 R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Rosyth Community Market - Fabulous selection of stalls selling a huge variety of food, crafts and more!
📁 Markets | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ Free

Winter Warmer - The Racewall brings all the action from Van Bangers, Junior Bangers & Prostock Basics.
📁 Sport | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Cowdenbeath Racewall | 🎟️ £18.50

The Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - Our classic, electrifying SAHB set! All the classic songs and hits.
📁 Music | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £27.50

Cellardyke Harbour to Anstruther Walking Tour - Walk the town’s rich past, historic stories of the press gang and Nelson’s navy, fisherfolk’s lives, storms, shipwrecks and the gold rush.
📁 Tour | 🕢 2:30pm | 📍 Cellardyke Harbour | 🎟️ £11.55

John Cleese Packs It In -  1 85-year-old Man, 5 Countries, 16 Cities, 23 shows, 6 weeks.
📁 Movie | 🕢 3pm | 📍 Crail Community Hall | 🎟️ £12

Community Sauna - Our wood-fired sauna is held outdoors at the beautiful Kinghorn Loch. Come and relax, restore, and step into the new year.
📁 Sport | 🕢 4:15pm | 📍 Kinghorn Loch | 🎟️ £5+

Mallory Chipman & Maddisun - Double Bill of touring Canadian folk artists.
📁 Music | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £11.55

📅 Monday, 26th January

REHIS Elementary Food Hygiene - Course designed to give food handlers a basic knowledge and understanding of the causes of food poisoning.
📁 Food | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Greener Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £50

Fabulous Felt and Fibre Art Club - Get creative with the wonderful art of needle felting, with 4-week and 8-week block options to choose from.
📁 Art | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Anderson Hall, Leslie | 🎟️ £65+

Stephen K Amos - Ready for a night of laughter you won't forget!!
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Markinch Town Hall | 🎟️ £25

🎉 Multi-Day Events & Exhibitions

From These Parts: Scotland, Art and Identity - Special preview evening filled with live music, drinks, and creative activities.
📅 Sat, 18th October - Sun, 15th February | 🕢 10am | 📍 Wardlaw Museum | 🎟️ Free

Paul McGinty: Beneath The Surface - This body of work represents elements of Paul McGinty's ongoing research into the history of the Coal Mining Industry in Fife.
📅 Thu, 8th January - Fri, 27th February | 🕢 10am-4pm (Thu & Fri) | 📍 Adam Smith Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Unveiling the Madonna - Discover the story behind the Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist, the oldest painting in our art collection.
📅 Sat, 8th November - Sat, 7th March | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

Scottish Snowdrop Festival 2026 - Visitors can enjoy our winter garden and specialist snowdrop collection and the swathes of naturalised snowdrops in our woodland walk to the sea.
📅 Sun, 25th January - Sun, 15th March | 🕢 10am | 📍 Cambo Country House and Estate | 🎟️ Varies

Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

Kirkcaldy Boot & Mart - Indoor and outdoor market held every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
📅 Sat, 10th January - Wed, 16th December | 🕢 9am (Wed, Sat, & Sun) | 📍 6 Michelson Drive, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

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THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan