A DUNFERMLINE campaigner has made a call to action to newly-elected councillors to help in their efforts to preserve woodland in the town.

Martin Willcocks, of the Save our Calais Woods group, made an appeal to the representatives of Dunfermline Central and Dunfermline South to meet with them so he can outline challenges and issues they are currently faced with.

The move comes after Mr Willcocks was unable to secure a seat as an independent councillor in the Dunfermline South ward.

"It is something, if I was in the door as such, that is where I would be going with it," he said. "I am not in the door so I am kind of passing it back onto them.

"I felt let down by the previous councillors because I didn't think they put enough effort into supporting what we have been doing in our area and what has been happening in the area.

"That was the main reason why I put myself up. I thought if the job is not getting done by other people, I will do it myself. It is a call to action for the new elected councillors."

Two SNP councillors were due to meet Martin over the weekend while he was also due to meet Liberal Democrat councillors James Calder and Aude Boubaker-Calder this week to highlight issues.

However he is keen to ensure all eight councillors whose ward includes parts of the historic woodland get onboard.

Martin explained: "Previously they have passed it to different people for different areas of expertise – I kind of believe they were a bit scared to come anywhere near it. It is maybe not a vote winner for them but they have got to step up. I was ready to set up and give it a go."

For years, the campaign group has worked for action to protect Calais Woods and recent issues have included felling of trees, work taking place in buffer zones and sediment running into ponds.

"I am keen to get as many as possible along so I can show them all this," said Martin. "They are all getting dealt with in one way or another but not effectively.

"Fife Council enforcement went round there three weeks ago with the enforcement officer. It is good he is kind of on the case but the enforcement officer is more of a negotiator than an enforcement officer – Fife Council have not given them enough power.

"They are understaffed and that is another thing I will be pushing for elected councillors to push Fife Council on.

"It is the same with planning and the green spaces department. They went from a team of 15 to three. All these departments are lacking.

"That is why whenever we come up with an issue, there is a lacklustre response because there aren't enough people in the department.

"If someone is off sick, there is noone there to cover and the issues that we raise are just left in a tray for weeks, sometimes months, on end.

"My call to action is for all these ongoing issues that have been going on for the last few years. It is frustrating that they are still ongoing."