Hall Committee – After over 20 years of tireless service, Jennifer Burnett has now retired from the Ardgay Hall Management Committee.
The workload Jennifer had carried for so long has now been divided into two – Fiona Mackenzie of 4, Carron Place, Ardgay, is the Hall Booking Secretary and Rhonwen Copley is to be business secretary.
Also leaving the committee is Rhona Macfarland, who has given unstinting service as hall treasurer over most of the last 20 years, too.
The experience accumulated by both Jennifer and Rhona will be missed by the new committee, who have sent grateful thanks to them both.
Looking forward, planning is now in hand for the Hall's fund raising auction, which is to be held in June this year.
The new committee would also welcome any suggestions or ideas either for future use of the hall or self-help ways of fund raising.
SWRI – Ardgay SWRI held their first meeting of the year at Ardgay Hall when Angi Sutherland, President, opened it.
Jean Jack, Secretary, read out the apologies and dealt with the business that had accrued over the Christmas period.
Members all agreed that the Christmas lunch was very much enjoyed at The Carnegie Lodge Hotel (see photo).
The February whist drive was discussed so that members know what to provide.
Angi welcomed the speaker, the Rev Anthony Jones, who had been invited to talk to the members about the Rotarians.
The Rotarian club was founded in Chicago in 1905. At first it was all males but in 1989 women members were allowed to join. They were known as the Inner Wheel.
Today there are 33,000 Rotary clubs in 200 countries round the world. Their motto is "Service Above Self" and their aims are "to make life better locally, regionally and internationally, to get rid of poverty and hunger, improve health and sanitation and provide education and job training and work for world peace."
Rotarians are mostly professional and business people who volunteer their time and expertise, and raise funds to support local projects, local groups and charities.
They have a training programme for young people, provide water purification boxes and emergency shelter boxes that help those suffering in disasters round the world.
Rotary's Polio Plus programme is dedicated to eradication of polio from the world for which they have worked for over 20 years and as a result have saved an estimated five million children from the disease.
Rev Jones is the President of the Tain branch and told everyone a little of his work there.
Angi thanked Rev. Jones for his interesting and informative talk and asked if he would kindly judge the competitions:
A cot or pram rug – 1 Julie Davies, 2 Jean Jack 3 Gillian Glennie. Sausage rolls – 1 Gillian Glennie.
Tea was served and cake as well as it was member Pam Nash's birthday.
Next meeting will be on February 21st at Ardgay Hall at 7.30pm, all welcome.
Community Council – Ardgay Community Council held its January meeting in the Ardgay Church Hall.
Colin Mitchell, from The Lady Ross, attended to give an update on the situation there. After the fire in the building, a problem with insurance led to the closure of the business, ownership of which passed into the hands of the Trustee KPMG.
Mr Mitchell and his wife continue to live in the premises and as local residents for some 30 years remain as keen as anyone to see the building re-open to offer a service to the community in the heart of the village. The recent roof work was halted while the matters of responsibility for health and safety and repairs and maintenance were resolved. Work will be carried out to ensure the building is kept wind and watertight.
On school transport, Highland Councillor Linda Munro reported that the bus transportation to Dornoch for exam year children will continue until the end of the summer term.
A meeting has been arranged with Matt Dent, Core Path Officer for Highland Council, over the Ardgay Hill-Oakwood Place footpath, after which Cllr Munro will help local residents to work with the Tenants Association Officer to take responsibility for the path.
At Culrain Station, the danger from the standing water being contaminated by animal waste was pointed out. No replies had been received at the time of this meeting from SEPA or ScotRail. Cllr Munro will take the matter to the Environmental Health Department.
Cllr Munro advised that Highland Council has recently agreed to put more money into TEC Services specifically to deal with major road issues such as drainage and potholes throughout the region.
Calls were made for more detail on Highland Council road closure signs, highlighting as an example the recent closure of the B9176 Struie Hill road. The signs at the northern end of the road indicated that the complete road was closed when in fact access through Alness still allowed use of the hill crossing. Signs erected in Ardgay when the Bailey Bridge at Strathoykel is closed due to flooding are not visible from the main road, resulting in drivers often reaching the Rosehall end of the bridge before discovering the closure. Bob Sendall will talk with John Clark in Highland Council offices in Bonar Bridge to improve signage.
The swing bridge at Tuiteam has been closed for approximately two years. It is an essential link for residents in Strathoykel when the river floods closing the Bailey Bridge. The bridge is owned by Highland Council and is Listed by Historic Scotland. Cllr Munro will make further enquiries at Highland Council with a view to repairs being carried out.
New members of the Community Council gave their personal opinions regarding the development of windfarms in the area. Agreement was forthcoming that in future Community Benefit must be directed to improve conditions and services for all local residents. The bigger picture could cover schemes for sustainable community heating projects, community ownership of turbines, cuts in energy costs, etc. It was agreed that the Community Council would not submit an objection to the proposed Sallachy windfarm at this stage.
The loss of the Alladale cafe in the village was noted with sadness as yet another village amenity is lost. The question was raised regarding the "Keep Out" signs around the Alladale Estate itself and this will be put to Matt Dent this month.
Cllr Munro is keen to instigate better communication between Highland Council and community councils and offered to arrange for a high ranking council official to attend a Community Council meeting to answer questions and listen to the feelings of the local community.
Changes at some Health Centres to prescribing procedures will not affect the Bonar Bridge Surgery which will continue to operated its service as before.
The idea of a community bus service to meet the late night train which currently terminates in Tain was put forward, as was the suggestion that the train could continue as far as Ardgay. This will be an agenda item for further discussion next month.
The Pan-Highland Community Benefit plan currently under discussion at Highland Council has raised some local concerns while also offering some benefit to the less well off areas within the region. It was agreed that the Community Council will keep a watching brief as this matter progresses.
Thanks were expressed for the use of Ardgay Church Hall for the meeting and a donation will made to Kincardine Parish Church in appreciation.
The next meeting of the Community Council will be held at 7pm on Monday, 13th February, in Ardgay Village Hall. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and will be made welcome.
