A discussion took place about the demolition of the former Sutherland Arms Hotel in the village. This is due to start next week and is expected to be complete by January 19 next year. Around seven contractors will be involved in the demolition work. Painted and treated wood will be removed to a specialised location, but untreated wood can be burned on the site. Some of the stone will be stored for foundation work on the new hotel building, and slate will also be kept.

Asbestos has already been removed by specialists. The demolition area will be secured within fencing.

Plans were circulated showing the proposed new hotel building and three blocks of luxury flats in adjacent grounds.

David Walker is to contact the planning office intimating the community council's approval for the new hotel, but expressing concern about the height of the three-storey flats adjacent to private residential bungalows.

Next on the agenda was discussion of Highland Council's draft local plan for Sutherland, currently out for consultation. In Lairg, 13 sites had been earmarked for possible housing or business development, although not all are likely to be used. The population of Lairg at present was said to be 700, and regeneration of the local economy essential to sustain services. Employment opportunities in Lairg have declined over the years, one example being in forestry where at one time 60 people were employed and now there are only four. Questions were asked about fuel prices and whether these could be subsidised in the north.

Members of the community council and the general public were urged to fill in the planning department's discussion document, entitled Sutherland Futures, by December 15 to give their opinions on the future development of the county. The questionnaires are available from the Service Point, and some households may have received one through the post.

Other matters discussed included parking in Lochside. It was pointed out that several cars were parked on the main road coming into the village from the north and that children could be knocked down by vehicles speeding into the village without observing the speed limits.

Regarding the Rosehall wind farm decision, a meeting to try to reverse this decision had to be cancelled due to the storms, but a full meeting of the Highland Council is planned to discuss the subject and this will take place in Lairg.

A plan to build four houses on a small parcel of land behind Churchill Road was discussed. The community council were astonished that these plans had never come to them for discussion prior to consent being given by the Highland Council.

Secretary Moira Matheson passed round a quarterly newsletter that she had acquired from another area and asked members if they thought it might be a good idea to have one for Lairg, giving out information about general village matters. This is being considered.

Concern was expressed that calls to Highland Council Service Points were now being routed through a central call centre in Alness, and members of the public were now unable to talk to local staff about local problems. There had been no consultation with the community council on this matter and the members thought it was totally out of order.

The chairman, Morag Macdonald, said the Service Point was there for the community and it was very unhelpful for such calls to be diverted. Not only that, call centre staff now wanted all sorts of personal information before they would deal with any query.

It was agreed to write to Graeme McLaughlin, area manager, with a copy to Highland Council convener Alison Magee.

A letter is to be sent to the roads department about the state of roads, drains and the Ord Place car park in the village. A member of the public raised the matter of drains not being cleaned as they should be, which of course contributed to flooding. There was also concern about youths over school age wandering in residential areas between midnight and the early hours of the morning, behaving in a loud, rowdy and anti-social manner.

The next meeting of the community council will be on Wednesday, December 6.

Youth Club - The churches in Lairg have joined together to run a non-denominational youth club for young people of secondary school age in the village.

This meets on Thursday evenings in the school gym and canteen. On its first meeting night, the evening of the recent storm, 18 people attended and the following week in better weather there were 28 people.

The club is run by eight regular leaders and activities so far have involved ball games in the gym and craft work in the canteen. Tea or hot chocolate is served during the evening and a tuck shop is available.

It is hoped to offer other activities, including music, as the season progresses. Chairman of the club is Leslie Goskirk.

Children in Need - Keith Legge, proprietor of the Mace shop at the foot of Main Street, is running a charity event for the Children in Need Appeal next Friday, November 17. He has a Pudsey Bear in the shop attached to a bucket and pulley system and hopes that people will put their loose change into the bucket to see how far up the wall they can raise the bear. A raffle will also be drawn.

Bonfire - Lairg Gala Week held their annual bonfire and fireworks night at Ferrycroft last Saturday. After a wet day it was dry in the evening and a good crowd attended the event.

Between £700 and £800 worth of fireworks were lit and the bonfire was a grand sight. The guy on top was made by Lairg's nursery class. Glow necklaces, bracelets and torches were also on sale.

After the bonfire the Gala draw was made at the Nip Inn and a quiz was run in aid of the Light Up Lairg committee.

Gala Week Draw - The Gala Week 200 Club draw for October was made in the Nip Inn after the annual bonfire night on Saturday. The winners were: £200 Betty Coghill, Ord Place; £100 Niall Sutherland, Main Street; £50 Alison Ross, Ord Place; £25 Jackie Young, Lochside.

Christmas Sale - The annual sale of Christmas cards, calendars and gifts for charity took place on Saturday morning. The total raised from sales, and a continental breakfast served by members of the Guild, was £1430. The event was organised by Margaret Stoddart and Fiona MacLeod.

The Guild - The Lairg Guild met in the Church of Scotland hall at the beginning of the month, when the guest speaker was Dr Rosie Reid from Bonar Bridge. She spoke about body image, which is the Guild theme for the season. This covered positive thinking and selfconfidence, particularly for young people. The meeting was well attended and tea was served by Mrs I MacLeod, Mrs M Munro and Mrs M Young.

Whist - The whist drive held in Lairg Community Centre on Monday raised £65 for hall funds. The winners were: Ladies - 1 Ishbel Mackay, 2 Jean Johnson, consolation Marie Mackay. Gents - 1 Donnie Macdonald, 2 Isobel MacNeill, consolation Cathie Ross. Next week's whist is for cerebral palsy.

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