 |
News from Barra |
VISIT OF EMPLOYMENT
SERVICE DIRECTOR
Barra this week played host to the Employment Service Director
for Scotland, Mr Alan Brown who, on Tuesday afternoon, along with
Stornoway Jobcentre Manager Bob Stewart, visited Barratlantic
to discuss how the firm could make best use of Jobcentre services
available to them. On Wednesday Mr Brown visited the offices of
Voluntary Action where he met two New Deal trainees at the Barra
Learning Centre and then went on to meet six employees of the
New Deal Community Employment Initiative at Borve where they are
taking part in a thatching project. Mr Brown commented that the
Employment Service through Jobcentres is responsible for the delivery
of New Deal regardless of location. The Island of Barra is an
example of a small remote community pulling together to ensure
New Deal is effective.
Modest
Recovery of Traigh Mhor Cockle Stock
Early studies, prior to 1995, suggested that Traigh Mhor supported a fairly stable population of cockles which gave consistent biomass (wt) estimates in the region of 1000 tonnes. The last survey conducted in 1995 estimated that the biomass had fallen to 25% of the level recorded in previous surveys, following the introduction of tractor raking methods in 1994. A ban was introduced on the use of tractor raking and dredging methods under the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Order in 1995.
A follow-up survey was conducted this year to determine the extent to which the cockle stock had recovered since the introduction of the ban. This survey indicates a modest increase in the stock to about 400 tonnes - still well below the stock levels found in 1993 and earlier. It was anticipated that the full recovery of the stock would take several years and the report on the most recent survey recommends that in order to ensure the stock has a chance to recover that fishing efforts should not be increased above current levels.
Welcome Back
We would like to welcome Margaret Anne Brown back home and wish her all the best in her recovery. Birthday wishes are extended to Margaret Anne who celebrates her 21st on
SAFER BERTHING
FOR BARRA LIFEBOAT
Work, currently underway at Castlebay
pier to complete the provision of a safer berth for the Barra
lifeboat, is due for completion by the end of next week. Contractors
R & J MacLeod stated that blasting is nearly finished with
only one more to go and around 5,000 tons of rock has now been
deposited temporarily in the bay in front of the Main Street.
Two thousand tons of rock was imported to form a bund for the
blasting and a further 3,000 tons was blasted for extraction.
The new berth, which began construction with the extension to
Castlebay pier, now has a depth of 3 metres at the lowest tide
and overall the berth is 30 metres long and 20 metres wide which
allows for safe manoeuvring of the lifeboat in all weathers -
far safer for the new crew than trying to board the boat on an
exposed mooring, from a small dinghy in storm force winds.
The temporary storage of the rock in the bay will hopefully encourage
capital allocation of funds to provide a proper access road and
additional parking for Rhu next year.
WESTERN
ISLES COUNCIL SCOOPS UK TRANSPORT AWARD
Sarah Boyack, Minister for Environment
and Transport and Alasdair Morrison, Deputy Minister for Highland
& Islands & Tourism congratulated Comhairle nan Eilean
Siar for winning a major passenger transport award. Presented
by the Institute of Logistics and Transport, the award for passenger
transport operatives was presented to the Western Isles Islands
Council for their initiative in increasing public transport mileage
and number of passengers carried. In a letter to the Comhairle,
Sarah Boyack said "During a tour of the Western Isles this
summer I was greatly impressed by the excellent bus and ferry
services linking the islands. During my short visit I managed
to call on eight islands using the transport network." Alasdair
Morrison echoed Sarah Boyack's statement. He said "I am delighted
in the increase in use of services by islanders and by tourists.
This has been particularly apparent on the west side of Lewis,
Harris, the Uist spinal road and Barra."
ARTIST
ON THE EDGE
The Mingulay artist, Julie Brooks, has opened her most recent
exhibition in Glasgow's Collins Gallery. Open from 16 October
and running until 13 November the exhibition includes dramatic
paintings, photographs of sculptures and a short film shot. The
central feature of the exhibition is Biulacraig, the towering
cliffs of the island. Julie will always welcome islanders to come
and view her work.
CHURCH APPOINTS NEW BISHOP
The Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday
announced the appointment of a new Bishop for the Diocese of Argyll
& the Isles. The Right Reverend Monsignor Ian Murray, 67,
will be installed as the new Bishop in Oban on 7 December. Monsignor
Murray is currently serving as Vicar General of the Archdiocese
of St Andrews & Edinburgh and is also parish priest in Falkirk.
Although not a Gaelic speaker Monsignor Murray indicated his willingness
to try and learn to say the Mass in Gaelic but does not expect
to attain fluency. He was born in Lennoxtown and educated at St
Ninian's, Kirkintilloch and St Mary's college, Aberdeen. He studied
at the Royal Scott's College at Valladolid, Spain where he was
ordained in 1956. After almost 3 years without a Bishop the news
of Monsignor Murray's appointment by Archbishop O'Brian, who has
been covering Argyll & the Isles in the interim, has been
greeted as welcome news throughout the diocese. The short leet
for the post included missionary Father Colin MacInnes from Uist
and Rome based Monsignor Gerard MacKay.
TELEG GETS UNDER WAY
TeleG, the first daily Gaelic television
service, was launched on 31 October '99, providing at least half
an hour of Gaelic programmes each evening, commencing at 6pm on
Channel 18 on Multiplex A. Transmissions will be available on
a phased basis to households capable of receiving a digital terrestrial
signal. People in the Inverness area, Central Scotland and Angus
were first to receive the new service and viewers in Lewis will
be able to view on November 29 when the Eitshal digital transmitter
comes on stream. Extending the service to more remote areas is
expected to take longer. Murdo MacLennan, Head of Operations with
TeleG, who run the multiplex channel which carries the Gaelic
service, said "This is only the beginning. These are tentative
steps towards a multi?channel era where viewers will have better
access to programming. Soon most homes in the country will have
access to digital services. Gaelic is there from the beginning.
One of the strengths of the new service is the consistency each
day when viewers are guaranteed to see Gaelic programmes at peak
times."
CLAYMORE ROUTE IN QUESTION
The seasonal ferry service using
the MV Claymore running between Campbeltown and Ballycastle is
understood to be on the brink of closure after just two years
of operation. Ray Michie, MP for Argyll & Bute will outline
the services problems in the House of Commons in an effort to
secure a future for the ferry service. Sea Containers are as yet
undecided whether the service will operate next summer raising
a question over employment for crew and for the small communities
on either side.
BLUE LIGHT FOR LIFELINE SERVICES
Transport Minister, Sarah Boyack, today welcomed the news that
key transport providers in the Highlands & Islands would not
be affected by the millennium bug. Highlands & Islands Airports,
Loganair and Caledonian MacBrayne have now completed their independent
assessments for the Year 2000 date change and are fully compliant.
An independent assessment by Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed
the "blue" status of Highlands & Islands Airports
and Loganair. This means it will be business as usual for lifeline
air services. Ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne, who were declared
98% "blue" at the recent Action 2000 National Infrastructure
Forum last week has completed its independent checks on the one
outstanding item ? winches on the "Caledonian Isles"
? which had not previously been fully reviewed. These winches
have now been tested and are Year 2000compliant. Miss Boyack said
"I am pleased that the independent assessment of lifeline
services has confirmed the "blue" status of airport,
airline, ferry and port operators. This will give confidence to
the travelling public and to island residents that the Year 2000
bug will not disrupt their essential transport services. I am
grateful for the very hard work which these companies have put
in over the past couple of years to secure the safety and continuity
of services over the Millennium."
CASTLEBAY ENHANCEMENT PLAN
Over 20 crofters from townships around the Castlebay area met
with Crofters Commission representatives on Monday evening in
an exercise to identify improvements that they, as crofters, would
wish to see carried out to enhance the Castlebay area. Following
the meeting an open session was held on Tuesday to enable other
people to contribute and comment on the suggestions. There were
many wide ranging improvements suggested but very clearly from
a crofting view point. This however, is only part of the process
of the enhancement plan as the Comhairle and other agencies will
be carrying out similar exercises with young people and also with
Castlebay residents.
LIFEBOAT
RESCUE REMEMBERED
The island community,
enjoying a month of exceptionally good weather, recalls a night
when the weather was wild to the extreme and the local lifeboat,
the "R.A.Colby Cubbin No.3" and its crew narrowly escaped
disaster. Twenty years ago on the 18th of November 1979 the Barra
Lifeboat was called to assist the "Lone Dania" a Danish
freighter in difficulties off Coll. Under the direction of John
Allen MacNeil the lifeboat set off from Castlebay in the dead
of night. Eight miles off Barra, in mountainous seas, the lifeboat
hit a freak wave and capsized. Although not designed as a self?righting
lifeboat, the R.A. Colby Cubbin 3 had been modified with an automatic
inflating balloon and this new feature righted the boat, saving
the lives of the crew. The lifeboat however was soon drifting
helplessly with the boat's ropes caught in its propellers. Without
radio, lights or engine, and at the mercy of the storm, the crew
could only sit and wait their fate. Oban Coastguard, on losing
radio contact with the lifeboat raised the alarm and at the same
time another freighter in the vicinity is believed to have relayed
what they thought might have been a radio message from the remains
of the lifeboat's communications equipment. The Islay lifeboat
was already on its way to the "Lone Dania" and what
had started as a single rescue became a triple one as the Islay
lifeboat also overturned. The Islay boat however was designed
as s self?righting boat and did not find itself in the same dire
straits as the Barra lifeboat. As daylight dawned 4 crew members
were airlifted off the Colby Cubbin by helicopter for hospital
treatment for minor injuries. The lifeboat was then taken in tow
towards Maoldomhnaich by a Robertson's coaster, skippered by Donald
MacKinnon, brother of Seumas Ban. The Notre Dame, skippered by
Roddy MacIntyre, picked up the tow and took the Lifeboat into
Castlebay where the Lone Dania was already alongside the pier.
She remained there for some time, refusing to leave until her
cargo was moved to deal her severe list, the original cause of
the emergency. The Barra lifeboat crew that night, along with
John Allen, were Calum Clelland,
Ruairidh MacLean, Ian Beag MacNeil, Paul Hillhouse, Joe MacLeod,
Michael (Ruaraidh) MacNeiland Donald Joseph (Marrat) Gillies.
The RNLI learned many design lessons from this incident which
became very close to being a major tragedy.
SKYE CHURCH
FUND GETS A MAJOR BOOST
The group who recently
embarked on the marathon task of fund raising to convert an old
barn for use as a Roman Catholic church in Broadford in Skye can
be well pleased with the result of last weeks effort. The auction
and dinner dance held last weekend raised a total, so far, of
£15,480. Organisers have indicated that the project is now
well on target as a result of this magnificent effort and hopes
are high that the church will be ready for worship for Christmas.
BLYTHSWOOD SHOEBOX APPEAL
Many thanks to everyone who took part in the Blythswood Shoebox
Appeal this year. A total of 122 boxes were sent to Oban last
week and are now en route to Eastern Europe where they will be
handed out to those in desperate need this Christmas. £81.53
was also raised to help towards transportation costs. Special
thanks are expressed to staff, parents and children at Castlebay
Primary School, staff at Castlebay Post Office and to Hector and
Katie, for use of the bread van. A wonderful effort was made by
all. Moran Taing
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Determined to prove his innocence, Jake, he of the labrador make,
strolled into Castlebay this week and made his way to the source
of the accusations against him. With skill and dexterity he opened
the door to the Guth Bharraidh office and demanded that a retraction
be made of the derogatory comments made in a previous issue of
a certain local paper. Diverted by a bribe of chicken his likeness
was taken and, as with any other media star, is being broadcast
over the worldwide web as a warning to all shoppers to beware.
Read about the on-going story below.
September 1999 (Guth Bharraidh)
BAG SNATCHER
A black Labrador
dog has on several occasions been spotted helping himself to goodies
(meat, chicken, sausages, steak, etc) out of bags belonging to
shoppers from outlying areas. Bags left unattended in the Street
have been known to vanish and anxious shoppers are now expressing
concern about the cost of "stolen" goods.
October 1999 (Guth Bharraidh)
A DOG NAMED JAKE
I'll tell you my
story, my name is Jake According to the Guth I'm a labrador make
I roam the streets day and night Looking for a snack, a nibble
or a bite My name is Jake
Now I'm not the worst dog in Barra by far, I don't chase sheep,
just the odd car, My bark is definitely worse than my bite But
that doesn't make what I do right My name is Jake
If I've got a fault its that I like to eat Bread, cheese and any
kind of meat, It has been said I like the odd steak But that's
not true they've made a mistake My name is Jake
My worst week was because of the Guth They were all on the look
out for "An Cu Mor Dubh" On the next day out I got shot
twice Just cause I stole someones curry and rice My name is Jake
Now I go round in a big yellow van Everything I eat comes out
of a can All the kids ask "what's happened to Jake"
The one in the Guth "the labrador make" My name is Jake
? The Bag Snatcher (Email
Jake)
CASH
AND COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS
The Western Isles Post Office and Telecommunications committee
met in Stornoway last Wednesday. Among the issues raised at the
meeting was the problem associated with mail deliveries to Barra,
most recently when the airport in Glasgow was fog bound and although
passengers were transferred to Prestwick and Edinburgh for their
flight to Barra, there appeared to be no system in place for Royal
Mail to transfer the mail. Royal Mail representatives present
at the meeting stated that the only reason for the mail delivery
problems to Barra was caused by problems with the plane. This
was also the reason given for delays to the inter island mail
service ? a reason that Loganair are unlikely to accept willingly.
Post Office Counters did indicate an interest in giving consideration
to the provision of a cash dispenser (through Giro Bank) in Castlebay
should the present discussions underway with the Royal Bank come
to nothing. On the issue of mobile phone coverage for the area
a senior engineer from Vodaphone stated "Barra is currently
in our schedule for February 2000. This forecast date is given
in good faith and at the moment we have no reason to doubt it
will happen. However, experience has shown that there are many
possible hurdles and that on air dates for sites can often slip.
I invite you to enquire again one calendar month from now."
www.isleofbarra.com
Not being fully aware of the wide reach of the internet the experience
of being involved in the setting up of the Isle of Barra site
has been an eye opener. This website is still in its early stages,
has not yet been submitted to the major search engines, but already
is being visited approximately 6,000 times per week. Links from
all over the world (16 countries to date) are registering and
the statistics show that they peak the day the Guth news is placed
on the web. Over 1,000 visits last week in response to the lifeboat
story ? hard to believe?
CHILDREN
IN NEED
Throughout the day on Friday there was a steady flow of pupils, teachers, parents and other members of the community, placing their change and foreign coins in the letters which had been chalked out in the dining room. The fact that these letters had to be added to, on more than one occasion, showed:
(i) the community's generosity
(ii) the pupils' eagerness to reach the target which would allow
them to throw Mr Bowman in the pool!
£320 was raised - well done
to all who participated, and thanks to a number of individuals
who made substantial donations.
20mph LIMIT FOR
SCHOOLS
At this week's meeting of the Education Committee of the Comhairle,
consideration was given to changes to the implementation of 20
mph limits on roads outside schools. These speed limits can now
be implemented by the Comhairle without the neeed for approval
from the Scottish Executive. Appropriate locations for a 20mph
limit would be where such a limit could be implemented with a
degree of confidence that such limits would be adhered to by the
average driver and enforced by the police. The recommendation
to the committee was that where appropriate locations occur adjacent
to schools 20mph speed limits be investigated as part of the proposed
programme for traffic management at schools. The road outside
Castlebay school would appear to be such an area.
COMMUNITY
SKIPS
The Comhairle Environmental Services Department apologise for
the breakdown in communication which resulted in one of the community
skips being delivered to Ardveenish pier without consulting the
local Community Council co?ordinator. At no time was there any
intention of intervening in the local management of the skip service
and neither was there any move to alter the rota system that has
been put in place. Part of the management agreement with the community
councils includes notifying the Environmental Services Department
of any problems arising locally with the skip service. The Department
were unaware, until the news appeared in Guth Bharraidh, that
a problem had arisen and regret the outcome which resulted in
the resignation of the local co?ordinator. Environmental Services
would like to take this opportunity to point out again that the
skips are for community waste. All shops and hotels must dispose
of their waste by the normal waste collection route. Other commercial
organisations can arrange to hire a skip to dispose of their waste.
Currently the volume of commercial waste being deposited in the
community skips is denying the public of the full benefits of
the Skip system. Mary Belle Galbraith, chairperson, Northbay Community
Council has taken over as the contact person for the skip for
that area. The rota, as devised by the previous co?ordinator,
will continue and the skip will be in Suideachan next week.
MASTS
SHOULD BE PLANNED
In evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Transport and Environment
Committee a senior planner from Highland Council stated that stronger
controls were needed over the development rights of telecommunications
systems operators (ie mobile phones etc). Currently Masts of up
to 15 metres in height can be erected without planning consent.
It is Highland Councils view that new free standing masts should
be the subject of planning consent to ensure that the public are
aware of them and decisions can be taken in a democratic manner.
He stated that "the Highlands represent a tremendous landscape
resource which needs to be protected sensibly. New mast structures
in both urban and rural areas are causing considerable public
concern ? including (for communities living under such masts)
an emerging health issue"
BISHOP OF ARGYLL AND THE ISLES
The new bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Monsignor Iain Murray,
was consecrated on Tuesday in St Columba's cathedral in Oban.
The ordination service was led by Cardinal Winning, Keith O' Brien
,Arch bishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and Archbishop Pablo
Puente, and attended by priests and people from all over Scotland
including a large contingent fron the islands.
RIGHT TO BUY HOMES
The best ever tenants' rights package was unveiled by Communities
Minister Wendy Alexander as part of proposals for next year's
Housing Bill. The major package of proposals includes giving all
tenants in socially rented housing the right to buy their home.
Ms Alexander said "Most Scots want to own homes ? 83% in
the most recent survey. But we need to modernise the right to
buy for the 21st century. We want to end the current confused
web of tenancies ? with a clear simple package for all social
tenants as a consequence.
BARRA JUVENILE SHINTY CLUB
Winter Indoor League
It's official! West Park are the inaugural champions of the Barra
First?Shinty League.
Saturday, 4 December saw the final matches of the league being
played in the Games Hall, Castlebay School. As usual all matches
were keenly contested with the eventual winners, West Park, just
holding off a strong challenge from DX to claim the title. Well
done West Park! Team:? N Ferguson, (captain) S MacLennan, A MacInnes,
S Ferguson, A J MacLean. Congratulations also to James Davidson
who was awarded the player of the league medal. The club members
would like to thank Mrs Mary Belle Galbraith who presented the
trophy to the winning team and medals to all the competitors,
and for her kind words of encouragement. Would all members please
note that training recommences on Saturday, 15 January 2000. Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
CUITHIR HOUSING UNDERWAY
There are visible signs
of progress now on the Cuithir housing site, the first kit house
frame has been erected and work is underway on the second block.
Barra & Vatersay Housing Association have been working on
this project for at least five years and this is the second project
they have undertaken to date. The Scottish Office policy is that
Housing Association's have to be viable but they do not give small
rural housing associations the funding required to reach viability.
Projections for the Barra Association is that 50 houses are required
for financial viablity.
It is with considerable concern that small housing association's
heard last week's announcement that the right to buy would be
extended to Housing Association tenants. This appears to be a
purely political move which would make it more attractive for
the transfer of local authority housing stock to alternative ownership.
It would be more appropriate to extend the support available and
encourage tenants to build new homes through the Rural Home Ownership
Grant or improving the Grant And Loan Scheme for Croft Housing
thus keeping rented housing available for communities as required.
WORKING FOR COMMUNITIES - PROGRESS
REPORT
The steering group met on Monday, 6 December to approve the process
for the recruitment of a Project Manager. The post will be advertised
early in the new year. The steering group will have two representatives
on the recruitment panel and are optimistic that good quality
candidates will come forward. They also considered a draft brief
for the enhancement plan that will be looking at ways in which
the appearance and services in Castlebay and Ardveenish can be
improved. The first offer of funds to provide services through
an officer based in Barra was made by the Comhairle's Technical
Services DSO. It is hoped that other services will come forward
with similar offers in the new year. The steering group plan to
consider a constitution for the Local Management Board at their
next meeting on Monday, 24 January 2000.