 |
News from Barra |
19/07/02
Road Accident in Castlebay
About 02.30 hours on Thursday 18th July, a one vehicle road traffic accident occurred on the A888 at Ledaig Junction, Castlebay, Isle of Barra. As a result of injuries sustained, one of the vehicle occupants has been transferred from St Brendan’s Hospital, Barra to the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. Enquiries are still continuing to establish the cause of the accident, and Police are appealing for any person with information to contact Stornoway Police Station on 01851 702222 or their nearest police station.
Barra Live – This Could Be The Last One
Barra Live 2002 lived up to all expectations, there was not a bed to be had on the island and as for a seat in the pubs, not a chance!!! Just under 1000 people partied on Tangasdale Machair on Saturday Night and were entertained by excellent bands: The Vatersay Boys & Guests, Rhythm & Reel, Face The West and Na Seanachaidh. In spite of the huge numbers attending there were only a few incidents to mar the evening. On the whole the entire evening went without any trouble and the organisers and the community policemen are to be congratulated on a successful event.
A Word From The Organisers - We would like to thank all those who have helped us over the last Eleven Years and made Barra Live the success it was. After Eleven Years we feel it is time to call it a Day. I think everybody that was involved in any way can feel proud of what we achieved. F.O.B.L.
Fisherman’s Mass & Boat Race
Many, many thanks to all who contributed to make last Sunday such a successful day. The fisherman who scrubbed and painted so enthusiastically to be spick and span for the day and race. To all who made the Mass such a special event. Thanks to the boys on the pier for their help and co-operation and to Barra Live for refreshments. Thanks also to all who helped – the “putter uppers” and the “taker downers” and to all for the generous collection which raised £1,170.50 for The Apostleship of the Sea and the RNLI.
The Prize Winners: Race Winner – James MacLeod , MFV Regina Caeli (above), The Best Dressed – Willie MacInnes, MFV Zora Jay. Best Kept – Cailean MacNeil, MFV Wansbeck.
Congratulations and well done to the organisers.
12/07/02
Now A Date in the Calendar
The Barrathon is now a definite date in the calendar for long distance runners with total entries up this year by nearly 50%. A total of 67 runners (48 male, 19 female) entered into the race round Barra.
The overall race winner was :
Terence Coyle in a time of 1hr 18min 08sec with last years winner Simon Axon coming second with a time of 1hr 22mins 59sec.
First lady home was Gillian McKelvie in a time of 1hr 41min 46sec. Second was Mandy MacLeod, in a time of 1hr 48min 31sec.
First local male home was Chris Denehy in a time of 1hr 41min 16sec.
And first local female was Mairi Galbraith of the Barra Babes in a time of 2hrs 01min 14sec.
In the fun run a total of 79 Adults and Children took part .
The overall winner was Marina MacDougal, Senior Girl in a time of 25mins 41sec.
In second place was Roddy MacLean, Senior Boy in a time of 28mins 49sec, overall third was Adam Kennedy, Senior Boy in a time of 29mins 59sec and overall fourth was Catriona Nicholson, Senior Girl in a time of 30mins 48sec.
First in the Junior Boys was Ewan McClure in a time of 31mins 06sec. Second in Junior Boys was Philip Kennedy with a time of 32mins 23secs.
First for the Junior girls was Laura McLelland in a time of 33min 47sec. Second in Junior Girls was Christine MacLean with a time of 36mins 24secs.
First Lady home was Rhona McClure in a time of 32mins 13 secs. Second Lady home was Claire MacNeil with a time of 36mins 24secs.
First man home was Alexander Hutton in a time of 43mins. 11secs. Second Man home was Kevin McClure in a time of 47mins 28secs.
Proposals to Reform Crofting
The Crofting Reform White Paper was announced this week by Ross Finnie , Minister for Environment and Rural Development. The White Paper is proposing to:
Modernise, simplify and update administration procedures
Offer greater empowerment to individual crofters with easier subletting and new ten year leases
Empower crofting communities in the application of regulatory policies
Offer crofters greater opportunity to develop their crofting businesses by relaxing the rules governing the way land is used
There are also changes in the arrangements for succession to speed up the process giving the executor greater control in cases of intestacy and giving clear rights to the partners of crofters who die intestate. Consultation on the White Paper will run till the end of September and copies are available from Paul Cowie, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. Tel: 0131 244 6213.
05/07/02
Traigh Mhor, Barra
Notice has now been received about the classification for the Traigh Mhor for cockles for human consumption. As follows:
Provisional ‘A’ May – September inclusive
Provisional ‘B’ October – December inclusive
This provisional classification has been issued on condition that regular samples are taken by Western Isles Council, Environmental Health Department and submitted for E. coli analysis by FRS Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen for the duration of the harvesting period.
It has been noted that no satisfactory samples have been received for the month of July in the history of the site. An ‘A’ class has been given for this month on the basis of ‘A’ results being the norm during previous and following months. Recent results for June are within the ‘B’ category. It is therefore essential that regular samples are received for the site.
Ferry Services Commitments
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the commitments given by the Scottish Executive in the tendering proposals for Western Isles ferry services. Chairman of Transportation, Cllr. Norman A. Macdonald, said “These ferry services play an absolutely essential role in the life of our communities. We therefore welcome the Scottish Executive’s commitment to maintaining lifeline links and enhancing services.” The Executive’s commitment to a new Sound Of Barra service and the enhancement of the Sound Of Harris and Oban, Castlebay and Lochboisdale services was welcomed.
The Comhairle had made the case for the Hebrides routes to be tendered in one bundle and this was accepted by the Executive and the European Commission. The Comhairle will be undertaking a consultation exercise throughout the Islands.”
28/06/02
Congratulations
Morag
Bell (nighean Morag Mhurachaidh) and Cailean MacNeil (mac
Aonghas Iain Dhomhnaill a’Phost) were married in St.
Barr’s Church, Northbay on Saturday 22nd June 2002.
Commercial
and Sports Development Out to Consultation
Comhairle
nan Eilean Siar has issued notice of their intention to
develop the area across from the school to provide a
service site for commercial development and the formation
of an all weather sports field. By creating an access road
west of the Pre-School building they intend to develop the
area beyond the building to provide serviced sites for
interested parties to build on.
This
project arises from the considerable community
consultation that has taken place as part of the Castlebay
Enhancement Plan Project and in response to pressure from
Castlebay School Board for the all weather playing area
which was originally planned 20 years ago as part of the
new community school.
If
the development is approved, the project will be phased
with a potential European Funding Application being
submitted for the September round of HISTP funding while
the School Board are working on a Lottery Funding
Application for the all weather pitch. The possibility
of Western Isles Enterprise building Economic
Development Units for
the area is already under discussion should this proposal
go through. The commercial sites will be open to any
interested parties for building on or if WIE build
economic development units they will be available for
rental for business purposes.
Diane
MacPherson, Department of Sustainable Communities, C.N.E.S.
Will be available in the Dolphin from 12noon - 5pm
on Friday 5th July to meet with anyone wishing further
information on the proposal.
Northbay
Park Project
A
Public Meeting will be held in St. Barr’s Hall, Northbay
to discuss proposals for the area behind the hall and St.
Barr’s Crescent.
The proposal is a phased project with funding already available for fencing, draining, paths and dry stone dyking. A proposal for Lottery Funding for recreational facilities for young people at the north end of the island is being discussed. Plans are on display in St. Barr’s Hall, Northbay and all are welcome to come to the meeting on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm.
21/06/02
Storm
Bound in Barra
Competitors
in the Roung Britain Yacht Race were storm bound in
Castlebay until Tuesday when severe force 9 gales and
heavy seas hammered into the yachts at anchor in the bay.
Yachtsmen were kept busy as the boats, many of them 2 to a
mooring, rode out the bad weather. Once the leading yachts
left Castlebay on Tuesday morning they made very fast time
to Lerwick with a strong following wind. The leader into
Lerwick was Branec III at 3am on Thursday morning followed
by Mollyhawk and Pegasus 6 hours later.
By
Thursday only one yacht, The Wind of Lorne, had still to
arrive in Castlebay. The Barra Lifeboat and the Inshore
RIB were kept extremely busy throughout the weekend and in
one case the lifeboat was called out to rescue a yacht
which was being blown ashore with a rope round its
propellor.
Only
22 of the original 38 yachts remain in the race which is
expected to finish in Plymouth about the 28th June.
In
an unrelated incident three crewmen were airlifted to
safety by the Coastguard helicopter. Ten metre seas and
storm force winds hampered rescue efforts to reach the
crew on board the stricken 10m Irish yacht ‘Dilish’
150 miles west of the Hebrides. The yacht had lost its
sails due to the atrocious weather and had run out of
fuel.
One
Community Council Proposed for Barra & Vatersay
Thirteen
sustainable community areas are identified within in the
proposed structure plan for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,
Barra & Vatersay being one such community. These areas
will have a level
of service, and jobs
clearly identified to ensure sustainability. In line with
these proposals a report went to the Comhairle this week
to realign the community council structure with the new
sustainable community areas. There will be 13 community
councils within the Western Isles each with a budget of £4,000
for their area. It is also proposed to delay until 2003
the elections for community councils which were due to be
held in 2002. This will bring community council elections
in line with the Comhairle elections.
A
Big Thank you For the Clean-up
Well done to all those who took part in last weeks clean-up, in total 200 bags and 350 loose items of rubbish were collected. A big thank you must go to the volunteers throughout the island who gave so willingly of their time and labour, from Brevig round to Craigston, you’ve done a grand job. Unfortunately very little of the Castlebay area was covered due to the lack of volunteers, but well done to those who did turn out. Thanks to, CnES, Campbell’s Fresh Fish and Donald Elder for their assistance.
14/06/02
Sailing for Barra
13 out of 38 entries have already retired from the round Britain and Ireland yacht race following a wild and windy leg from Plymouth to Cork. Among the retirees is the trimaran Spirit crewed by Robin Knox-Johnston. The first arrival in Cork was the 30ft trimaran “Meridian” who arrived late on Monday evening. Following a 48 hour stopover the Meridian was due to leave for Barra late on Wednesday evening followed by the “Open 40 Roaring Forty” and another trimaran “Mollyhawk” with all other entries following on behind following their scheduled stopovers. The leg from Cork to Barra is expected to take 2½ days so the first arrival into Castlebay should be Friday evening or Saturday morning where there will be another 48 hour stopover before sailing west of St Kilda for Shetland. Have a look at the Royal Western Yacht Club website ( www.rwyc.org) for race information.
New
Playpark For Castlebay
After various meetings locally, it was unanimously agreed
that the current playpark in Horve was in need of
re-vamping and concerns were raised by parents, over the
current location. It was suggested a new and safer
location would be preferred. Two new sites are currently
being investigated for suitability; one adjacent to the
pathway from Castlebay School towards the football field,
and the other by the pathway in front of the houses at
Corran Ciosmul. The remaining rock infill used for the
Children’s Centre will be utilised for the groundwork’s
and donated as a community contribution to the scheme. The
proposals for the new playpark include a section for
toddlers, children, a teenage meeting area and skateboard
ramps.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have secured £15,000 towards
the project and other funding applications will be
submitted shortly through the Residents Association.
The next meeting will be held at the ‘Dolphin’ on
Monday, 17th June at 7.30pm. If anyone has any further
suggestions but unable to attend, please contact Marion at
the Dolphin Tel : 810 302.
07/06/02
On Line For Castlebay Bank
A planning application has been made by the Royal Bank of Scotland to enable them to situate a cashline machine in their premises in the main street in Castlebay. There has been considerable pressure on the Royal Bank to make such a facility available because of local concerns about the difficulties of visitors and local people accessing ready cash outwith bank hours. The campaign to make the case for this service has had the full support of bank staff at a local and Western Isles level. It is hoped that the facility will be available shortly after the proposal goes through the planning process.
Shellfish Concerns
Cockles - In spite of good results from regular samples of cockles being taken from the Traigh Mhor the Food Standards Agency has not yet announced that the area has be reclassified for the provision of cockles for human consumption. An announcement is expected any day that the area will be given a provisional “A” classification up until the end of June based on the good results from the samples provided. Concerns have been expressed that the Food Standards Agency intend to revert to a “B” classification from the beginning of July through till December basing this classification on last years sample results and not on the ongoing samples which are consistently low.
Scallops - Spain has joined forces with Scotland in calling for changes to European Legislation on Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). The European Commission Proposals to tighten limits on ASP on scallops from 20 micro grams per gram to 4.6 micro grams per gram could result in year round closure of scallop fishing and scallop farming in Scottish waters. Both Scotland and Spain are proposing that the measurement of ASP should be taken on the white meat and the gonad (the orange meat)which is all that is eaten ie all that remains after processing is all that should be tested.
Round Britain Yacht Race
The two handed round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race is due to leave Plymouth on Sunday 9th June. The race will be started by the Duke of Edinburgh and competitors will sail from Plymouth Sound making for Crosshaven in Southern Ireland (250 miles)& from there will sail west of Ireland to Castlebay, (440 miles). From Barra they will sail west of St. Kilda for Lerwick in Shetland (420 miles) then onto to Lowestoft (470 miles). The final leg is from Lowestoft to Plymouth (305 miles). Entries for the race are in three separate groups: Monohulls (30-50 ft.) Multihulls (30-45 ft.) and Mini-transat class (21 ft.) The boats are expected to arrive at Castlebay (where they have a 48 hour stop over) before the end of next week. One boat to watch out for is “Backlash” which is being sponsored for the RNLI.
Cuithir Planning Application Approved
Planning approval was granted last week for the proposed extension to Cuithir Church.