Community Council Sunset

West Ardnamurchan is fortunate in having a Community Council which has worked hard for those it serves. The present Council met last night for the last time - its term of office ends at the end of this month. Ours is one of the few Community Councils which has eight officers in place ready for the new, 3-year term.

One of Council's closing acts was to give unanimous support to its Chairman, Rosie Curtis, for the line she and her team have held in the ongoing consultations with NHS Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service over the provision of nursing cover once Jessie Colqhoun retires in February. Council appreciates our position has come at some cost - the fire station is probably more in danger of closing as a result, and relations with NHSH and the SAS have become extremely strained, particularly as they still haven't come back to us following the meeting on 25th October.

Alasdair Stewart, Access Officer at Highland Council, spoke to WACC about the adoption of the long-disused and overgrown path between Achosnich Old School House and the Sanna-Portuairk path. In return for WACC agreeing to maintain it, Highland Council will upgrade this 'core path' at the cost of up to £25,000.

The Playpark Committee reported that it is hoping to start groundwork on the project before Christmas. WACC also considered Ardnamurchan Estate's proposal to erect a large wind turbine in the deserted area north of Camas nan Geall and, while there were some concerns, did not raise any objections. It is hoped that the new Council will receive a more detailed report at its December meeting.

The new Council is scheduled to receive its induction on 29th November, and it is proposed to hold a Council meeting afterwards instead of the first Monday of December. The new Council members are Jessie Colquhoun, Jac Crosbie, Rosie Curtis, Ritchie Dinnes, Davie Ferguson, May McNicol, Alan Morrison and Ian Ramon.

Many thanks to Paul Howes for the photograph,

taken from Ardnamurchan's north coast.