Community Council

Pier Road, Kilchoan

West Ardnamurchan Community Council met last night to face the usual long agenda, with topics varying from a threat from Highland Council to close the toilets by the CalMac pier, to cuts in the Home Carers' budget (all lunch-time visits have ceased), to progress with the Playpark, where one last big push is needed to see the necessary funds in place.

The Sound of Mull from Ormsaigbeg

One of the worrying reports was that no progress has been made on sorting out a long-term solution for our out-of-hours nursing cover, which regular Diary readers will remember was saved from immediate closure by conducting a vigorous campaign over Christmas and the New Year. Little has happened in the three months since, except a recent suggestion from the Scottish Ambulance Service that the problem will be 'solved' if they station an ambulance at Acharacle during working hours - think about that one! - to a catastrophic meeting between the SAS and Highland NHS. The promised meeting of all parties, under the chairmanship of Michael Foxley, simply hasn't happened.

With the forthcoming Community Council elections due in November will come a change in our Council's constitution. The number of councillors will drop from ten to eight, and there will be more responsibility devolved to them, such as closer involvement in planning and the granting of alcohol licences.

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse from Sanna

Sadly, our local GP practice's attempt to set up a patient 'user group' has fallen on stony ground. On their behalf, Rosie Curtis organised meetings in Glenborrodale and Kilchoan to invite participation and contact from local residents, and not a single person turned up. In a similar way, local politicians and candidates have been coming down to Kilchoan to meet people, to find no interest. Part of the problem may be that, despite advertising in the De tha Dol, people don't know, or forget that these events are happening. It puzzles The Diary that more use is not being made of the new West Ardnamurchan News and Information site, set up with exactly this problem in mind.

Although unusually poorly attended - blame the weather - the meeting conducted a huge amount of business in its customary good humoured manner, and was finished within an hour. All credit to the Chairman, who conducted the meeting at a brisk pace, and to Chairman and Secretary for all the work they do behind the scenes.