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9th March

Community Council

At this months community Council meeting chairman of the Durness Development Group was invited to discuss the current undertakings of the Development Group and give an update of the activities. Graham Bruce started by introducing the need for the community council to be kept informed of the ongoing projects as sometimes it is easy for those involved to misinterpret the degree of understanding within the community. The Development Group is currently acting on three main projects all initially instigated through the community council. The successful three year scheme of employing youth workers is coming to an end and all agreed that this has been a major benefit to the village. Ongoing organised activities have been created, developed and maintained due to presence of the youth workers and the Development Group are currently active in securing funding for a further period. All agreed that it would be tragic for the achievements that have been made to be lost and all efforts should be made to try and secure further funds for a youth worker to work closely with Young people to ensure they are positively engaged in the community.

Funding is secured and with the positive support of the Grazing committee on behalf of the crofters an interpretation of heritage, and enhancement of the Environment of Ceannabeinne can be initiated. The project will consolidate or conserve, identify the visible and accessible archaeological features of Ceannabeinne township and provide informative access and interpret the biggest well preserved pre clearance farm town in Sutherland. With archeological interpretation the aim is to recreate dramatically the story in a new and old documentary form using digital media. Heritage Lotteries, Highland Year of Culture and Scottish Natural Heritage have each supplied funds for this scheme.

The community council were informed of the recent meeting at the planning offices in Dornoch with Alan Todd, Planning Officer, Roger McMichael renewable energy casework advisor for Scottish Natural Heritage, Jon Priddy, Hi Community Energy Company and Stuart Hamilton of Renewable Devices, the consultants currently carrying out the first feasibility studies for a small scale renewable energy project on behalf of the Durness community. At this meeting a step by step analysis of the Environmental overview for Durness was taken and discussed as a screening exercise prior to a formal request for a Scoping opinion which is likely to request an Environmental Impact assessment. Within the next few weeks there will be a public meeting with visual displays to inform the community of the first findings and the next steps.

A notification had been received regarding noise and litter around the public toilets in the village square on a recent Saturday night. The council were concerned as the reports indicated that most of the youths involved were not from Durness and this is a matter that can be reported to the new policeman when he takes up duty.

Music promoters have requested to meet with Community Council representatives to carry out a view of Smoo cave regrinding an event involving the Scottish Symphony orchestra. Further details will be known after the meeting.

The community council were informed about the local concerns of lack of dental provision and the problems with lost registration after the “mobile surgery ceased to visit. A letter is being sent to the Health Board with the concerns and requesting information on the procedures in place to restore adequate dental services.

A document form Sutherland Partnership, transport Vision for Sutherland - draft document for consideration was circulated and any comments were to be returned by the end of the week for a council response. Chairman of the community Council informed members that there had been a site meeting regarding a local planning appeal and the outcome will be known in the month.

Present at this Community Council meeting was George Farlow candidate with e Scottish Nationalist Party for the forthcoming council elections. Mr. Farlow was interested to discover the ongoing concerns and activities of the community.

The approved Community Council minutes are displayed monthly on the local notice board and are available at the Service point

School

The winning cake of the competition with bakers Niki Bleasdale and Sophie Macleod

Primaries six and seven spent the weekend at Arnaboll the old shepherd’s cottage on the Eriboll Estate. The children left after school on Friday and returned on Sunday. On this occasion Cooking was the theme and a master chief competition had produced an array of dishes, mostly connected to chocolate! All the children carried out the contest with friendly rivalry but the winners with their strawberry chocolate cake were Sophie Macleod and Niki Bleasdale. Head teacher Graham Bruce and management teacher Katy Lee supervised the outing and took advantage of the clear night on Saturday to walk in the moonlight with the children in the hope of seeing the eclipse but unfortunately cloud covered their vantage point and not a lot was seen.