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 14th March 2008

World Book Day

Picture Attached Head teacher Graham Bruce with the children of Durness primary School at Croispol Bookshop in Balnakeil Craft Village last Thursday

Durness primary school visited Loch Croispol Bookshop in Balnakeil Craft Village last Thursday to join the celebrations of World Book day. World Book Day moves into its second decade in the UK and Ireland in 2008. Over this relatively short period World Book Day has become firmly established as the biggest annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading.
The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage people to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. Each of the children had chosen a book and were hearing stories form some and discussing others.


Community Council

Ian Wilson representing Durness Estates was at the last Community Council meeting giving a presentation and discussing the proposed agreement that would split any money from future developments on agreed arses of the common grazing. This proposal is chiefly linked to any renewable energy schemes that may be possible after consultation, feasibility studies and in depth research. The Community Council, Durness Development group and the Common Grazing Committee will work together on seeking legal advice on the draft proposals.

Mr Robbie Gunn the Lighting Engineer from the Highland Council addressed the council on matters relating to requests for further street lights in areas of Durness. MR Gunn gave a potted history of the installations since 1997 and listed the priority works for the future. The capital replacement budget for Sutherland is £6250 with the average cost of installing a streetlight £is 850. The future work includes to replace the streetlights from the Lerin Junction to the Smoo cave Hotel, to replace the lights form Druim Bhlar junction towards the council Houses, to replace streetlights along Sango and to replace the lights from the A838 junction down from the school top the council houses behind the school The new street lighting requested for Sangomore would be expensive and would only be available if a footpath was installed. The council are to lobby for a footpath.
An Update on the recent Ward Forum meeting was given outlining the Ambulance Service and Roads and Transport. The next Ward forum meeting on the 13th April is to be held in Durness.
The next MoD Liaison Group meeting is April 3rd and items for the agenda have to be forwarded in advance. On this occasion it is Durness Community Council’s turn to chair the meeting.
A meeting with local roads manager Hendry Flett was reported and work where possible to the areas of concern will be carried out.
The recent survey involving Caladh Sona has had at least 80% response and a detailed report will be sent to the community council upon completion.
Two Durness Youths will be able to attend every third Community Council meeting in future arranged by Yvonne Mackay in her role as Youth Development Officer
The minutes of the last North west Highland Geopark Steering group minutes have been sent out to CC members. It was reported that 2 full time posts have been funded for the Geopark; this does not however fully address the more long term problems identified in the recent evaluation.
The new panels at Smoo cave have been finalised but coordination of the Gaelic between the text on the panels and the new signs will have to be considered.
In an update from Durness Development Group it was noted that the application to register an interest in land under the community right to buy of the land reform (Scotland) Act was now with the Scottish ministers. This land is the area housing the Tourist Information Centre.
The small scale Renewable energy scheme to erect two wind generators is still being researched then latest updated budget quote from Scottish & Southern Energy shows the costs of the upgrade of the line in the area could prove a prohibiting factor.
The position of Community Youth Worker has been filled and this again for 3 years. The successful applicants Marjory Morrison and Tony Jackson will continue and build on the work preciously achieved. This post is funded form Lloyds TSB, Highland Council Discretionary Fund and Durness Development Group. Councillor of the area and Yvonne Mackay in her role as Youth Development Officer for the Highland Council has been central in securing the funds.