Inside This Month
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June 2015 Volume 21 Issue 5 The Merkinch community newsletter, entirely written and produced in the Merkinch, and delivered by volunteers. Messing about on the river... REMEMBER that old song by Josh Macrae? Well, in this case it’s more a case of pad- dling around on the Caledoni- an Canal. P7 pupils had a wonderful time on their trip last month. The visit was organised by Mr Mario and the facilities were provided by Boots N Paddles. More pictures on page 9... MERKINCH Angling Group went beach Fish or fowl? casting at Kyle of Lochalsh. The weather was so wild that one angler managed to That is the catch a seagull! puzzle for Luckily Peter the Ghillie was on hand to release the poor bird and it flew off beach fishers... unharmed. More on the Sports Page, page 10. Inside Delight as Come and join Curtain up on Over 100 girls Carse waste in the annual Theatre Group take part in this plan is binned Big Lunch Summer show footie festival month: ... page 3 ... page 5 ... page 6 ... page 9 2 News & Views Helpline Greenspace to be relaunched as Friends of Local Nature Reserve AGE Concern – 0800 731 4931. ALCOHOL, Inverness Council on – 34 MERKINCH Greenspace enters a new phase on the 13th Tomnahurich St, tel 220995. June when it develops as Friends of Merkinch Local Na- BROKEN glass, drugs needles etc –TEC ture Reserve (LNR) Services 01349 886690. That is the date of South Kessock Residents Associa- BULKY furniture and other items for tion’s (SKRA) Fun Day and visitors will have the oppor- special uplift, bins etc – 01349 886603 tunity to sign up for a Friend membership which is £5 per CHILDLINE – 0800 1111. Free household per year. confidential advice 24 hours a day. Membership will help Friends of MLNR maintain and CITIZENS Advice Bureau – improve the nature reserve. Appointments, 01463 237664 Says Ali Locke, “Also we really need people to come on COMMUNITY CENTRE – 239563. board and be hands-on in the management of the reserve. So if you are interested come along and have a chat.” Your local COUNCILLORS – On the day there will be a Flowers of Merkinch LNR Janet Campbell 226598; walk which will be led by Countryside Ranger Katy Martin Donnie Kerr 225217; between 2pm and 4pm. Richard Laird, 07557 566552; There will also be a puzzle to Identify the Objects and the Bet McAllister 710558. prize is to win free membership of FMLNR. In other news some local area SSE employees will CRIMEBUSTERS – 0800 555111. be volunteering their time in June to do some work on the DENTIST, Emergency – 0845 644 2271. Reserve and possibly Carnarc Point. DOG Warden – 703134. PICTURED... On a less happy note the picnic area at DRUGLINE Scotland – tel 0800 776600. the Canal end is no more after the last picnic table was taken — along with its securing Free advice on drugs 24hrs. chain and attached concrete block — down to the water and smashed to pieces. GAS/ELECTRIC Freephone - 0800 111 The destruction was reported to the Police who are making enquiries. Anyone who has 999. any information should contact the confidential line 101. MERKINCH Enterprise – 240085. NEW START – 715615 or 728770. NEWS & VIEWS – 240085, 221027. Mums seek prizes for fundraiser at footie final NHS 24 (out of hours medical advice/GP THE final of the Corbett Cup for any unwanted items that also need girls teams 4/5s and Service) - 08454 242424 and the School Fete are taking we could raffle, and maybe 6/7s parents to help. MERKINCH Partnership Office – place on 6th June and a few you could ask around at your “All money raised will go to 718989. mums are getting together to work if anyone is willing to MFA to help with the costs of POLICE – confidential line 101 (no raise funds for Merkinch Foot- donate a prize. running the Academy, from longer 815555). Genuine emergencies still ball Academy. “We are also looking for buying football strips and balls 999. They will have a table with parents who could give some to paying for transport to take PRIMARY School, Merkinch – 232962. homebaking and raffles. Jackie time to mind the table while the children to games. Kelly, who has put out an ap- the parents watch their chil- If you can help contact Jack- REFUSE, extra and bulky collection – peal on the MFA Facebook dren play. We have a lot of ie on MFA’s Facebook page. 01349 886603. page says, “ We are looking parents from the 1/3s but we RELATIONSHIP Counselling Highland – Jill O’Connell 712888. ROAD to RECOVERY – Ian Polworth, INVERNESS TRINITY Madras Street Mission, 715809. CHURCH of SCOTLAND This space could be SAMARITANS – 67a Tomnahurich St, “We aim to be a welcoming fellowship, letting people know tel 713456 or 08457 909090 (local rate). proclaiming in worship the gospel of Jesus SMOKELINE – 0800 84 84 84. Christ, ready to serve with compassion the about your coming event SOCIAL WORK Dept, Emergency – needs of the community.” or your regular services. 0845 769 7284. Your Parish Church TRADING Standards – 0845 600 4222. Rev Alistair Murray BD. VICTIM Support – tel 258834. Sponsorship rates are WEBSITE, Merkinch Community — Sunday Services 11am. very modest considering www.merkinch.info (Sunday School & Crèche during the morning service) Inverness WOMEN’S Aid – Confidential 6.30pm First Sunday in you will reach around support for abused women, tel 220719. Month 5000 people. Girls’ Brigade meets Mondays 6.30pm Boys’ Brigade meets Fridays 6pm For further information Got a contact you Induction Loop System contact Merkinch think we should in- All Welcome Enterprise on 01463 clude? Contact News (www.trinityinverness.org.uk) Inverness Trinity Church of Scotland 240085. & Views on 240085 is a registered Scottish Charity (SC015432) June 2015 3 Delight as Carse waste Merkinch Community Centre gets a straight proposal is binned answer THE controversial proposal to operate a stressed that if the Council could afford waste management station in the Carse to go around checking gardens, they ELSIE Normington, Development Officer at industrial estate will not be going ahead. could also be checking roans that Merkinch Community Centre gave a brief That good news was met by a sigh of needed clearing. presentation to the April meeting of the local relief at the 29th April meeting of The traffic lights on Kessock Road once Community Council. Merkinch Community Council (after our again came under fire. Insufficient time She explained that the Centre’s management was April issue had gone to press). Members was being allowed for traffic to clear in working on a strategic review and they had had fought the proposal from the start and one direction before the green light received 119 responses back from Centre users. despite Highland Councillors unanimously appeared for oncoming vehicles. Since its opening in 1976, the Centre had seen giving the plan the thumbs down, an Other issues which were discussed many developments and improvements including appeal by Munro’s to the Edinburgh-based included the incompetence of the bus electric doors, disabled toilets, theatre facilities, Reporter was successful. services. Would-be passengers were rewiring and a new kitchen. However, it appears that Highland being sent from Farm Foods stop on She said there were lots of activities for all ages. Council had the last word and found the Academy Street up to Union Street only “What do we want to see in the Centre in five premises were no longer fit for purpose. to be told to return to Academy Street years’ time?” she asked. “Planning law is notoriously difficult,” where they saw the bus take off before Cllr Richard Laird replied, “The Centre doesn’t Cllr Richard Laird commented. they could reach it. It was agreed to always serve the needs of Merkinch residents.” In the fight to protect local businesses invite local Stagecoach managers to the Mrs Normington responded by saying that the and nearby residents from the unsuitable next meeting on 10th June. Centre was managed by three voluntary directors location of a waste management scheme, it Another continuing complaint was about and a management committee which represents was realised that the character of the a dog being left to bark sometimes for long Centre users and meets every quarter. “industrial estate” had changed over the periods in the Carnarc Crescent area. Its But Cllr Donnie Kerr agreed with Cllr Laird: “It years. yapping went on for anything from half an is not the MERKINCH Community Centre,” he As a result the Carse Action Group was hour to three hours at a time. said. Cllr Laird continued, “There is a perception in set up, initially to oppose the waste PC Gwen Ross updated members the community that the Centre is not for locals and management plant but also to discuss the on police activity for the period from that the cost is high.” future of the area which is increasingly mid-March to mid-April. Community councillor Anne McCreadie who is becoming a retail and business park. Carse There had been 35 calls in relation to one of the Centre’s three directors, replied that the Traders Group were also alerted to the anti-social behaviour, mostly repeat Centre which has charitable status was very costly need to protect the area from unsuitable calls to the same addresses and beat to run and it had to wash its face every year. developments. officers in collaboration with housing Mrs Normington wanted to know in what respect The issue of the guttering on houses officials were warning offenders about was the Centre not meeting local expectations. The and flats on Kessock Road was raised the consequences of their behaviour.