Carrick Castle Residents' Information Pack
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Carrick Castle Residents’ Information Pack Photo courtesy of Graham Mathie Contents Contents ......................................................................................................... 1 Introduction and welcome .............................................................................. 2 About the village… ......................................................................................... 2 Community representatives, contacts and meeting details ............................ 2 Sources of local information ........................................................................... 4 Cash ............................................................................................................... 5 Food and provisions ....................................................................................... 5 Transport ........................................................................................................ 6 Health and emergency services ..................................................................... 7 Support services............................................................................................. 8 Schools .......................................................................................................... 9 Eating out ....................................................................................................... 9 Waste and recycling ....................................................................................... 9 Amenities and activities ................................................................................ 10 Social activities and events .......................................................................... 11 Churches ...................................................................................................... 12 1 Introduction and welcome Carrick Castle Community Trust, along with our other local volunteer groups and community representatives, would like to take this opportunity to offer a very warm welcome to Carrick Castle. We hope the information contained in this package will help residents old and new make the most out of living in this special corner of Argyll. About the village… Carrick Castle is on the western shore of Loch Goil, 6 miles south of Lochgoilhead by minor road along the loch shore, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll. It is within the Argyll Forest Park, and also the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The castle itself is a tower house believed to be built by the Campbells in the last decades of the 14th century. Mary, Queen of Scots, visited the castle and village in 1563. The castle was attacked and burned during an uprising in 1685, and remained derelict until acquired into private ownership in the late 20th century. In 1877 a wooden pier was built at the castle, enabling convenient and frequent steam-boat access, and the three-storey tenement building Hillside Place constructed to provide apartments for visiting tourists. This was followed by several villas built along the shoreline as countryside accommodation for Glasgow merchants, and the associated development of village facilities. However access by motor vehicle was not practical until the 1930’s! Today the village comprises a mix of permanent homes, holiday/second homes, and rental properties. Community representatives, contacts and meeting details Community Council At the formal local government level, Carrick and Lochgoilhead are represented by Lochgoil Community Council. Like other Community Councils, this is a democratically elected body of Community Councillors, who give their time voluntarily. They are the primary problem solvers and supporters for local community concerns – taking those issues to Local Government, MPs and MSPs, NHS, Police, National Park, or Forestry and Land Scotland as applicable. Community Council meetings, which are open to the public, are held the second Monday of the month (no meeting in July) in Lochgoilhead Village Hall at 7.30 pm. For more information, and to subscribe to the Community Council mailing list, see: http://lochgoilhead.info/meet-the-council/ 2 Carrick Castle Community Trust Ltd The Carrick Castle Community Trust was set up in 2016 for the specific benefit of the community of Carrick. The Community Trust replaced and took over from Carrick Castle Amenities Association. The Trust status enables access to a broader range of grants and funding options, in particular towards the objective of providing a Community meeting facility within the village. The Trust organises local events (notably summer and Christmas fairs, see Events section, below), and provides monthly reports to Carrick residents on its activities, and on other important local information. The board of directors is made up of 8 Carrick residents, elected by the Community on a rolling basis. See additional documents included with this information pack, and on-line at: http://lochgoilhead.info/carrick-castle-community-trust/ County Councillors The Cowal ward is represented by three Argyll and Bute Councillors – of whom Alan Reid is particularly involved in, and responsive to, Carrick and Lochgoilhead matters: William Gordon Blair Scottish National Party [email protected] 07585 127187 Yvonne McNeilly Conservative Policy Lead for Education [email protected] 01369 708479 or 07514443697 Alan Reid Liberal Democrats Depute Policy Lead for Strategic Finance and Capital Regeneration Projects [email protected] 01369 708487 or 07787570961 MP and MSP Our Member of Parliament in Westminster is Brendan O'Hara MP, whose constituency office is: 8 Colquhoun Square Helensburgh G84 8AD [email protected] 01436 670 587 3 Our Member of Scottish Parliament is Michael Russell MSP, whose constituency office is: 81 Argyll Street Dunoon PA23 7DH [email protected] 01369 702011 or 0131 348 5738 (Holyrood) National Park, and Community Action Plan Loch Goil, Loch Long and Holy Loch, and their associated communities, have a special role as the only sea lochs in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Perhaps best known for its role in promoting the outdoors, the National Park has significant local influence in many other aspects too – notably in Planning, conservation and rural development. In particular, the National Park facilitated creation of the Lochgoil Community Action Plan 2018 – 2023, which sets out a broad range of objectives for our local area. The plan can be downloaded here: http://lochgoilhead.info/community-action-plan-2018-2023-get-your-copy/ Full information on all aspects of the work and services of the National Park are here: https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/ Sources of local information Village notice boards There are two public notice boards in the village – one in the carpark alongside the bus stop which provides formal Council etc information, and one facing the castle which provides information from the Community Trust, Boat Club, Woodlands Association, and other social groups, events and local news. The Wee Goil The area is fortunate in having an excellent community newsletter/newspaper “The Wee Goil”. This is published monthly and copies (priced £1) can be purchased from Lochgoilhead Post Office or Costcutter, or by subscription in electronic or hard copy format. As well as reporting on local news items, events and initiatives, The Wee Goil includes a wide range of advertisements from local businesses and tradespeople. See: http://lochgoilhead.info/the-wee-goil/ or e-mail [email protected] 4 Lochgoilhead.info website The Lochgoilhead.info website is another excellent local resource (as can be seen from the number of links from it quoted in this information pack). It acts as an “umbrella” site, hosting pages for the Community Council, local Community Trusts, Lochgoilhead Village Hall and much more. The site features a comprehensive range of resources, and listings from local businesses, services and tradespeople – all of which is maintained impressively up-to-date. See: http://lochgoilhead.info/ Facebook groups There is also an active public Facebook group Lochgoilhead - News, Events & Stuff for Sale. See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/552538958456648/ Local telephone directory The publishers of The Wee Goil compile a local telephone directory periodically. At the time of writing (September 2019) a new edition is due shortly. Dunoon Observer A range of news reports, information, services and advertisements from the wider Cowal area can be found in the weekly Dunoon Observer newspaper, published every Friday and available from Lochgoilhead Post Office or Costcutter. Cash Cash machines Lochgoilhead Post Office (see below) accepts most cards for withdrawal of funds, and there is also a cash machine (with a withdrawal fee) in Drimsynie. Food and provisions Lochgoilhead Post Office Lochgoilhead Post Office offers stamps and postage, road tax, bill payment, personal banking etc, as well as a well-stocked general store. It is open mornings Mon – Sat, and the afternoons of Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri. Call 703201. 5 Costcutter Costcutter is a licensed general store located in Drimsynie Caravan and Chalet centre. April to October it is open 8 am to 8 pm every day, November to March 8 am to 5.30 pm and 9 am to 4 pm on Sundays. Call 703826. Aray fish, fruit and vegetable deliveries Paul Blyth provides an excellent mobile service, delivering fresh fish, fruit and vegetables to your door! Every Friday morning approx. 9 am to 10 am in Carrick Castle. Call Paul on 0778