Date: WINTER 2015 AT LAST! 2016 IS THE YEAR OF OUR HUB Well over forty people of all ages turned out on Mark Wringe as current Chair of CDI, the com- Saturday afternoon, January 2nd, to take part in munity group which developed the project, thanked the the formal opening up of the site where building of a many individuals and bodies, including past and present multi-purpose community hub is about to begin. directors of CDI, who had worked hard over several Former Chair of Camuscross & Duisdale Initiative, years to make the project a reality. “There were some Donnie Mackinnon joked as he cut an entrance in the very anxious moments over the autumn, when an issue fence that it “feels strange for a crofter to cut through a over the resumption of the site from crofting tenure fence, but this is one exception worth making”. Then a threatened to push us beyond a funding deadline, but it group of pre-school children took up the spade to turn is very encouraging that100% agreement to resumption the first sod to cheers from all around. was achieved. Construction costs also rose, with the Inverness based contractors, Compass Building prospect of us having to lose key aspects of the pro- and Construction Services, appointed after competitive ject. However, our major funders, the National Lottery tendering, will be responsible for the whole con- and the Coastal Communities Fund were enormously tract. They will be starting work on site shortly, with supportive, and between them promised us an addi- the intention of opening the whole building in time for tional £200,000 to complete the hub as planned” he Easter 2017, when locals and visitors alike will be able said. “Camuscross and Duisdale have just had their to enjoy the flexible facilities which include a cafe, biggest Christmas present ever, and we can look for- shop, post office, hall and the promotion of local croft- ward to a fantastic year in 2016 as we watch the build- ing produce. The highly attractive design, chosen ing go up. It’s a huge achievement for a community of through community consultation, is by award-winning around 180 people, but if we can do it, so can anywhere WT Architecture, and will sit beside the main A851 else in the Highlands and Islands.” The bulk of the Sleat road with stunning views over Camuscross and the £1.9m total cost is being met by awards from the Na- Sound of Sleat to Knoydart from a site made available tional Lottery and the Coastal Communities Fund, with by Camuscross Grazings shareholders. CDI is currently signficant support also from HIE, the Robertson Trust, advertising for a self-employed Project Development and Highland Council. Officer to assist CDI during the build project. 2 AN LIANAG Donnie MacKinnon and the next generation make a small start on the hub site. In the background is the new hub site fence put up by fencer Robbie Smith from Aird. Front page and this photo: Elaine Smith After all this time it is hard to believe, but by this time next year, this building will be standing on the site, almost ready for opening by Easter 2017, with shop, café, post office, hall, office and employing 6.7 people. AN LIANAG 3 4 AN LIANAG HOW THE BIG LOTTERY THE FUTURE OF PROTECTS ‘OUR’ MONEY THE POST OFFICE By ‘our’ money we don’t mean the money that CDI will Isle Ornsay Post Office has been in exis- receive from the Big Lottery Fund, but the money many tence for over 100 years and has been in Duncan R of us pay each week when we buy National Lottery tick- MacDonald’s family for all of that time. At one ets - some of which will end up funding the Hub and time it was the main post office for the south of other similar community projects through the Big Lottery Fund, which is entirely funded by a percentage of ticket Skye, with all letters coming to Isle Ornsay for dis- purchases. trubtion to other areas. It has always played a very On a capital project the size of the Hub where the important role in the life of this and the wider com- Lottery has invested substantial amounts of ‘our’ money munity. So CDI is delighted that when Flora Ann there are, quite rightly, an enormous amount of rules and MacDonald decided she wanted to retire, she asked regulations that CDI have to comply with to ensure that if we thought it would be a good idea to relocate the money is put to the use that it is intended to be. the post office to the hub. This service will cer- If a project involves land and buildings, as is the tainly enhance what the hub is able to offer and will case with the Hub, the Lottery takes a Standard Security create one place where people can go for a wide over the land (which therefore includes the buildings on range of services. that land) – a Standard Security is a charge registered Its important to note that the Post Office has against the title to the land and is a legal device that im- poses obligations and restrictions on the owner. It is very changed its policy and will no longer allow any re- like thye standard security a bank would take over locating post office to be sited in a private house. your property if you have a mort-5 gage. So for ex- They will only allow post offices to relocate to re- ample CDI is under a duty to the Lottery to maintain and tail premises. So if the hub wasn’t being planned, it repair the Hub and to insure it. Most importantly, CDI is is highly likely the community would have lost its not to sell or let it or any part of it without the consent of post office once Flora Ann retired. So we are very the Lottery. The reason for this is to make sure the build- grateful to Flora Ann for being willing to carry on ing carries on being used for the purpose the money was running the post office while the project slowly, but given - for the benefit of our community. now more surely is being developed. This means that the post office service will not be lost to the Camuscross & Duisdale Initiative community. The application process takes 6-9 is looking for a months and Elaine Smith is leading the process of applying to the Post Office to take over the service. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER With experience of construction projects and PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER good administrative and communication skills to help with the development of the community hub project during the construction phase. CDI is delighted to be able to advertise the first This is a one-year, part-time, self-employed po- of the positions that the hub will generate. Are sition with flexible working. you interested in applying for the position of Project Development Officer? The Project De- Remuneration: £30,120 pro rata velopment Officer will have the responsibility Deadline for applications 29th Jan for overseeing the development of the project on behalf of CDI, liaising between the builder, Interviews on evening of 5th February the design team and CDI, working with the For more information and an application Treasurer in ensuring efficient payment of in- pack, please contact voices and making funding claims and also as- Rory Flyn on [email protected] sisting CDI directors with budgets and funding reports. Please let anyone who might be inter- ested in applying know about this position and encourage them to apply. The post is funded by the Big Lottery. AN LIANAG 5 CHOOSING A NAME FOR THE HUB We know what it’s going to be - a hub for commu- An Crann The mast/(flag)pole/plough/ nity life - but now that building is about to begin it’s any prominent structure from a cross to rig - probably time to leave the generic description behind and because a telegraph pole currently marks the site choose the name. It’s time to make it personal, make Am Bothan The Bothy it distinctively ours. At our last up-date event we An Taigh Cruinneachaidh The Gathering House Cearcall na Coimhearsnachd The Community Circle asked people to write their suggestions for the name An Àiridh The Sheiling on a panel, and you came up with around a dozen An Druim The Ridge ideas. Very appropriately all of the suggestions, Àite spòrsail A fun place with just one exception, were Gaelic names. And Àite spòrsail math A good fun place the exception was Dutch! Many people agree that An Taigh Cèilidh The Ceilidh House that the best name to reflect our community would De Skier ?? (Dutch!) be a snappy Gaelic title that’s also easy enough for those who don’t speak Gaelic to recognise and Please make more suggestions and then help make adopt. We’ll then draw up a short-list of the most the choice! Very importantly, beyond having a popular. Here are all the suggestions received so far, Gaelic name, if you have suggestions as to how we with the meaning in English beside each one. can genuinely put the use of the language at the heart of our hub, please share your thoughts with An Talla Againne Our Hall any of the directors. Beul a’ Bhaile The mouth of the village (or ‘ Siuthadaibh! the talk of the town’) MW An Crùbh The hub of a wheel Some suggested names for the hub from community members.