March 2010 Volume 16 Issue 2 News and Views The Merkinch community newsletter, entirely written and produced in the Merkinch Bike Shed kicks off with workshops for all ages RIGHT… Eden Court outreach worker Manda (standing left) and Katyana, the theatre’s Arts Education manager, ran the monthly children’s workshop in theatre arts and crafts, the first to be held at the newly opened community arts centre at the Bike Shed in Grant Street. BELOW… The adults’ weekly art class which is tutored by Liberty Bligh. More pictures, a report and the March timetable on page 5. Inside Calling all School’s Latest from allotment charity Merkinch this fans fashion show Partnership month: – page 2 – page 4 – page 5 – page 13 2 News & Views Merkinch training programme Helpline now extends into Dalneigh AGE Concern – 0800 731 4931. MERKINCH Enterprise has been providing Accreditation is provided through a close ALCOHOL, Inverness Council on – 34 Information Technology (IT) training for the working relationship with Inverness College Tomnahurich St, tel 220995. unemployed living in the Merkinch area since and candidates can achieve two credits at CHILDLINE – 0800 1111. Free back in 1994. This has been an ongoing Higher National level during the training confidential advice 24 hours a day. project and in 2005 was extended to include period which lasts for about 10 weeks. Citizens Advice Bureau – Advice line, 08 those living outwith the Merkinch The European Driving Licence can 444 994111; Appointments, 01463 237664 area. Both training programmes also be accessed within the centre at COMMUNITY CENTRE – 239563. have continued successfully over Grant St. the long life of the project with The Enterprise project has been so COMMUNITY HOUSE, Craigton trainees coming from as far afield as successful over the years that Avenue – 718848. Aviemore and Dingwall. Councillor Peter Corbett asked if we Your local COUNCILLORS – The training programme is could extend this facility and provide Janet Campbell 226598; financed through the European a similar service to the unemployed Social Fund (ESF) with matching finance residents of the Dalneigh area and this Peter Corbett 238159; having come from a variety of sources over commenced recently, at the James Cameron Donnie Kerr 225217; the years. Firstly and for many years it was Community Centre on the 18 January, initially Bet McAllister 710558. supported by the Local Enterprise Company as a pilot project to gauge the level of CRIMEBUSTERS – 0800 555111. who subsequently handed over to Skills requirement by the community. Development Scotland although unfortunately This service is financially supported by CROSSROADS Care Attendant Scheme this finishes in March. Merkinch Enterprise through their own ESF – 2 Queensgate Arcade, tel 242112. The Highland Council came on board later project with the additional matching finance in DENTIST, Emergency – 0845 644 2271. with sources through the Social Inclusion this instance being provided through FSF and DOG Warden – 703134. Partnership (SIPs) followed by the Community the Central Ward Budget. Regeneration Fund (CRF) and currently the Said Colin Downie, Chief Executive of DRUGLINE Scotland – tel 0800 776600. Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF). Merkinch Enterprise, “To date all places are Free advice on drugs 24 hours a day. Finally as each year passes, the varying full with a waiting list for the future. It HOUSING Problems – 703800. shortfall is always met through the resources therefore seems that the requirement for HOUSING Repairs (including out-of- of the Enterprise, thus fulfilling the continuation is there, leaving only the hours) – 232675. OOH emergency 0845 requirements for the continuation of this matching finance to be sourced to continue 700 2005. excellent training programme for the this project in Dalneigh. A further outreach MERKINCH ENTERPRISE – 240085. unemployed. facility also being considered at Hilton, to The classroom-based, tutor-led training provide the same facility throughout Inverness mp33 – 717639. sessions cover the normal Microsoft Products for all.” NEW START – 715615 or 728770. that are in general use by most employers, Said Cllr Corbett, “It’s great to see some of NEWS & VIEWS – 240085, 221027. such as Word Processing, Spreadsheets and the good work being done in Merkinch Database systems and the training programme extending into other areas and I hope it’s the MERKINCH PARTNERSHIP Officer – allows each individual to train to their own first of many that we have been able to set up 718989. level as they require and importantly at their through the expertise of the Merkinch PRIMARY School, Merkinch – 232962. own pace. Partnership.” REFUSE, extra and bulky collection – Ring 230634. ROAD to RECOVERY – Ian Polworth, Do you have Madras Street Mission, 715809. a story for Madras Street Hall SAMARITANS – 66 Tomnahurich St, tel us? An welcomes you to the Merkinch! 713456 or 0345 909090 (local rate). We are the local Free Church of Scotland in this SMOKELINE – 0800 84 84 84. achievement community and have been working in the area for SOCIAL WORK Dept , Emergency – to tell us 0845 769 7284. about? over 100 years. Come and visit us at any of the TRADING Standards – 0845 600 4222. Do you want following meetings which take place regularly in the Madras Street Hall. VICTIM Support – tel 258834. to have your WEBSITE, Merkinch Community — say about Sunday Services 5pm www.merkinch.info local issues? Sunday School 5pm (ages 4-12) Inverness WOMEN’S Aid – Confidential (Children meet during Sunday Service) support for abused women, tel 220719. Contact WORKING For Families – Drew on Bible Discussion Group 01463 728759 News & ‘Road to Recovery’ Meeting Views at (support work for alcoholics & drug addicts) Got a contact you think we Merkinch For meeting times or other inquires please contact: should include? Contact Enterprise Rev John Wagner on (01463) 223199 News & Views on 240085 on 240085 Jesus said: ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.’ March 2010 3 Bottles and buses, ice and salt, fly-tipping and the sea wall, donations and disturbances BROKEN bottles are a big issue, were held to work out priorities -picking to tidy the area up. environmental issues, and that Central Ward manager Jimmy and Highland Council staff There was also a noticeable they would look at the footpath Flint agreed at Merkinch couldn’t do more, some working problem with dog-fouling, and out to Carnarc Point. Community Council’s February 100 hours a week. unkempt gardens were a major Anne McCreadie of meeting. Regarding the state of issue in South Kessock, she Merkinch Community Centre said “If broken bottles are reported pavements he said that the ice was reported. that they were expecting work to to TEC services they will clean so hard and thick in Members were begin soon on new automatic them up within two hours,” Mr places that nothing Merkinch concerned that doors, toilets with disabled Flint said. could be done with it. Community following the access, and a media suite. The He assured members that Ali Locke suspension of the work was likely to take seven to Council Highland Council and the police commented that when licence for Rodgers’ eight weeks, but she did not know are working together on the the ground temperature shop on Grant Street, how much disruption it would problem and told them a new bye- was under minus nine degrees, the licence had simply been put in cause. law would mean that anyone salt was no use. the name of another member of Dawn Beaton and her caught under-age drinking or with With regard to gritting bins, Mr the family. husband Jim, stalwarts of a bottle in breach of the peace Flint said the matter was being The question of who should Glendoe Terrace, have moved could find their bottle being raised with Richard Evans, the take responsibility for the to Hilton, though Mrs Beaton emptied down the drain. new head of TEC services. maintenance of the sea wall was has agreed to continue working The problems being It is reckoned that the a continuing issue. Ali Locke of with the Glendoe tenants while encountered with bus services statistics given recently Greenspace said that there was their houses are being all across the city were being suggesting that fly-tipping was a certain amount of buck- refurbished. addressed by Highland Council. decreasing were wrong. Mr passing going on. James Ross was confirmed Mr Flint said that very senior Flint told members that there Vital repairs were done to the as a full community council staff from Stagecoach were was more fly-tipping than ever sea wall a couple of years ago, member, now that he had reached coming to speak to the Council before. And in her report, but Highland Council say they the age of 18. and councillors were likely to Community Warden Claire are not responsible for the Members agreed to make a give them a hard time. Richardson said she had structure. donation of £300 towards the Stagecoach have leased reported 12 instances; hotspots “It’s not needing a big repair Bike Shed and £200 to the Farraline Park from the were Nelson Street and Gilbert at the moment, but if Street Pastors. Council, he added. Street. While there was less Greenspace were to do any South Kessock Residents On the issue of the state of dumping of rubbish on repairs the council will say it is Association are planning an the roads this winter, Mr Flint pavements, there were still our ongoing responsibility,” he Easter event, though the date was said that more salt was being issues with furniture being left said, adding that he just wanted still to be confirmed. (See p10). delivered, but the Council used in gardens. the matter flagged up. The next meeting will be 3000 tons of salt a week through Litter was also a problem and He said they were always held in the Community Centre the bad weather.