THE PRESS AND JOURNAL Wednesday, August 15, 2018 LOCALNEWS 5 TOURISM Children of the world at Signs are removed to stop multicultural nursery visitors Community:Group celebrates contribution from diverse mix of families camping BY DAVID MACKAY BY CHRIS MACLENNAN Campsite signs in a For a wee nursery in a Speyside park have Highland town, it has been taken down in an a remarkable spread of attempt to deter people pupils. Fort William’s from staying there Stramash has children from overnight. all over the world – of the Public toilets at current roll, 10 are from Fiddich Park in countries outside the UK. Craigellachie were closed And now, bosses are at the end of June by celebrating the vital Moray Council as part contribution of its vastly of budget cuts. diverse gathering of However, concerns families. have been raised about Stramash offers nursery the amount of visitors care, school programmes continuing to pitch up at and clubs for children the park amid reports of living within half an hour human waste being seen of the facility. Currently, 10 at the site. Now the council has “Inwardmigration ordered “camping” signs to be taken down to helpsensurethe dissuade people putting futureoflocal up tents. communities” Speyside Glenlivet councillor Derek Ross of the 72 children enrolled “Ithasbeena at the Fort William nursery are from outside the UK, regularstop-off from as far afield as Chile forthe and Hong Kong. The social enterprise SpeysideWay” also has facilities based in Oban and Elgin and had pressed for the encourages parents and toilets to be reopened children using its services on environmental health to contribute within the WARM WELCOME: Fort William nursery Stramash has 72 children, with 10 of them from a country outside the UK grounds but the case was local community. ruled out by the local Team leader at Stramash inward migration helps to Scotland their home, but authority. in Fort William, Cameron ensure the long-term future often employment too. Yesterday council Sprague, who moved to of local communities, both “This has a positive staff explained that the Scotland from the US, said: socially and economically.” impact on the local park had only ever been “We have had children from The nursery is working community. We are set considered a “wild” every continent. in partnership with to almost double fund campsite due to the “Families moving here organisations, including childcare from 600 to shortage of facilities, from outside the UK means the Scottish Government, 1,140 hours by 2020, and while stressing it would we have more children towards promoting the it’s vital we continue to cost too much to get the and we can do more: we #wearescotland campaign, attract the best candidates proper accreditation. can employ an extra staff which aims to ensure to work with our children, Mr Ross said: “The member and offer more migrants are made to feel regardless of nationality.” campsite has been a modern apprenticeships welcome and inducted into Stramash chief executive, regular stop-off for to local people. local communities. Maggie Tierney, said: people walking the “People coming from Maree Todd, minister for “Having children and staff Speyside Way for many outside the UK enable us children and young people, from outside the UK not years. It is still listed on to maintain the level and said: “Stramash is a prime only builds our capacity many websites. quality of local services example of how small, rural to do more, it enriches “It seems we are trying that people here rely on. businesses provide not just the experience for all our to encourage tourism on Across the Highlands, a service to those who make children and young people.” one hand and are taking away from it with the other.” Stephen Cooper, the council’s head of direct Shadow health secretary visits the site of new Kirkwall hospital services, said: “We will look at the websites to ensure the appropriate Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston that this major public patients are not forced facility can be the catalyst information is provided. HEALTH Jamie Halcro Johnston at MSP said: “The new Bal- project is currently ahead to endure lengthy trips to achieve that,” added the “At the moment we the £64million facility. four is a vital project for of schedule. to Aberdeen or, as we saw MSP. have no intention of Shadow health secretary The hospital is due to Orkney, a major boost to “Looking to the future, as in the case last year of Mr Briggs said: “This applying for the licence Miles Briggs visited open next summer, secur- local health services and is far as possible, key medical potential trips to Newcastle is an important facility and planning permission Orkney to tour the site of ing the future of healthcare hugely welcome. services must remain in the for local heart patients, for Orkney as the NHS required to designate the the new Balfour Hospital services in Orkney for years “It is testament to the islands – or be brought to even furtherafield. celebrates its 70th park as a campsite due to in Kirkwall, meeting to come. efforts of the project team the islands – so that local “This fantastic new anniversary.” the costs involved.”.