April 2015 Volume 21 Issue 3 The Merkinch community newsletter, entirely written and produced in the Merkinch, and delivered by volunteers. First Minister visits Merkinch school NICOLA Sturgeon was in town to launch the new London sleeper, but she found time to visit Merkinch Primary. The First Minister is pictured here with Head Girl Holly Knox and Head Boy Leon Florence. Afterwards she tweeted, “Great School!” ABOVE... What would you do to improve the Muirtown/Merkinch area in the future? See what Scottish Canals and Highland Council are thinking.... Page 9. Inside IT class for New venue and As LNR marks Latest sports unemployed times for Work 7 years, plans news and this to continue Club for future pictures month: ... page 2 ... page 5 ... page 6 ... page 9 2 News & Views Helpline Enterprise to continue computer courses for the unemployed AGE Concern – 0800 731 4931. ALCOHOL, Inverness Council on – 34 ALTHOUGH the European funded through the Scottish search etc, or indeed would Tomnahurich St, tel 220995. Social Funded training has Government’s People and like the more formal training BROKEN glass, drugs needles etc –TEC unfortunately come to an end, Communities Fund and for the in how to word process or use Services 01349 886690. Merkinch Enterprise is moment will utilise ME’s own spreadsheets etc, we aim to BULKY furniture and other items for continuing to provide basic resources as matching finance meet all of your needs. special uplift, bins etc – 01349 886603 computer training for the to retain this valued service The training will be CHILDLINE – 0800 1111. Free unemployed. within the Merkinch available to those who are confidential advice 24 hours a day. The ESF-funded courses community. unemployed within the had run for a long and Training will be available community and who fit the CITIZENS Advice Bureau – successful period. Added to from the very basic age range between school Appointments, 01463 237664 the end of ESF funding, introduction to the computer leaver up to retirement age. COMMUNITY CENTRE – 239563. Highland Council did not and the Internet and will also “This is excellent news for Your local COUNCILLORS – unfortunately approve the be available at a higher level the community,” says Colin Janet Campbell 226598; Enterprise’s application to for those seeking accreditation Downie of the Enterprise. Donnie Kerr 225217; access the Deprived Area which will be available up to “It’s unfortunate that we Richard Laird, 07557 566552; Funding to assist them with SVQ Level 4 in the most couldn’t access the funding the continuation for the common Microsoft business available for this area but the Bet McAllister 710558. delivery of this valued products, effectively covering support from the People and CRIMEBUSTERS – 0800 555111. community service. all levels of interest for the Communities Fund is a DENTIST, Emergency – 0845 644 2271. Merkinch Enterprise is unemployed members of the welcome addition to our funds DOG Warden – 703134. however set to continue with community. to enable the Enterprise to DRUGLINE Scotland – tel 0800 776600. the provision of basic Whether you simply need to continue with this service for Free advice on drugs 24hrs. computer training courses for learn how to use the computer the community.” the unemployed. This will be to access the internet for job GAS/ELECTRIC Freephone - 0800 111 999. MERKINCH Enterprise – 240085. Clouds spoil eclipse NEW START – 715615 or 728770. NEWS & VIEWS – 240085, 221027. experience in Merkinch A BANK of low clouds obliterated any NHS 24 (out of hours medical advice/GP Service) - 08454 242424 chance of Merkinch Primary youngsters seeing the solar eclipse on Friday 20th MERKINCH Partnership Officer – March. A number of classes came out to 718989. the playground to experience the rare POLICE – confidential line 101 (no event — some nursery infants even had a longer 815555). Genuine emergencies still picnic! But apart from a few eerily dim 999. moments there was a no-show for all the PRIMARY School, Merkinch – 232962. hopeful kids. Sadly, within an hour the REFUSE, extra and bulky collection – skies had cleared and conditions would 01349 886603. have been perfect. RELATIONSHIP Counselling Highland – Jill O’Connell 712888. ROAD to RECOVERY – Ian Polworth, INVERNESS TRINITY St Michael & All Angels' Madras Street Mission, 715809. CHURCH of SCOTLAND Scottish Episcopal Church SAMARITANS – 67a Tomnahurich St, “We aim to be a welcoming fellowship, Abban Street tel 713456 or 08457 909090 (local rate). proclaiming in worship the gospel of Jesus Priest-in-Charge Revd Dr John Cuthbert SMOKELINE – 0800 84 84 84. Christ, ready to serve with compassion the needs of the community.” Come and Celebrate Easter SOCIAL WORK Dept, Emergency – with us at our 0845 769 7284. Your Parish Church TRADING Standards – 0845 600 4222. HOLY WEEK SERVICES Rev Alistair Murray BD. VICTIM Support – tel 258834. Palm Sunday: 9.45am Family Mass WEBSITE, Merkinch Community — Sunday Services 11am. www.merkinch.info (Sunday School & Crèche during the morning service) Maundy Thursday: 7.30pm Inverness WOMEN’S Aid – Confidential 6.30pm First Sunday in Eucharist of the Last Supper support for abused women, tel 220719. Month Good Friday: 11.30am - 1pm Girls’ Brigade meets Mondays 6.30pm Good Friday Service and Meditation before the Cross Got a contact you Boys’ Brigade meets Fridays 6pm Induction Loop System Easter Day 6.30am Dawn Service - think we should in- All Welcome Liturgy of the New Light; 11.15am Festival Eucharist. clude? Contact News (www.trinityinverness.org.uk) Inverness Trinity Church of Scotland & Views on 240085 is a registered Scottish Charity (SC015432) ALL ARE WELCOME April 2015 3 ‘People in Edinburgh’ should be ashamed of themselves say Community Council after will of people and local authority is flaunted THE Scottish Government’s at the meeting was Jamie small boats making use of it. in the year two children’s bikes planning authority came under Thrower, Watch Manager with Currently Mr Gair is berthed at had been stolen. heavy criticism at the March the Fire Brigade. Nairn. Another operator is Residents pay for security, but meeting of Merkinch Community There had been 15 incidents interested in the pier, but it is if there was no point in having Council. in Merkinch in the four months understood he only wants to run cameras if no-one was watching. The issue was the application from September to January 12 RIB trips per year. for a waste disposal plant to be inclusive. The Kenilworth is a twin- The police reported that in moved from the Longman to the Of 230 false alarms in the engine 60ft vessel with a 3ft draft. the last month there had been Carse. Central Ward, just three were 255 calls from the area. The site is near council housing from Merkinch. There had McLaughlin & Harvey’s Twelve had been for anti- with only the railway line been no major fire problem in February newsletter purporting social behaviour and a number separating people’s homes from Merkinch. to keep residents aware of the of people had been warned. the plant. Mr Thrower reported that progress of the flood alleviation Four calls related to Members heard that at its whereas over the festive period works was described by vandalism and one person was Longman site there already was the brigade focused on fire members as “a disgrace” for its charged. smell, noise and rats; it was safety in the home, in the spring sheer lack of any real Three youths had been clearly totally unsuitable to be re- there were more outside. They information. charged with fire-raising in the sited to the Carse. were targeting the need for the Particularly risible was the Capelinch playpark. The public was against it, as elderly and vulnerable to be fire fact that a third of the single- There had been six thefts were the Community Council, aware. side of A4 was filled with a reported one of which was a local businesses in the Carse and Wordsearch! bicycle. Highland Council’s planning The other speaker was Scott There was also a string of The lighter evenings and authority. Plans for the future Gair who hopes to run his wildlife complaints at the lack of spring weather brought a were to boost the tourist -spotting boat from South organisation of the traffic different set of problems, but it attractions of the area. Kessock Pier. management, especially the was always helpful if the public But all of these had been over- He has been running his buses, in Kessock Road. rang in their complaints to 101 ruled by an Edinburgh civil business from Shore Street for 17 for non-emergency matters. servant. years. His boat, the Kenilworth, Members queried the point of Community police officer Members heard that Munro’s was built in Southampton in 1938 having CCTV cameras if they Cathy McGibbon told members had put in their application for the and is thought to have been were not recording and no-one that they were hoping to run a waste facility knowing that the involved in the D-Day landings. was watching them. This related police “surgery” in the Muirtown Basin area was going He had a Southampton lawyer to a report that a resident in the Community Centre after the to be developed. looking into the matter. Coronation Park flats had Wednesday lunch club. He said that if he got the pier suffered £300-worth of damage One of the two guest speakers he would have no problem with right under a camera. And earlier 4 News & Views New members invited as Waterloo Briefs… Fairfield Medical Practice bowling season starts up reported that 71 patients did not show Poszukujemy up for their appointments in Nowych February. Czlonkow If you have any concerns regarding Klub gry w the Flood Alleviation Works please kregle contact: The River Ness Helpline on “Waterloo”, 07557 744442 or email: Waterloo [email protected] Place.