More waste to come to Merkinch

WASTE water and sewage from North Kessock may be brought across the Inverness Firth to be pumped through the pumping station on Kessock Road and members of the Merkinch Community Council are not happy about it.

Dell McClurg of the South Kessock Environmental Company said at the May meeting that there were worries about not only disruption but also accidents.
She told other community councillors that, as it was, the Kessock Road facility dealt with sewerage from Scorguie which was bad enough without North Kessock as well.

Councillor Peter Corbett said that the pipe was to be buried a few feet deep, but admitted that the Harbour Trust won't have the pipeline in their waters.

Members agreed to write to the contractors, Morrisons, regarding their intentions.

Still on matters environmental, Helen Geddes, Shoe Lane reported that the flooding in Simpson's Lane could not be attributed to any one business in Grant Street, according to the environmental health authorities. Young children were running through the puddles at times. Workmen had told her that the whole street was "bunged up". She said that Scottish Water cleaned up as best they could, but she thought they ought to be checking regularly. Councillor Peter Corbett is to see Gregor McCormack of the environmental health department about the problem.

Abbey Cameron Residents and Tenants Association (ACTRA) were finally able to report that a CCTV camera had been installed under Friars Bridge. There was concern at where it had been placed as the Police operator had not been consulted and there were trees which were partly in the way.

The bin adjacent to the former Ferry Office is now being emptied on a more regular basis following the community council's complaints, Community Warden Liz Murray reported.

The two new Community Beat Officers in the Merkinch area - Duncan MacLauchlan and Lesley Campbell - attended the May meeting of the community council and introduced themselves. PC MacLauchlan once again made the Police plea for the public to give them as much information as they could. He reported that there were new cameras at Harbour Court, and that the Corbett Centre, which had been suffering from a great deal of vandalism now had anti-climb paint and anti-smash glass.

Merkinch Partnership officer Anne Sutherland reported that the sea wall repairs had now been done. The council authorities agreed that the water on Kessock Road near the Point required urgent attention.

The Green Gym project at the Corbett Centre Community Garden was due to start on 30th May.

It was hoped to bring the Citizens Advice Bureau to Merkinch one day a week. It appears that 25% of the people visiting Inverness CAB come from Merkinch. There would be appointments and drop-in opportunities, and at the moment a suitable venue for them was being sought.

The community council is to write to Highland Council about the problem of rubbish in the area of the Dunabban Road flats. Young children were throwing rubbish about and recently there had been furniture in the middle of the road. There is a caretaker but he also looks after blocks of flats in Gilbert Street and Upper Kessock Street. Members are to write asking that the caretaker keeps a closer eye on the situation.

Community council members congratulated Peter Corbett on getting in as a representative on the new Central Ward for a third term at the Highland Council elections. And commiserations went to community councillor Ivor Bisset, who failed to get a seat at his first attempt. Cllr Corbett said, "I am delighted to be back and sorry that Ivor is not with us." He added that it would likely be August before the set up of the new system would be worked out. "It's a brand-new situation."

The independent councillors had agreed to ally themselves with the SNP but there would be no whip and they would be free to vote in the interests of the people they represented and not according to a party line. The new ward manager was Jimmy Flint. Cllr Corbett also said that two other councillors for the Central Ward, Janet Campbell and Bet McAllister, had said they were willing to come to Merkinch community council meetings.

Two youngsters from Merkinch Youth Matters (MYM) are to be included in a party of 15 from the Inverness area who are to attend the Opening of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Community Warden Liz Murray reported. She also said that MYM was organising an ABBA Night on 28th September and planning a barbecue and quiz in the Community Garden this summer.

Merkinch Community Centre is applying for an extra janitor to handle the increased use of the Centre. The first professional concert with The Indians had been a "brilliant night", Anne McCreadie reported. They had particularly commented on the sound system which they said was the best they had worked with in a long time.

More volunteers are needed for events at the Centre, not only for stewarding but also to learn about the sound and lighting systems. Their next big event would be the June Jamboree on 26th June.

The Centre has had greetings cards made featuring the new fabric wall-hanging-they cost £1 each and can be obtained from the office.

The Community Council's next meeting is in the Community Centre on Thursday 14th June at 7.30pm following the AGM at 7pm.

THE Highland Mobile Toy Library has a brand-new van and it was officially launched at Fliperz last month. The service has been based in Limetree Avenue (beside the Resource Centre) since 1984 and it became mobile 10 years later. The mobile toy library is a charity run by volunteers and the new van was funded with help from the Big Lottery Fund. Pictured in front are toy library driver Mabel Ross (in white) and Denise Mutch, the manager of Fliperz, while looking on, from left are some toy library committee members: Jan McCormack, co-ordinator; Anne Jackson, chair; Evelyn Wardlaw, treasurer; and Lori Williams. Jan and Evelyn are currently training for the Cross Ross Walk from Croick to Strathrusdale in aid of Children 1st.

Two new faces on Venture front

LUCY Morrison (above) started as Merkinch Development Venture's Project Manager in late April. Based at 4 Grant Street her principal project at the moment is Ness Soaps for which she is planning a marketing strategy. Ness Soaps are booked to have a presence at various shows this summer. From Inverness, she was a pupil at Millburn before studying Scottish civil law at Dundee University. Most recently she has worked with HISEZ which provides business support for social enterprises. Her hobbies include reading, gardening, going out with friends and her two-year-old niece!

SHONA Riach is the new project worker with Ness Soaps based at the Corbett Centre. Shona, who lives just across the water in North Kessock, previously worked for seven years at the Mayfield residential home. She has also worked as a school cook. "I'm cooking soap now," says Shona. "My role is to look at ways of increasing production, and we are very keen to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to help in this very pleasant environment. It might be an interesting occupation for a retired person or a stepping stone back to work for a younger one," Shona's husband Colin's family is well-known in the Merkinch, where his dad David ran a coal business. Shona and Colin have two grown-up children and her hobbies are walking the dog, gardening and socialising.

TWO new Community Beat Officers are now to be found on patrol in the Merkinch area - PCs Duncan Mac-Lauchlan and Lesley Campbell. Although he was born and brought up in Dingwall, PC MacLauchlan knew of Merkinch's legendary community feeling, for his father was a GP in the area many years ago. PC MacLauchlan himself worked in an Inverness hospital for some years before joining the Police in 1983.
He has been based in Elgin, Keith, Uig on Skye, Inverness and in the Traffic division. "I hope that people will feel free to come and talk to us when we are on the beat," he said. "The more we're told, the more we know, the better we can do our job." He is married and has an 8-year-old son, and his main hobby is Munro-bagging-so far he has climbed 84. He also has been to Peru with the Vine Trusty charity to work with street children to build shelters in Lima and he hopes to return in October.

PC Campbell originally hails from Aberdeenshire. She has been in the Police for around 10 years and was in Portree before coming to Inverness, where she has been based for the last five years. Currently she is working part-time.

Cinema fans enjoy a cuppa

IT'S not every picture house that gives its patrons a cuppa and the opportunity to chat and make new friends after the film. But the Silver Cinema, which meets on the second Monday afternoon of the month in the Community Centre's new theatre facility does. The film on 11th June is "A Farewell to Arms", based on the Ernest Hemingway novel of the same name and starring one-time heart-throb Gary Cooper. Pictured are some of the Silver Cinema patrons enjoying a chat after the show.

briefs…

• WINNER of the Crossword Puzzle prize is Wendy Dickson of Wyvis Place. Your £10 gift voucher for Nicol's Killer Prices is on its way.

 

• THE Trinity Church is holding its Summer Fete on Saturday 16th June from 2-4pm. There will be lots of stalls, games and prizes plus tea/coffee-something for everyone and a good time for all.

 

• MERKINCH art group have a change of venue when they kick off the month of June with a visit to the Floral Hall on Saturday 2nd.

 

• EARLY warning-South Kessock residents are holding their annual Fun Day on 6th July. There will be a BBQ, displays, a bouncy castle, Beat the Goalie and much, much more- the fun will start at 12 noon.

 

• ON THE afternoon of 29th May the Merkinch Active Adults group invited the 50+ groups from Charleston, Raigmore, Drakies and Hilton to the Community Centre. Merkinch has enjoyed their hospitality in the past. They saw a showing of the Scots comedy drama "The Steamie" in the theatre followed by light refreshments.

 

• A DATE for your diary - on Thursday 19th July there will be an Activity Day at Merkinch Community Centre to prove that recycling can be fun. Volunteers are invited to help create a large recycled art collage banner. There will be cmpetitions, workshops and more- details in next month's issue.
• MERKINCH is well represented in the local designers' section of the Six Cities Design Festival currently running in the Design Centre in Upper Bridge Street. Ruth Black and family (Anna Macneil) of Abban Street and Bette McArdle (Glass Opera) of Telford Road both have displays and Jennifer Cantwell of Innes Street, just across the river, has a display of her modern sporrans and handbags.

 

• PAINTINGS by the Studi'03 group are being shown in the Spectrum Centre. The group are also currently building their own website.

 

• COUNCILLOR Peter Corbett is the only Independent represented on the new Highland Council Central Ward which includes the Merkinch area. The other three are Bet McAllister (Labour), Janet Camp-bell (Lib Dem) and Donnie Kerr (SNP). LibDem's John Farquhar Munro will continue to represent this constituency at the Scottish Parliament.

 

• MERKINCH Post Office & Stores has succeeded, after a two-year campaign, in attracting an external ATM that dispenses money without charging a fee. "This will give customers access to their money 24/7," said Lesley. The new service should be operational early this month.

 

Open day at the Janny's Hoose

WANT to know what happens in the Janny's Hoose? We are having an open afternoon on Friday 18th May 1.30 - 3pm.

WE HAVE lots of things going on at the Janny's Hoose this month starting with our Health Fayre on Wednesday 13 June at the Community Centre.

Pop along any time between 10 - 12, there will be lots of freebies, and stands will include Diabetes UK, Citizens Advice Bureau, Real Nappy Project, Blast, Inverness Credit Union plus many more.

Merkinch Healthy Highland week is 18th - 22nd June and we will be doing cookery at the nurseries and food tasting in the school with the children.

On the Wednesday we will be having our Garden Party at the Janny's Hoose with lots of fun and activities. There will be food tasting, freebies, raffle and lots more. Hopefully the sun will have his hat on that day and the weather will be nice. On the Thursday we will be in Grant Street handing out healthy snacks, so watch out for us and come along to get your free snacks.

Jean Mackay, The Janny's Hoose Healthy
Living Centre (01463 226348)

Centre vandals go before Panel

ANYONE in the area of the Corbett Centre who spots any unusual activity around the building is requested to report it to the Police.

Acting manager Liz Graham says, "The Corbett Centre has been here for 18 years and we have made many friends and become part of the community.

"However, we are sad to report that we have been plagued with a spate of vandalism in recent months. Roof tiles, lights and sensors have all been targeted costing the council a considerable amount of money to replace."

The Police report that four youngsters are being reported to the Children's Panel on nine counts of vandalism at the Corbett Centre.

Jacobite visits the Friendship Club

HISTORY will be brought to life on Wednesday 6th June when Ray Owens offers a "Highlander Experience" to members of the Friendship Club.

Dressed in traditional costume of the time, his Highlander character will talk about his experiences in the Jacobite Army as he followed Bonnie Prince Charlie to within 130 miles of London and the long road home to Culloden. Other events on the Club calendar this month are:

13th - A tour of Dalcross Airport including Lunch at the Highland Food Stop.
20th - Vikki Webster explains how gentle exercise can keep us healthy.
27th - Always a Club favourite-a Bingo session.

Merkinch benefits from Community Service

WE'VE all heard of Community Service, but how many people realise that much good work has been done in Merkinch by the service.

Community service is frequently portrayed in the popular press as an "easy option", an ineffective alternative to jail. But the fact is that it involves a lot of hard work, discipline and a widening of horizons for those involved.

Supervisor of the service in this area is Brian Skinner. He is well-known in Merkinch; he worked at the Corbett Centre for eight years. He was also a member of the League of Friends of Craig Dunain for 30 years.

Among the various jobs he and his teams have done in Merkinch are painting the timber boardwalk in the West Field, and creating low maintenance gardens for the frail and elderly who have no family to carry out the work for them.

They have done such jobs for individuals all over Merkinch, in Kessock Road, Wyvis Place, Kilmuir Court, Anderson Street and Ord Terrace. The residents pay for the materials-chuckies and gravel etc-and the Community Service team provide the labour. The low maintenance garden is designed to require an absolute minimum of upkeep and the team do not return to it again, once it is created.

They have also worked on the NCH nursery garden and the Community Garden at the Corbett Centre, a job which they took nine months of intermittent visits to complete.

Brian, who has been with Community Service for the last two years, is keen to do more work in the Merkinch area and would be interested to help more people in the community. His area stretches from Beauly in the north to Kingussie, including Grantown and Nairn.

He naturally has considerable belief in the Community Service system and sees it as a valuable and very worthwhile way of dealing with lesser breaches of the law. "They are fine lads and do a power of work," he says. "They seem to get something out of it as well, and it gives them skills and a sense of achievement."

His teams consist of up to five members, usually three or four. The lads we met, the day News & Views met them were enthusiastic about their work, and clearly enjoyed working with Brian, who gives off the air of being firm but fair, peppered with dry humour.

Anne Sutheland says, "Brian and the Community Service boys have been a great help to all of us working in the Merkinch area who are trying to improve and maintain the lovely green spaces we have here.

"They have done a tremendous amount of work in the Corbett Centre garden which is now designated a Community Garden and last year they painted the Boardwalk.

"Not content with the painting and being a bit of a perfectionist Brian and the boys are coming back this month to do the job all over again!

"They are certainly making a much valued contribution to the Merkinch community."

Anyone who wants to contact Brian regarding something a Community Service team could achieve in the area should contact Anne at 4 Grant Street.

Come and join in at the Green Gym

Community Warden Liz Murray and local resident Jayne Bailey (above), aided by a number of neighbouring youngsters, had a bit of a Green Gym session in the Corbett Centre Community Garden last month when they did a litter clean-up in the Garden and also in Coronation Road and Dan Corbett Gardens.

MERKINCH Partnership held a "strategy day" on 27th April to finalise the funding awarded for the last year and to look at funding priorities for the coming year.

Potential projects which were discussed at the meeting include: the establishment of a Local Nature Reserve in the West Field, improvements of local green spaces, a review of play facilities in the Merkinch area, Citizens Advice sessions in Merkinch, the development of sports activities for young people in the area and the formation of a Sports Development Plan.

Engaging with young people in the area remains a key focus for the Partnership as they consider funding options for local groups and projects.

A full report of the strategy day and the outcomes of the discussions will be available on the Merkinch community website merkinch.info.

Relocation

The Partnership Officer is now located in 4 Grant Street and is sharing the premises with Lucy Morrison, Project Manager for Merkinch Development Ventures.

The re-location from Merkinch Enterprise will allow the Partnership to develop its own identity and will raise its profile in the Merkinch area.

The office is open from 9am to 5pm and Anne Sutherland, Partnership Officer, can be contacted on 718989.

She says, "Merkinch Partnership is playing an important role in the regeneration of our local community - local groups and projects are benefiting from the funding awarded by the Partnership and it is vital that the local community can access information about what the Partnership is doing and feel that they are part of the process.
"It makes sense for me to be sharing an office with another project worker in the area and I look forward to the coming year when Merkinch Partnership will be continuing to look at funding priorities and developing local projects"

South Kessock Environmental Company

Green Gym sessions are now being held in the Corbett Centre community garden.

The Green Gym, run by the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers, is a scheme that inspires people to improve their health and the environment at the same time. It offers participants the opportunity to work out in the open air through local, practical environmental or gardening work.

"We know that we should try to be fitter and healthier," says Anne, "and we are also increasingly aware of how important our local environment is. Going to gyms and sports centres doesn't appeal to everyone and the Green Gym is a great alternative.

"It helps people of all ages to be physically active by providing a regular programme of outdoor sessions of Green Gym activities, training and development of new skills." Increasing physical activity and being outside in green space also has proven benefits for mental health, helping to reduce stress and overcome depression.

BTCV is keen to get local people involved in the Green Gym sessions in the Corbett Centre garden, which will take place once a month. For more information contact Anne Sutherland on 718989.

Local group South Kessock Environmental Company is funding the Green Gym in Merkinch with financial assistance from the Partnership and the Community Regeneration Fund.

IT WAS a great night when The Indians came to Merkinch Community Centre's new theatre (pictured above). They were highly impressed with the quality of the facility and wished the management every success with their new venture. Next big name we are promised is Country and Western star Philomena Begley.

PUPILS from Merkinch PS had the opportunity to meet the new Director of Education, Leisure and Sport, Hugh Fraser when he officially opened the new Nursery at the School last month.

Sporting Nooz...

FINLAY'S, Culloden Moor Inn and Portland A all completed the League and Cup double on the last night of the winter league. Finlay's beat Thistle 7-2 and Culloden beat Deeno's by the same result whilst Portland A beat Uncle Bob's 7-1 giving them the triple as they also won the Supreme Cup.
Mojo's retained the Handicap Shield beating Keppoch 5-3 in the final. Barry MacLean (Portland A) and Bill Duncan (Keppoch) both scored 180s and George Macleod (Finlay's) checked out 104.
Alan Mackinnon (City Taxis) topped the seasons 180s table with a total of 19, Derek Maclean (Uncle Bob's) was second on 15 and Jim Hunter (Portland A) third on 11.
Eddie Edwards (Portland A) had the highest finish of the season with 167.
Davey Fraser and Shane Wharton won the Dewar's Doubles beating Jim MacNeil and Billy Palmer in the final. The losing semi finalists were Dan Raeburn and Duncan Morrison and Richie Devlin and Calum Macaskill; Richie scored the only 180 of the day. Inverness Darts players were saddened last month by the death of Bobby Goddard. He was one of the top players of his day. He played for British Legion and The Eagle and was a regular in the Inverness Super League team when they first competed nationally. His four sons all played in the Inverness league and two of them Brian and Alan have also won major titles.

Barry Maclean won the Scottish Singles at Bannockburn There were over 100 of Scotland's best chasing this prestigious title. Barry beat an East Stirling player Duncan Hastings 3-1 in the final. This is the sixth time a Highland player has taken the trophy north but the previous win prior to this was back in 1990.

Beware of those doorstep traders

ONLY recently consumers reported to Highland Council's Trading Standard Service that rogue itinerant traders are targeting elderly and vulnerable residents, offering to carry out work on home repairs and garden maintenance. Complaints highlight tarmac gangs offering to resurface driveways in a "one-off cut price deal". They may emphasise that they are in the area for a short period of time; that the tarmac is surplus to a job they have just completed; and/or they need to offload the tarmac as it will only go to waste otherwise.

These sales tactics are being used in order to pressurise consumers to agree to work before they have a chance to consider whether they either want it or it is being offered at a reasonable cost.

Highland Trading Standards Service strongly advise consumers should be on their guard. Previous complaints in this area have highlighted problems. For instance, shoddy workmanship has been carried out and the consumer finds that they are unable to make contact with the doorstep caller who has left only a mobile phone number as a means of contact. Another area of complaint is that the consumer finds the original price for the job, verbally agreed, has increased considerably by the time the job is completed. With no written quotations to rely upon consumers feel pressured into paying.

Qualified tradesmen, who do carry out home maintenance, are able to draw on experience to sort out complex issues. The reputable tradesman will be able to give written VAT-inclusive quotes of how much the work is going to cost. The quote given by reputable qualified tradesman may seem high but compared to having to get the job redone at a later stage, might be considered to be money well spent.

Reputable tradesman will also hold public liability insurance and if consumers are concerned as to the practices of the trader calling on their home uninvited, it would be reasonable to ask if the trader has such insurance before works are carried out on their home.

Nigel MacKenzie, Head of Trading: "We want to make it clear that people should not allow anyone to carry out repairs or maintenance unless the trader can provide satisfactory identification and clear, written quotations of the work to be carried out and the total cost."

He further adds: "If someone knocks on your door offering to carry out work on your home then our advice is to be very careful before allowing them over the threshold. Consumers have been caught out before and have in some instances have had valuables and money stolen from their property".

Consumers can change their minds if they receive an unsolicited visit from a trader. The itinerant trader must give the householder a written notice of a seven-day cooling off period laid down by legislation. The cancellation notice, must inform the consumer of the full name and address of the trader so that the consumer can cancel within the time limit given.

If the customer does not receive a cancellation notice, then the deal is not enforceable and the tradesmen cannot insist on payment. Additionally, they may have committed a criminal offence and Trading Standards would be interested to hear of this.

Worried consumers should contact Trading Standards and their local Police if they are at all concerned about any callers they receive at their door.

If you have been a victim of a crime relating to uninvited guests to your home selling goods or offering to carry out work on your home please contact Highland Trading Standards Unit. 38 Harbour Road, Inverness or telephone on: 01463/228700 for free and confidential advice.

Corbett's thanks

Can I thank the residents of the Merkinch/Carse area for their support and trust in me when I was elected at the May elections to represent them in the newly-formed Central Ward. This is my third term as a councillor and I am delighted to continue the work I have been doing for the last eight years. I have worked hard and will continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for people in this area. Thank you very much.

Councillor Peter Corbett.

This project is being part-financed by the European Union under the Inverness and Nairn CED programme.