FROM OUR FILES
TEN YEARS AGO Friday, February 14, 2014 Blarbuie Woodland qualifications
Volunteers with Blarbuie Woodland Enterprise recently gained a valuable qualification that will help them maintain the Lochgilphead woodland.
Trainees Sam Thomas, Alan Campbell, Peter Creech and Colin Campbell were put through their paces before receiving their LANTRA certification for chainsaw crosscutting, felling techniques and saw maintenance.
The men’s training will soon be put to good use as damage caused by storms over the past few years has led to a backlog of clearance and repair work at the woodland.
Jon Belton, chairman of the social enterprise, said: ‘Being able to complete these tasks inhouse will assist the trainees in terms of both self-confidence and employability and help save us time and money.’
Blarbuie Woodland Enterprise Ltd seeks to improve the mental and physical health of people in Mid Argyll and improve access to the woodland for the enjoyment of everyone.
TWENTY YEARS AGO Friday, February 20, 2004 Ronachan House set to close
Ronachan House, near Clachan, is to close. The decision to close the house, which offers help to people with alcohol and drug addictions was made by the Church of Scotland Board of Social Responsibility earlier this week and follows hard on the heels of the closure of the alcohol treatment unit at the Mid Argyll Hospital in Lochgilphead.
Seven full-time and four temporary staff who work at Ronachan were informed of the move towards closure on Tuesday.
Where possible, those who wish to find another job within the organisation will be offered that opportunity. The kirk’s deputy director of social work, David Kellock, said: ‘The decision to close Ronachan follows a strategic review of addictions services.
‘The quality of service offered is not in question, but the Board of Social Responsibility agreed that a service at Ronachan House is no longer seen as part of its future strategic plan for addictions service.’
Mr Kellock added: ‘It is anticipated that current service users will have the option of completing their programmes at Ronachan and then be offered follow-up support through the church’s other addiction services.’
The Very Reverend Roy Flatt of the Christ Church in Lochgilphead was shocked at the announcement.
He said: ‘I think given the level of alcohol abuse problems currently coming to the fore, the loss of anything like this has to be regretted.
‘This has come not long after the closure the unit in Lochgilphead.
‘It’s totally removing most of the help which is available in this neck of the woods and this is very much something to be regretted.’
FORTY YEARS AGO Friday, February 17, 1984 Sheltered housing
Plans by the Royal British Legion Housing Association to develop 34 sheltered housing units plus a warden’s flat at a site on the Oban Road in Lochgilphead have fallen through.
Following the announcement that the negotiations to acquire the site had broken down, the Royal British Legion approached the district council with regard to another suitable site that could be developed.
At a meeting last October, three sites out of a possible 12 were identified as potential housing areas.
Of these, the Royal British Legion have selected a site adjacent to the bowling green in Lochgilphead as their first choice,.
Although it has access problems and stands