THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday 17 May

Signs of agreement

A meeting was held in the Lamlash Hall last Tuesday to try to tie up the loose ends of a long-running conflict between land owners and land users on Arran. The issue, not unique to Arran, tries to balance the needs of those who use the land for recreation and those who own and conserve it.

This first public meeting was chaired by Barbara Kelly, chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage for south west Scotland and included landowners, quangos, some ramblers and members of the access group. The issues that were raised included over-improvements of paths and a proliferation of signs, many not very welcoming.

When questions from the public came they almost all centred on the hillphone which was introduced last year as a pilot. The service had received 260 calls in the first year but many wanted to know if it was specific enough, did it take into account any activities other than deer shooting such as lambing or issues where certain areas were best avoided?

The meeting went some way to address the concerns so that landowners and walkers recognise the problems and rights of each other.

Members only

In 1991 Iain Johnston opened up a large indoor swimming pool at the Auchrannie Hotel which has provided the public with an excellent wet-weather facility. Now, it may be that it will have to close to the public. When the Auchrannie opened its leisure centre it was for hotel residents, timeshare owners and club members and because of long negotiations with the local authority, it was open to the public.

It was agreed that it would receive around £50,000 per annum to help towards staff costs. Last year North Ayrshire Council cut this by 25 per cent and this week the hotel has been informed that a further 30 per cent cut will reduce the subsidy to around £25,000. This has caused the Auchrannie to reconsider its position on public use. Mr Johnston believes that a £50,000 per annum subsidy is a cheap way for the council to provide these facilities but he is torn between conflicting forces. Lodge owners and residents appreciate a degree of exclusivity and do not appreciate it when the pool is busy. The contract with North Ayrshire Council ends on June 30 and Mr Johnston will have to make a decision within the next two weeks.

Music shop shuts

The String Music Shop in Brodick has closed. Opened about two years ago and run by Campbell Seaton it was Arran’s only music shop. With a pleasant selection of discs, an ordering service and a video hire section it was an agreeable addition to Brodick’s shops. Mr Seaton had objected when the Co-op started to sell music although the closure also indicates the difficulties of business in a small and finite market. It also leaves another empty shop on the front at Brodick.

B19twe04 All of the prize winners at the Arran Riding Club’s Prix Caprilli held last Sunday.

B19twe02 The Primary Schools swimming gala, which was held last Wednesday at the Kinloch pool, was as noisy as ever. Champions at the event were Penny Raeburn and Tom Wheeler.

B19twe03 ALGU trophy winners for the 1996/1997 season: Morag Gardner (Cir Mhor), Ellie Jones (island champion) and Linda Johnston (Drumadoon Tray).

B19twe05 A large group of Austrian guests say goodbye to their new found friends on Arran after a two-week visit to Arran High School where the visitors enjoyed getting a flavour of Scottish education and Arran culture.

B19twe01 Duncan Russell of Whiting Bay took his father’s new Range Rover for a drive past the Lamlash Golf Club last week when, on his first outing, an errant golf ball struck and dented the car.