Beachd Ailein
Mr Iain Thornber’s letter, ‘Will community benefit from hydro scheme?’ paints a rather jaundiced picture of the Barr River scheme. Perhaps I could offer a more positive view. Morvern Community Development Company (MCDC) is building the first wholly community-owned hydro scheme in Morvern. As your correspondent knows, all the surpluses generated by the scheme will flow back to the community.
I would agree wholeheartedly with the need for ‘total transparency, openness, and frank engagement with local residents as to where the income, if any will go and just who will disburse it’. Fortunately, MCDC is a democratic organisation. It is, as your correspondent knows, a charity owned and controlled by its members. Membership is open to all the electors of Morvern. The community will continue to guide how MCDC operates and how the surplus income generated by the scheme is invested in the community.
I am somewhat surprised at your correspondent’s comment that information has been ‘woefully lacking’. As your correspondent knows, the membership agreed to the scheme going ahead after seven years of consultation. In a ballot of the residents in Morvern, conducted by Highland Council, 94.6 per cent of those who voted were in favour of building the hydro scheme. MCDC has held several public meetings where questions, including your correspondent’s, have been answered fully and frankly. MCDC will, of course, continue to keep the community updated on progress.
It is a shame that your correspondent uses your letters page to pour scorn on the hard work of volunteers within his own community. On the bright side, it has the unintended consequence of highlighting how many brilliant things are happening on the tiny Morvern peninsula (population around 320).
Nick Tordoff, elected director, Morvern Community Development Company,
Lochaline Harbour, Morvern. editor@obantimes.co.uk
Bha caochladh adhbharan againn airson tilleadh dhan Eilean Sgitheanach airson trì làithean air an t-seachdain seo chaidh, agus mar a thachair bha sinn a’ siubhal a-null air an latha a bha riaghailtean a’ ghlasaidh gan togail gu ìre mhòr.
’S dòcha ri linn an lasachaidh sin a bhith dìreach a’ tachairt, bha sinn mothachail gun robh na rathaidean fhathast gu math sàmhach airson an àm den bhliadhna, ach mun àm a thill sinn Disathairne abair, mar a tha an seanfhacal ga chur, “gun robh car eile ann an adharc an daimh!” Gun fhacal brèige bha càraichean agus carbadan campachaidh a’ taomadh a-staigh chun an taobh an iar, agus dhan Eilean Sgitheanach gu sònraichte, agus mar a bha mi ag ràdh anns a’ cholbh mu dheireadh a sgrìobh mi tha earbsa mhòr ga chur ann an ciall mhuinntir na sgìre, agus an luchd-turais. Air sgàth slàinte agus maith gach coimhearsnachd bidh sinn an dòchas gun dearbh iad uile gum bheil iad a’ toillsinn na h-earbsa sin!
Ged nach robh cus dòchais agam gum biodh ùine neo cothrom iasgaich ann chuir mi slatan is acfhainn anns a’ chàr cuide ris a’ chòrr den gheadhachail a tha daonnan na phàirt den t-seòrsa turais seo, agus gu mì-fhortanach thill an uidheam gun ùrachadh eòlais air an t-sàl! Ach bidh cothroman eile ann tha mi ’n dòchas, agus bha mi cho farmadach air iasgairean eile ’s mi a’ faicinn nan sùlairean a’ bualadh air sìol ann an Loch Dhùn Bheagain! Chuir mi, ge-tà eòlas às ùr air a’ mheanbhchuileig, ach gu fortanach chùm frioghan gaoithe smachd an
come out of the devastation from the pulp mill closure in the 1980s, has been the regeneration of the factory site and associated port. Corpach Boatyard started the renewal, both building and repairing boats. Other small businesses followed.
Boyd Bros. Haulage then had the vision to develop sea transport into remote areas and thereby taking many large timber lorries off small roads. This grew into Corpach Harbour as we know it today. Another local company, Great Glen Shipping, was then successfully established.
The main site is now home to one of the biggest and most advanced sawmills in Europe. Corpach Harbour is a very important part of ìre mhath oirre. A rèir aithris teaghlaich, nuair a bha mo shinn-seanair a’ togail cruach-fheòir san iodhlann air feasgar ciùin cuileagach is a thuirt nàbaidh ris gun robh “a’ chuileag dona”, fhreagair am bodach còir “cuin a bha i riamh math?”
Ged a tha fios agam gum bheil cuid ann air nach cuir “a’ chuileag” cus dragh idir, na mo bheachd fhìn seo a’ phrìomh easbhaidh a th’ ann an sgìrean dùthchail a’ chinn a tuath ’s an iar. Tha cuimhne agam air fear a b’ aithne dhomh nach robh idir àrd, ag ràdh “nach math an àirde” ris an fhear mhòr aig an deach air ruigheachd air rud a bha suidhichte os an cionn.
Fhreagair am fear mòr, le snodha-gàire, gun chuir a’ chuileag-bheag tric dhachaigh e a dh’aindeoin a chuid meud! Nuair a tha taghadh de sheallaidhean cho taitneach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan eileanan far an iarradh daoine ’s dòcha suidhe air feasgar samhraidh, tha a’ mheanbh-chuileag mhallaichte ag àicheadh sin dhuinn agus gar cur an teicheadh a bhroinn taighe!
Bhiodh Iain Noble ag ràdh rium gum bu chòir dhuinn dòigh a lorg air an glacadh ‘s an reic ann an cnogain, mar sògh a dh’fhaodadh a bhith cho cliùiteach ri sìol Bheluga!
Renewing my acquaintance with the dreaded midges on Skye last week, as so often before, I thought how this is the area’s only disincentive!
Allan Campbell ailean@obantimes.co.uk
that success. Ferguson Transport and Shipping relocated their main base to Corpach and the vision for an integrated Road, Rail and Sea Hub is becoming a reality, taking thousands of lorry trips off our roads and creating hundreds of local jobs.
This planning application is about ships docking on a Sunday. There are good safety and efficiency reasons for this. Noise of ships docking is not the issue. Historical issue of ‘flaunting operating rules’ should be dealt with objectively, constructively and fairly.
Things are going to be even harder for businesses after the Covid devastation.
We need to support the diversity of our local economy and fully value the jobs that are so