FROM OUR FILES TEN YEARS AGO Friday November 9, 2012
Council to consider redundancy measures
Redundancies are among those measures being considered by Argyll and Bute Council as it struggles to meet a savings target of £6 million a year.
The authority has to cut its spend over the next seven years in order to balance the books, something the council admitted would represent a significant long-term challenge.
A council source confirmed that negotiations were taking place this week with a view to looking at every aspect of the council operation, including staffing levels; the council employs around 4,500 people.
‘The council is still talking about it – there are some painful decisions to be made,’ the source said. ‘Just now the talk is about natural wastage and this idea of not filling posts when people leave.’
Tenth birthday milestone for Martha and Mary’s meals
Argyll charity Mary’s Meals and number one supporter Martha Payne both celebrated their 10th birthday this week.
Mary’s Meals marked the milestone with the launch of a new film Child 31, a documentary about the charity’s work in Malawi, India and Kenya.
The documentary, which was played in 300 locations around the world from living rooms to the big screen this week, premiered in Glasgow with the support of Martha, who turned 10 on Tuesday, Gordon Brown and Annie Lennox.
Featuring stories about the work of the charity, Child 31 focuses on the difference one meal every school day can make for children living in extreme poverty.
Child 31 won best documentary and best soundtrack at the Pan Pacific Film Festival in California and has been tipped for an Oscar nomination.
▍ School dinners blogger Martha Payne raised more than £100,000 for Mary’s Meals; she became an internet sensation after Argyll and Bute Council banned her from posting photos of her school meals online.
TWENTY YEARS AGO Friday November 8, 2002 No Christmas for Lochgilphead this year
Prohibitive cost is the main reason why there will be no Christmas lights in Lochgilphead this year.
At Lochgilphead Community Council’s meeting on Monday night secretary Brian Christie said the overall cost of the planned display was ‘quite frightening and went beyond the means of the Lochgilphead Millennium Group'.
‘This, coupled with the public liability insurance requirements by BEAR Scotland for the use of the lamp posts at £5 million; such insurance appeared virtually impossible to obtain,’ said Mr Christie.
Planning concerns, he added, caused initial problems but these were not insurmountable thanks to the help of Argyll and Bute Council planning officials in Ardrishaig.
The estimated cost of installing cabling connections with a dedicated power supply to illuminate six of the trees on the Front Green would be £5,000 not taking into account the cost of the lights and running costs.
But Mr Christie added that the ground work has been done should anyone else wish to take on the project for the benefit of the town.
FORTY YEARS AGO Friday November 12,1982 Opportunities for forest product industries
A major review of the International Forest products industry has identified significant new development opportunities for Scottish timber.
The review was jointly undertaken over the past year.
It has, says the review steering group, already achieved its principal objectives – to formulate a long-term development strategy designed to expand the Scottish forest products industry over the next 15 years and to identify specific investment projects capable of being financed and implemented in Scotland.
The strategy is based on detailed proposals to expand traditional and new forest products to utilise the substantial resources of high-quality softwood that will become available as post-war forest plantations mature.
A comprehensive appraisal of Scotland’s competitive position in Europe confirms that investment opportunities in Scotland will become increasingly attractive to companies
seeking large and uncommitted timber supplies and locations well placed to exploit UK and European markets. The specific opportunities identified include wood-based panels and pulp and paper and the discussions are already underway with companies in these areas.
SIXTY YEARS AGO Tuesday November 6, 1962 Supporting rural industries demand for basket working bid
Another encouraging year’s work was reported at the third annual general meeting of Dalriada Rural Industries Association held in Lochgilphead.
The chairman, Miss Campbell of Kilberry, reported that although the sale of more expensive knitted goods and walking sticks had fallen, smaller objects had sold well, and the association had met with a keen demand for carved-wood wares.
There was also a great demand for basket work, especially the traditional creel baskets and the association was very anxious to recruit good basket makers.
Sales at the Royal National Mòd had again been very successful and the meeting applauded the help given by the organisers of the art and industry section in allowing the association to put their products on display.
Tarbert’s Hallowe’en festivities
Fancy dress parades were held in the Drill Hall on Wednesday.
The children’s parade in the afternoon was very well attended and the standard of dresses in all sections was outstanding, giving the judges a very difficult task.
The adult parade in the evening had not so many competitors, but the dresses, especially in the humorous section, were extremely good.
A very enjoyable and well attended dance followed.
Music was supplied by Fraser McGlynn’s band.