BLACK MOUNT BUGLE

IMPORTANT PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Kersewell Mains – Near Carnwath

Crannog Ltd. & Vinebray Ltd. have placed a planning application with South Lanarkshire Council for permission to construct the following leisure facility: erection of 18 hole golf course, 200 bed hotel, an equestrian/ménage area, log cabins (up to 750 in 3 phases), new loch for fishing and boating, up to 60 fishing lodges and village centre comprising wet/dry leisure building and 50 bed hotel and ancillary retail service and leisure in outline.

Any comments on this application should be made as soon as possible to:

Scott Ferrie
Planning & Building Control Services – Clydesdale Area Office
Council Offices
South Vennel
Lanark
ML11 7JT
01555 673 186

Harrows Law Wind Farm

Scottish & Southern Energy is proposing to site 37 wind turbines on Harrows Law and these will provide electricity for 73,000 homes.

The wind turbine bases would be 16 metres x 16 metres. The towers will be 65 metres high with a 45 metre rotar diameter. They would generate 3 mega watts each. The siubstation would be situated at Corse Law behind the woodland. The overhead power lines would be on trident wooden poles to go into the grid at or near Cobbinshaw. The route to transport the components to the site from Leith is through Edinburgh and then on to the A702, then A721 from Melbourne crossroads to Carnwath. They would then go up the A71 to Harrows Law. There would be approximately 9 abnormal loads per turbine over a period of 4/5 months. It would take about a year to complete the construction of all the turbines. The building would take place from Monday to Friday with possibly some Saturday working. No wind turbines would be placed within 1km of a residential setting.

This Application is likely to be determined by the Scottish Executive. We are told that notice of submission of this application will be placed in the Lanark Gazette and The Scotsman newspapers.

Community Councillors would welcome your comments on this application.

The lead officer for Scottish & Southern Energy is:

Robin Burnett
Scottish & Southern Energy
200 Dunkeld Road
Perth
PH1 3AQ

01738 456219

Joan Highton,
Chairperson
Black Mount Community Council

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

A text which comes from deep within the OT. These words are, in many ways, at the very heart of OT thinking and faith.

“I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy”

Now, I don’t like long sermons. I don’t like listening to them and I don’t like preaching them. In l984, the Rev. Ron Gallagher set a world record for the longest sermon. It was delivered in Virginia, in the United States, and it lasted 120 hours (5 whole days). Whether anyone who was there at the beginning, was still there at the end, or if anyone actually listened to it, I don’t know – I don’t suppose there were. But of course, the most memorable sermons aren’t the longest, but the shortest. One of my favourite mini sermons is one on happiness and contentment:

“True happiness lies not in getting what you want, but wanting what you’ve got.”

They’re just a few words that say and mean a lot and they’re far better than many words that say nothing. They also show the truth of the statement: ‘Little things mean a lot’. And the same can be true of our giving.

We’ve a schoolteacher friend, who teaches in one of the city schools in Glasgow, where she’s in charge of a class of six-year olds. She used to tell us about one day when the children were asked to bring to school gifts for the Harvest Festival. The children’s gifts were all gathered together, so that they could be sent out to the senior citizens of the district. One wee boy from a single-parent family, where resources were always very limited, arrived on the appointed day carrying a bowl of cornflakes. He rather ceremoniously placed his bowl beside the collection of tinned foods, cakes, loaves, fruits and vegetables. His teacher, of course, asked him why he’d brought cornflakes and he replied, “Well, Mum said that we didn’t really have anything extra to give away. And that, if I was so keen to give some food, I could always give my breakfast, so I did.” That wee boy’s cereal was worth more than a great hamper of food from the richest in the land.

Wouldn’t life be lots more happy
If the good that’s in us all
Were the only thing about us
That folks bothered to recall?

Wouldn’t life be lots more happy
If we praised the good we see?
For there’s such a lot of goodness
In the worst of you and me.

A stranger came to live in a little village and on his first visit to the local pub, some of the villagers asked him to introduce himself. ‘Well’, he said, “My name is Jack, I never lose my temper, or let anyone down. I always try to see the other person’s point of view and I always give freely of my time to help anyone in need. In fact, I’m a man of complete and utter integrity, ‘ “Never mind”, said an old worthy sitting in the corner, “We’ll all try to like you just the same!” I don’t think that we’d really like our friends to be perfect, would we? For one thing, we’d have
nothing in common with them.

I was interested to read this original lesson in anatomy recently. The body of every organisation is structured from four kinds of bones. There are the wishbones who spend their time wishing someone else would do the work. There are the jawbones who do a lot of talking, but very little else. There are the knuckle-bones who criticise everything others try to do. Luckily, however, all organisations also have backbones, who carry the load and do most of the work.

Yes, little things mean a lot – but that text I gave you:

I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to
be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

It reminds us, I think, of the many things that God has given us and done for us. Yet, they’re by no means little things. For he also gave his only Son for us – for you and for me. Please, always try to remember that.

Could I just finish by thanking all those who gave so generously to our recent Christian Aid collections. Mrs. McCulloch at very short notice had a door to door collection which realised the sum of £101.31, while the collections at the Chruch came to £68.00. Thanks to Mrs. McCulloch for her efforts and thanks to all those who donated.

Jim Cutler
(Minister at Black Mount, Culter, Liberton & Quothquan)
t. 01899 220625 e.mail jim.cutler@virgin.net

Services

Blackmount 10.45 a.m.

St. Isidore’s Roman Catholic Church, Biggar
Holy Mass, Sunday 12 noon and weekdays (mon-fri) 9.30 am

St Mungo’s Scottish Episcopal Church, West Linton
Sung Communion Sunday 10.00 am, Said Communion Wednesday 10.30 am

SPECIAL THANKS

Some time ago I came round the village to ask for sponsors. My task was to complete The Army Assault Course at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh, to raise money for my detachment of Lothian and Borders Army Cadet Force.

I completed the gruelling course and would like to thank all of you who sponsored me. I raised the sum of £230.00 which will be put to good use. I am so grateful to you all.

Lance Corporal Mitchell

BLACKMOUNT SPORTS 2005

Blackmount Sports were held at Newbigging on Friday 27th May.
Despite the miserable weather, all events were keenly contested
and the main prizewinners were

Agnes Allison Shield for Primary children:

Joint winners were: Coryn Tarbert, Rebecca Watson
and Adam Hamilton
Joint Runners-up were: Alison Orr and Natasha Fleming

Agnes Allison Shield for Secondary pupils:
Joint winners were: Steph Fleming and Sarah Allison
Runner-up was: Rosie McLean

Welly boot throwing was won by:

Gents….Neil McLellan Ladies…..Jennifer McLellan
Boys…..Barry Donald Girls ……..Angela Crosby

At the end of the evening everyone ran or walked a mile in aid of Quarriers and £55.00 was raised and will go towards purchasing a specially adapted bicycle for the people they support, to use in the summer months.

Thanks go to all those who helped in any way to make the sports so successful, and to all the competitors for their “indefatigueability”.

The next event on the Social Group Calendar will be the Sponsored Walk, which will take place at the beginning of September.

The flower troughs have been replanted and should by now be adding some welcome colour to local halls.

WALSTON SCHOOL

Another very busy school year draws to a close at the end of June and everyone has been involved in a number of interesting events. Our most recent was a very successful plant sale which had been organised by P 1/2. Fortunately it was a lovely afternoon and plenty of people came along to buy plants and various other items for sale as well as to try their luck at the tombola.

Earlier in the year some of the older pupils organised some entertainment for Greenhill Care Home in Biggar. They had initially helped Mrs. Sim buy some musical instruments for the school and then set about planning a programme of singing, dancing, and playing. This was very well received by the people in Greenhill and it is something we hope to repeat in the future.

Our end of term ceremony will be held in Elsrickle Village Hall on Wednesday 29th June at 2.00 pm and as always everyone is welcome. Walston Primary School wishes everyone happy holidays.

A word search from Hazel McLean

K A N C A K E Y
M D N A H G S A
C O T T I G E R
J A T A Y R D A
F T R H E I O M
V N P O M B G T
W O R L D L I H
X G I D L R O B

Find these words:

ANT KEY RAY COT TIGER HAT ROT
DOG DIM CAT CAR MOTH HAND WORLD
CAKE DRY MOP HOLD DIG RAM

From Councillor Tom McAlpine

A poem by Vicki Feaver, written in Dunsyre

BUZZARDS

Buzzards, you say, never attack humans.
They teach their young to fly;
decorate their nests
with leafy twigs.
With you
they keep at a height: looming
out of the pines – dark shapes
shrieking and mewing.

But sometimes – smell,
or an acute hearing
picking up my heart’s
uneven rhythms, or the shared
ferocity of mothers – draws
the female to me: skimming
my hair like a scythe
swishing through grass.

Holed up in the house
I paint pink walls a cool white,
rip up deep red carpets, find,
slipped behind a cupboard,
a photo of the woman
with fierce jaw and eyes
whose spirit still patrols

BROADBAND FOR DOLPHINTON

For those of you not aware Dolphinton exchange was enabled for broadband on the 15th of this month. For many this will make life immeasurably easier.

Most of you will have received a mail shot recently which was to alert you to the imminent arrival of broadband. If you check out the website suggested on the flyer, www.behind-you.co.uk/scotland you will find information about broadband in general, plus a list of service providers.

Another website well worth visiting is www.moneysavingexpert.com. This site gives invaluable free tips to all on how to save money in every aspect of your life, from utility bills to mobile phone contracts. Martin Lewis who runs the site is a regular guest on Radio 2, among other programmes. It must be stressed that the advice given here is based on the best deal not the best provider.

NB - Broadband prices are changing rapidly, so if you are reading this substantially after the published date always double check the info and use the Chat Forum links at the end to see if there are any new deals out there.

JOKES from Alice Mcgrath

What’s the difference between a sock and a camera?

A sock takes five toes and a camera takes photos!

Why did the spider like computers?

Because he had his own website.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH & COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP

Finally, the new street lighting system in Elsrickle is operational, and what a big improvement it has made. A well-lit area is a major step towards deterring opportunist thieves, and even planned criminal activities. It now only remains for the original overhead wires and wooden poles to be removed, before we can enjoy a more aesthetically pleasing village vista!

The Community Safety Partnership is alive and working well. A few days ago, it was reported to me that a derelict house in the village had been broken into. When reporting this incident to the Police central control office, their first instruction was “do not enter the premises”. Reasons for NOT investigating such situations are that drug addicts/alcoholics could be using such premises as a “Squat”. Within 15 minutes of my phone call, the Biggar Sergeant arrived, quickly followed by a PC from the Lanark Office who had also responded to the call. Together they made a careful inspection and then re-secured the premises, with a supply of my nails and hammer!

A few days prior to that event, I spoke to the Community Safety Officer (P.C. Alex Hamilton) who is based at the Lanark Office and requested a visit to survey a neighour’s property to ensure proper and adequate safety devices were installed and operational. An appointment was made and the survey subsequently completed with the recommendations for improvement. Such surveys and installations can be undertaken through a scheme called “Safe as Houses Initiative” which is designed to give the over 60’s and vulnerable residents a greater sense of security. If any other residents wish to take advantage of such a survey, just contact me (01899 810235) and I will book a mutually suitable appointment.

There is still some concern that Elsrickle is the only village within the Black Mount Area to have a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. If there are any residents of the other villages who wish to take such an initiative, I can facilitate a visit from the appropriate P.C.

Lastly, remember, this is the season for garden machinery and garden furniture to take wings and disappear. Most often as a result of opportunist theft, but for more expensive garden furniture, stolen to order. Secure it or Loose it.

David J. Taylor, Neighbourhood Watch Convenor

WALSTON PRE-5 GROUP

The Walston Pre-5 group meet at Walston Primary Schol on a Wednesday morning, for children from two and a half years up to school age. Each session runs from 9.15 am until 11.30 am. We would welcome children of this age to come and join our group and, if you would like to register them, please telephone Teresa or Ross Barber at the number below or call in on a Wednesday morning.

We would like to say a big thank you to Sheena Dickson who has moved on to pastures new and at the same time welcome our new playgroup leader Donna Gray who has proved an instant success with the children.

The AGM will be held in the near future, so if anyone has any points to raise could they please let either Donna or any member of the committee know. The date will be made known via notices at the playgroup and all are welcome to attend.

If you want to contact the playgroup, please call either

Donna Gray 01899 221811 (Playgroup Leader) or
Teresa or Ross Barber 01968 682650 (Committee Co-chair)

A Summer Poem by Joseph McLean

HOLIDAYS

Play about in the garden
Cricket and golf
Free from school
No work for weeks
Have a picnic by the Medwyn
Stay up late
Holidays
I wish they would last for ever

A Summer Quiz from Robert Mcgrath

1. What day in summer has the most daylight hours?

2. What country eats the most ice cream in summer?

3. What singer had a song called “In the Summer time”?

(Answers to Robert’s Quiz are later in this edition of the Bugle)

More jokes from Alice

What’s the difference between a teacher and a train?

A teacher says spit out your gum and a train says chew, chew!

There were two cannibals and they were eating a clown and one of the cannibals said, “Does this meat taste a bit funny to you?’

DOLPHINTON WRI

The last meeting of this winter’s activities took place on April 20th, when we had a super demonstration of beadwork by Nita Taylor. She showed us some beautiful examples of her work, then organised us all to make something for ourselves, either a necklace or a ‘spectacle’ chain. We got so engrossed that we almost had no time for business.

However, a new committee was elected and our president is now Araminta Ritchie; secretary is Ellen Armstrong and Treasurer is Kirsty Tarbert.

The next event is the Dolphinton Flower Show, which will take place on August 20th in Dolphinton Hall. Schedules are available from Ellen on 01968 682303 or Jo Lister on 01968 682398.

There are classes for children as well as handcrafts, baking, flowers, floral art and vegetables.Please think about putting in some entries, there must be at least one class that suits you. Perhaps a photograph, jar of raspberry jam, or an outdoor container of flowers, and the children could make a pom-pom animal or a matchstick picture.

The 2005/6 session will begin on Wednesday, September 21st and all local ladies would be very welcome to join us (sorry gentlemen, but it IS The Women’s Rural Institute).

Anne Hutchison

Answers to Robert’s Summer Quiz

1. 21st June

2. Australia

3. Mungo Jerry

ELSRICKLE WRI

In April we held our AGM. Ann Lieper is our new President, and Mary Buchanan our Vice-President. Our Secretary, Treasurer and Press Secretary remain the same. We also had a craft evening, including glass painting, with the assistance of Harriet Tolson and Margaret Main.

On May 11th we had a day out with Kaimend WRI to Ayrshire. We visited the beautiful Culzean Castle and then went shopping in Ayr. A lovely day out for us all.

The Elsrickle Flower Show, which is open to all, will be held on Saturday, August 27th. If you would like a schedule for the show please phone Anne Moffat on 01899 220794.

The first meeting of the new season will be on September 14th at 7.30, at Elsrickle Village Hall. There will be a cookery demonstration at this meeting. We would be happy to welcome new members.

Anne Moffat

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations go to Isa Halley who was recently awarded a Community Service Award by South Lanarkshire Council. She was nominated by Councillor Tom McAlpine, on the recommendation of the Community Council.

Isa is Postmistress at Elsrickle. Two years ago the Post Office premises were virtually demolished in a lorry accident. To many, it looked as if this would be an opportunity for the PO to close this small branch. But Isa thought differently and worked tirelessly to keep this valuable resource for the village. She found an alternative site, which was a redundant farm building, organised its renovation and now provides postal services as well as newspapers and other essential items in the shop.

WALSTON PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENTS & FRIENDS GROUP

The school tradition of entering a float into the Biggar Gala Day parade was continued this year, with the theme being CASTLES, as P3 & P4 had been covering this topic.

This was the first project of the newly resurrected Parents and Friends Group. The float looked magnificent and the children all got into the spirit of the occasion and dressed as knights and princesses, with the addition of a dragon, a jester and a falconer! The children also made some coat-of-arms shields and some stained glass effect windows to decorate the float.

The Parents and Friends Group will be taking on the role of organising events throughout the year, working with the School and the School Board.

Amanda McLean

DOLPHINTON VILLAGE HALL

We are drawing to the close of the summer term, but some of our regular activities will continue during the school holidays.

TANGO - Tango continues on a Friday evening at the Hall.

PILATES - The weekly classes will re-start at the end of August. There are several to choose from so phone Keeley on 01721 729301 if you would like to learn more.

SPANISH - Beronika will continue her classes throughout the summer. These are currently on a Saturday between 9.30 and 2.00 pm and on a Thursday evening. She also offers individual tuition and can be reached on 01968 682349.

BELLY DANCING - The monthly workshops continue for Intermediates through the summer.

YOGA - The weekly Tuesday evening classes will resume in September – once again phone Julie, on 01968 661204 if you would like to know more about yoga and the classes available

The Hall is available to let for parties, meetings, etc. at very reasonable rates. If you have a special interest and would like to explore the possibility of getting a group together in the Hall, do let me know and we can attempt to find a tutor, or teacher. Hall rentals are reduced at the start of a new project, which makes it an even more attractive option in economic terms.

Phone Pam Taylor on 01968 682203 for information about renting the hall or any of the activities above.

Dates for your diary

Mondays except school holidays - Black Mount Luncheon Club - Elsrickle Village Hall - 12 noon
Alternate Wednesdays - Black Mount Church Coffee Morning - Church hall, Dolphinton - 10.30 am
July 4th - Community Council Meeting - Elsrickle Village Hall - 7.30 pm
August 20th - Dolphinton WRI Flower Show - Dolphinton Village Hall - 2.00 pm
August 27th - Elsrickle WRI Flower Show - Elsrickle Village Hall - 2.00 pm
September 5th - Community Council Meeting - Elsrickle Village Hall - 7.30 pm
September 14th - Elsrickle WRI Meeting - Elsrickle Village Hall - 7.30 pm
September 21st - Dolphinton WRI Meeting - Dolphinton Village Hall - 7.15 pm

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Joan Highton, Chairperson - 01899 810375 - JoanHighton@tiscali.co.uk
Tim McLean, Secretary - 01968 661657 - tanda.mclean@virgin.net
Ian Kerry, Treasurer - 01968 682239 - ian.kerry@tiscali.co.uk
Anne Hutchison - 01968 682256 - anne@robertonmains.freeserve.co.uk
Joan Stephenson - 01899 810272
Shelagh Atkinson - 01968 682643 - atkinwood@onetel.com
Bernard Grice - 01899 810375 - Bernardgrice@aol.com

LAST DATE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NEXT BUGLE IS 31st August 2005

Please send all your articles, dates, reports, news and advertisements to:
Pam Taylor, Meadowhead, Dolphinton, W. Linton EH46 7AB
Tel: 01968 682203 e-mail: pameadow@onetel.com

The Bugle is published by the Black Mount Community Council, but the
views expressed therein are not necessarily those of the Council.