BLACK MOUNT BUGLE

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON - CHARLES RITCHIE

I have recently been made aware of the strength of feeling there is in the Black Mount Community Area over the lack of information and consultation over Proposals for Planning Developments in general. For those who are interested in such matters, unless you are a direct neighbour, when you should receive a Neighbour Notification from the South Lanarkshire Council, there is at the moment no alternative but to go on the internet and look up the relevant details.

I also wish to encourage more people living in the Black Mount Community Council to come along to Council Meetings. These are normally held in Elsrickle Village Hall on the first Monday of every month starting at 7.30p.m. Members of the public are allowed to address the Meeting and ask questions if invited by the Chair to do so. People who wish to raise a particular issue, from the state of the roads to refuse collection, just need to table their questions 14 days before the meeting and the subject will go on the agenda and an answer can be researched prior to the Meeting.

Please send letters regarding any issues to:
Mr Craig Allardice,
Secretary to the BMCC,
Merklands,
Dolphinton,
West Linton EH46 7AB

Charles Ritchie

BLACK MOUNT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Charles Ritchie Chairperson - 01968 682639
ritchiecdm@hotmail.com

Ian Kerry Treasurer - 01968 682239
iankerry@tiscali.co.uk

Craig Allardice Secretary - 01968 682349
craig@merklands.com

Anne Hutchison - 01968 682256
anne@robertonmains.freeserve.co.uk

Joan Stephenson - 01899 810272

Joan Highton - 01899 810378
joanhighton@tiscali.co.uk

Margaret Grice - 01899 810373

Church of Scotland, Dolphinton
Morning Service: Sundays 9.30am

St Isadore's Roman Catholic Church, Biggar.
Holy Mass: Sundays 12 noon and weekdays (Tues-Fri) 9.30 am

St Mungo's Scottish Episcopal Church, West Linton
Sung Communion Sundays 10.00 am
Said Communion Wednesdays 10.30 am

SPORTS EVENING
NEWBIGGING PLAYING FIELD
FRIDAY MAY 25th at 6.30pm

ELSRICKLE WRI

The members of the Elsrickle WRI have had a most enjoyable and interesting year so far, and are looking forward to the final event, the trip to St Andrews on May 9th.

In February, members were invited to join Mr and Mrs Carmichael of Carmichael Estate, for a talk, accompanied by a useful cookery demonstration, using their delicious produce of locally farmed venison, and a visit to the shop. The group were made most welcome and had a wonderful evening.

In March, Dr Cook gave a most enlightening talk about his work.

April saw the conclusion of our evening meetings, marked by the AGM and a very interesting demonstration of mouth-watering bread making, given by Mrs Adamson.

…………..and a final note for your diary. Elsrickle Flower show will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday, August 25th.

I was absolutely delighted to see that some of the work I have been doing to get improvements made to the roads in Blackmount is beginning to pay off. The resurfacing of the area near Garvald came about after I managed to persuade the Chair and vice chair of Roads to come with me round Blackmount and see for themselves just how bad the situation is. Over the next 12 months we should see at the very least the resurfacing of Oggscastle Rd from Walston to Newholm and the A721 at Newbigging.

This is in addition to the clearing of blocked drains that has in large part already been carried out. I am very grateful to Mr Angus McDonald Lockhart for accompanying me on that day and identifying the location of the drains for the Roads Engineers who accompanied us. As long as pressure is kept up we should begin to see some real improvements – it was certainly an eye opener for the Hamilton and East Kilbride based councillors!

There has also been an issue with raw sewage escaping on to the roadway in Newbigging. Quite a bit of exploratory work has been done to identify the causes and I hope that by the time you read this the problem will have been solved.

Recycling bins are finally reaching Blackmount. They have been very successful in other areas of the ward and I am sure that they will be equally so here. The lack of recycling facilities has been raised with me by many people over the last year so I am very pleased to see progress.

Also finally reaching Blackmount is the long overdue modernisation programme for Council Houses. I will be attending a meeting with tenants and council staff regarding the modernisations a few days after writing this article.

Finally it is election day on May 3rd and I hope that everyone will struggle with the intricacies of the new system and use their vote, regardless of which candidate you support. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the people of Blackmount for their support and help to me since I was elected 12 months ago in the by-election following Tom McAlpine’s death – it has been a steep learning curve!

I can be contacted on 07748 114 582 or at hamish.stewart@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

STRICTLY COME DANCING............
AT DOLPHINTON VILLAGE HALL

In the Autumn, Jane Turner, who is currently teaching in Biggar, is hoping to start a dance class in Dolphinton.
This would take place on a Wednesday evening, for two hours and would cost £3.00 per person per class.
She hopes to cover the waltz, quickstep, samba, cha cha and maybe other dances by request.

Although the Autumn is a long way off, could anyone who might be interested in joining the class please let Pam know, on 01968 682203.

Pam Taylor

DOLPHINTON VILLAGE HALL

As we leave the winter behind, the regular activities at the Village Hall begin to dwindle somewhat.. The Carpet Bowling has ended until the Autumn, and likewise the WRI's regular meetings. However, it is not too early to start planning for the WRI Flower Show which will be held this year on Saturday August 18th. Schedules for the show will be available shortly from Carol Elsip, on 01968 682647, and also at Dolphinton Village Hall.

Pilates continues Monday to Thursday and Saturdays. Details of classes can be obtained from Keeley Craigie on 01721 752746. Yoga carries on throughout the year on Tuesday evenings. Julie Anderson can let you know about availability and times of her classes - her phone number is 01968 661204.

As always the hall is available for let to any member of the community. It continues to be used frequently for children's parties and assorted sporting activities. If you want any information about letting the hall, rates etc. please phone Pam Taylor on 01968 682203.

Pam Taylor

As the nearly new Head Teacher at Walston Primary School, I am delighted to contribute this notice of an important, forthcoming school event.

On Wednesday 9th May 2007 at 7.30 p.m., in the school, we are organising a meeting for all interested parents/carers of children attending Walston School. The purpose of the Parents’ Forum is to decide whether our parents wish to form a Parent Council, as School Boards will cease to function after July 2007. If parents do wish to form a Parent Council, and there appears to be a strong interest in this, then a constitution will be drawn up at this meeting. It will be possible for the Parent Council to co-opt members of the community, if this is written into the constitution.

The first Parent Council meeting would then be arranged for either late August or early September 2007. We look forward to a good attendance on May 9th, as we place a high value on the support we receive from our parents in providing the best education for our pupils.

On a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the pupils, staff and parents/carers at Walston Primary School for making me feel so welcome since my appointment in October 2006. I look forward to working closely with our local community and thank you for allowing us to contribute to the Black Mount Bugle.

With best wishes,

W.D. Macdonald
Head Teacher

WALSTON PRE-5 GROUP

The Walston Pre-5 Group meets at Walston Primary School on a Wednesday morning, for children from 2½ years up to school age. Each session runs from 9.15am until 11.30am.

We would welcome children of this age to come and join our group, and, if you would like to register them, please telephone Danielle Campbell or Beth Macdonald at the numbers below or call in on a Wednesday morning.

If you want to contact the playgroup, please call either
• Donna Gray 01899 221 811 (Playgroup Leader)
• Danielle Campbell 01899 810237
• Beth Macdonald 01968 682259

BLACKMOUNT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Members of the public are invited to attend any of our Community Council meetings which are usually held on the first Monday of every month in Elsrickle Village Hall at 7.30pm. Please note that because of the public holiday on May 7th, our next meeting will be held on Monday May 14th

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

3rd May
ELECTION DAY

9th May
Elsrickle WRI
Day Trip
St Andrews

9th May
Walston Primary School
Parents/Carers Meeting
Walston Primary School - 7.30pm

14th May
Blackmount Community Council Meeting
Elsrickle Village Hall - 7.30pm

25th May
Blackmount Community Council
SPORTS
Newbigging Playing Field - 6.30pm

18th August
Dolphinton WRI
Flower Show
Dolphinton Village Hall - 2.00pm

25th August
Elsrickle WRI
Flower Show
Elsrickle Village Hall - 2.00pm

Last Date for Contributions to the next Bugle is 27the July.

Please send your articles, dates, reports, news and advertisements to:
Norma Love : Tel: 01899 810285 or e-mail norma.love@btinternet.com

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