BLACK MOUNT BUGLE

Black Mount Community Council

Chairman:
Sam Cassels (elected)
Dolphinton chairman@blackmount.org

Vice-Chairman:
Denis Critchley-Salmonson (elected)
Dunsyre

Secretary:
Jane Brookes (elected)
Walston secretary@blackmount.org

Treasurer:
Barry Rosindale (Nominated by Elsrickle Neighbourhood Watch))
Elsrickle
01899 810207 treasurer@blackmount.org

Councillor:
Hamish Stewart
hamish.stewart@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Alex Pagett (elected)
Dolphinton

Pauline Irwin (elected) minute.secretary@blackmount.org
Greenshields,

David Darling (nominated by Black Mount Community Website)
Dolphinton webadmin@blackmount.org

Anne Hutchison (nominated by Black Mount Social Group)
Dolphinton

Gilly Ligertwood (co-opted)
Walston

BMCC MEETINGS

Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, except Public Holidays. Everyone will be made very welcome

The dates for the BMCC meetings for 2013/14 are as follows:

03/06/13 01/07/13
12/08/13 02/09/13
07/10/13 04/11/13
02/12/13 06/01/14
03/02/14 03/03/14
Location - Dolphinton Village Hall at 7.30pm

SUNDAY WORSHIP

Church of Scotland, Dolphinton
Morning Service – Sundays 9.45 am

St Isadore's Roman Catholic Church, Biggar
Holy Mass Sundays 12 noon
Weekdays (Mon, Tues-Thurs, Fri) 9.30 am

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

COUNCILLOR HAMISH STEWART

Since my last article, all the Council budgets have been confirmed and cuts of nearly £16million agreed by all parties. There will similar, though probably slightly smaller cuts in each of the next two years. As expected, Newbigging Hall has closed but I am pleased to say that there is a Community Group interested in taking over the hall and I hope that this reaches fruition.

A matter of great interest to residents of Blackmount is the Roads budget and I am pleased to say that it remains untouched by any cutbacks again this year. By the time the Bugle appears, Spittal Road, just outside Blackmount should have received extensive repair work. Within Blackmount, Greenshields Road is on the list for extensive works this year along with top dressing of Cocklaw Rd. Top dressing gets done 12 months after the road is re-laid as we have seen at various other locations in the area over the past few years.
The School Modernisation budget has been left intact. This means that Walston School is still on target to be rebuilt in 2015.

Whilst on the subject of the school I have had the pleasure of seeing Walston pupils perform in leading parts on stage at Hamilton Town House recently , holding their own against pupils from much larger schools, and also presenting a medal to another pupil at the South Lanarkshire Primary Schools cross country championships at Chatelherault who was running as part of the Clydesdale team.
I have been given advance warning of an event that is being planned in the area for 25th August. Absolutely nothing is confirmed as yet and I confess to having severe doubts about whether the event should be allowed because of the disruption likely to be caused.
In a nutshell, St Andrews Hospice wants to hold a fund raising cycle run over closed roads. The route begins and ends at Wishaw but is almost entirely in Clydesdale and predominantly in this ward. It seems that many roads will be closed for much of the day and they talk of “lengthy diversions”. The route passes near Forth to the Lang Whang, Kaimend, Newbigging,Dunsyre, Walston, Cocklaw, Quothquan, Thankerton, Pettinain, Carstairs and then back to Wishaw. Given that three main roads will be closed in addition to numerous smaller roads it is beyond me, on the information I currently have, to understand what possible diversions there can be if you live in, say, Walston. In effect it looks as though people will be trapped in their houses for most of a summer Sunday. The intention is apparently that this will become an annual event.

By the time this article appears I should have far more information and will be pleased to update anyone who contacts me with whatever I know. Road closure orders will have to be advertised in the Lanark Gazette and on the Council Website nearer the time if the decision is taken that the event can happen. This will allow interested parties to make their own observations direct to the Council. I will be keeping the Community Council updated as things develop.

The new Local Development Plan was before the Planning Committee on 16th April and by the time you read this should be out for public consultation. Among other proposals there is now some land in Dolphinton added to the house building land available and, notably, the areas of land deemed to be suitable for wind farm developments have been reduced. The plan will be available on the Council Website among other places.

As always I can be contacted by phone on 07748114582 or by e-mail at Hamish.stewart@southlanarkshire.gov.uk or by writing to me at Council offices in Hamilton.

Hamish Stewart

DOLPHINTON WRI

At the March meeting we had three ladies from the First Responders
West Linton Group who gave a very interesting talk on the way they
work.

March 9th was the Peeblesshire Craft and Bulb Show.
Dolphinton had a very successful day, winning the Mrs Simpson Cup in
the Community Effort with their theme Old Mother Hubbarb.
Jean McCracken was joint winner of the Bathgate Rose bowl for Old Mother Hubbard in the Handcrafts.
Anne Hutchison won the Marion White Memorial Trophy for her meat roll in the baking.
There were also prizes in the bulbs. Well done to everyone.

The Flower Show takes place in the hall on Saturday 24th August 2013 Schedules available from Anne Hutchison on 01968682256

Betty Ross

ELSRICKLE WRI

The March evening was the final meeting of the season for Elsrickle WRI. The ladies were given an interesting talk about gardening by Ian Warner of Bankhead Nursery in Lochmaben. Ian has a wide knowledge of plants and in his talk he conveyed his great enthusiasm and enjoyment for his work, interspersing gardening tips with entertaining anecdotes of his various work places and colleagues. He also demonstrated how to make the perfect hanging basket. Much to everyone’s delight, he rounded off his presentation with a medley of well-known tunes played on the accordion,

The next event for the diary is the Annual Flower Show to be held in Elsrickle Village Hall on Saturday 31st August.

Prize Winners
Georgie Wallace Memorial Trophy Alice Barrie
Jessie Grossart Memorial Trophy Irene Lancaster / Alice Barrie / Joan Stephenson
Mrs Howieson Memorial Trophy Joan Stephenson
Overall Points 1. Joan Stephenson
2. Alice Barrie 3. Norma Love
Flower of the Month (Overall Winner) Phyllis Tweedie

Norma Love

THE BUGLE ON FACEBOOK

The Blackmount community is now on Facebook! You can check out our new page at www.facebook.com/bmccouncil where we'd welcome you to become a friend to receive news and updates.
The site is a work in progress as we need you to help us get it properly set up. We'd love to receive any photos you have of the area, together with any information on groups and events you'd like the community to know about.
Please email any photos or information to webadmin@blackmount.org.

David Darling

BLACK MOUNT SOCIAL CALENDAR
BLACKMOUNT SPORTS
The provisional date for the Blackmount Sports this year is Thursday 23rd May at Newbigging sports field. This is to coincide with the school holiday on Friday 24th May. Please pray for some sun this year.

Mara Orr

BLACK MOUNT FUEL GROUP

Our March order went again to Bryce Oils. We had an order for 22000 litres among 31 people and paid 59.3/litre.
The next order will be mid June.

Margaret Lancaster. (lancaster974@btinternet.com 01899810296)

BULK DOMESTIC LPG

Some of you will be aware of a Group Buying Scheme in our area for domestic fuel oil.

For practical and contractual reasons I had not expected that such a scheme could operate for Bulk Domestic LPG. However, I am assured that such schemes are already being arranged by Steve Richardson at Fuel & LPG Services. He is happy to explain how such a scheme would help to considerably lower the price currently paid by individual customers and can be contacted at information@fuelandlpgservices.co.uk or 01905 642810.

Alternatively, if you would like to know how he helped me reduce my price by over 20% just give me a ring.

Barry Rosindale

ELSRICKLE TO WALSTON BRIDLEWAY

Often referred to as a footpath; it is in fact a bridleway. As the bridleway descends into Walston it used to pass through the stable yard and garden ground of a bungalow.

The South Lanarkshire Council, Local Access Officer agreed that this was an unsatisfactory arrangement and, with the agreement and co-operation of the owner, approved a moderate realignment.

The Black Mount Community Council was able to secure sufficient funding from the South Lanarkshire Council Aggregates Quarry Fund to fence in the bridleway to provide an unimpeded route from the top of the hill down to the Walston roadside.
The fencing was completed early this month. However the area within the fence is still a quagmire in places and seeding will be necessary once Spring arrives.

Barry Rosindale

BLACK MOUNT PARISH CHURCH
Saturday 13th July: Strawberry Teas…with stalls etc.
Sunday 1st Sept 6.30pm: Evening Service followed by teas/coffee
Friday 20th Sept: Quiz and Desert Island Discs Night, with BBQ

WALSTON PRE- 5 GROUP
Wednesdays
9.15am until 11.30am

Walston Pre 5 Group offers the opportunity for children from the Blackmount Community to play together on a weekly basis before attending school.

The Pre 5 Group helps the children develop their social and learning skills through free play and creative art work, such as: dressing up, painting, play dough, reading, singing and musical games, as well as playing outside with balls and games, all in a safe environment.

We meet at Walston Primary School on a Wednesday morning, for children from 2½ years up to school age, and children do not need to be toilet trained to attend.

Each session runs from 9.15am until 11.30am. We would welcome children of this age to come and join our group. If you would like to register your child please telephone Leah Girdwood (Playgroup Leader), Hannah Cairns or Carrie Allison at the numbers below or call in on a Wednesday morning.
If you’d like to contact the playgroup, please call

Leah Girdwood Tel: 0797473255

Carrie Allison Tel: 07725170123

Hannah Cairns Tel: 07980681978

CLYDESDALE RURAL COMMUNITY TRANSPORT SERVICE
Do you need help with

Hospital visits, Doctor Appointments, getting to Clinic, Dentist, Optician or visiting Family in Care Homes?
We cover Biggar, Symington, Carnwath, Walston, LIbberton etc…etc
A small mileage charge is made for each journey.

We also have vacancies for volunteer drivers within these areas. Do you have any spare time? Training is provided.

If you require more information please contact: 01555 895491

Please send your articles, dates, reports, news and advertisements to:
Norma Love : Tel: 01899 810285 email bugle@blackmount.org

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

The Community Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors printed in the Bugle.