The past twelve months have been a period of considerable activity for the Community Council, and a number of regular events and special projects have been undertaken during the year.
REGULAR EVENTS
Sports Evening
The annual Sports Evening was held at Roberton Mains on Friday 30th May. This event is always good fun, both for the young and not-so-young, and it was good to see so many members of the community participating. The weather was excellent and competitors and spectators alike thoroughly enjoyed themselves. This continues to be one of the most popular of the Community Council annual events.
Sponsored Walk
The sponsored walk looks like becoming an annual institution. The first was held 3 years ago, and walkers said how much they had enjoyed the opportunity to walk through the countryside and raise funds as well. On Sunday 24th August, over 30 walkers of all ages assembled at Ingraston for a pleasant walk in the sunshine along the route of the Roman Road to West Linton. Around £230 was raised, and this went to Community Council funds to support the programme of events during the year.
Bonfire and Fireworks Evening
The Bonfire and Fireworks evening was held on Wednesday 5th November at Dunsyre. We were lucky with the weather, as the afternoon rain stopped just in time for the lighting up. The bonfire burned brightly, and the fireworks were judged by many to be the best we had ever had. As usual, there was soup, filled rolls, crisps and drinks in the village hall, a very welcome part of the evening on such a cold night.
Christmas Dinner
The Senior Citizen's Christmas Dinner was held on Friday 12th December at Elsrickle Hall, and an excellent evening was enjoyed by all. Almost 70 local senior citizens sat down to a first class meal followed by fine entertainment supplied by Andrew Stoddart. The evening was rounded off by Auld Lang Syne, with everyone agreeing that it had been a most enjoyable night.
OTHER PROJECTS
In addition to the year’s regular events, the Community Council has been involved in a number of projects of public interest.
Speed of Traffic through Dolphinton
During the year, we saw the results of the efforts made by the Community Council concerning traffic speed on the A702 through Dolphinton. The history of this subject goes back to April 1994, when members of the Community Council met a representative of the Scottish Office to discuss the dangers of speeding traffic on the main road through the village. In February 1996, we were informed that a study had been undertaken by Strathclyde Region, and that proposals would be made to introduce traffic calming measures. In October 1996, South Lanarkshire Council mounted an exhibition in Dolphinton Hall giving details of the measures proposed, including a speed limit of 40mph, new street lighting and a package of traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures. Work commenced in October last year, and we are sure that the main road through Dolphinton will be a safer place as a result.
Speed of Traffic through Elsrickle
The Community Council has also been working
with residents of Elsrickle concerning road safety in the village.
At the Community Council meeting in December, around 25 local
residents heard Mr Campbell Ross, Supervisory Engineer for the
South Division of the Roads & Transportation Department of
South Lanarkshire Council, speak about the subject. Councillor
Tom McAlpine, member of the Roads Committee of South Lanarkshire
Council and our local Councillor, Rev. Bev Gauld, were also present.
Mr Ross explained that a series of traffic calming measures was
proposed. New higher visibility 30mph signs, and new village signs
with an appropriate message to drivers, will be erected. In addition,
recommendations from a study of traffic on the A721 will be drafted
into proposals to be displayed in village halls, similar to the
display in Dolphinton, and the views of local people taken into
consideration. Elsrickle has already been identified as a priority,
although it may take up to 2 years for the works to be completed.
We are all pleased that work on the 30mph signs has already commenced,
and we look forward to an appropriate package of traffic calming
measures for the village.
Finally, Black Mount Community Council continues to be active in a wide variety of areas of local concern and importance. During the past 12 months it has been involved in matters as diverse as planning applications and road maintenance, quarries, local bus services and electricity supply. Our programme of community events continues to be the envy of other Community Councils in the surrounding area. As always, grateful thanks are due to all those, both Community Council members and others, who have made all our events over the past year such a success.
Brian Curle
May 1998