Regular Annual Events
The Black Mount Social Group was formed on 27th July with two major objectives: to foster a community identity, and to promote, support and organise social, cultural and sporting activities within the area for the benefit of all residents.
As a result, the only annual event to be organised by the Community Council was the Sports Evening.
Sports Evening
The annual Sports Evening was held at Roberton Mains on Monday 1st June, having been postponed from its traditional Friday date due to the very wet weather on 29th May. This event is always good fun, and is one of the most popular of our local annual events, bringing together so many members of the community, both the young and not-so-young. Whilst we did not have a repeat of the excellent weather of the previous year, the rain did at least hold off, and this was a most enjoyable evening for competitors and spectators alike.
Three other events, the Sponsored Walk on 30th August, the Bonfire Night on 5th November and the Senior Citizen’s Christmas Dinner on 11th December were organised by the Black Mount Social group.
The Community Council has also been involved in a number of projects of public interest.
Speed of Traffic through Dolphinton
Work had started on traffic calming measures in Dolphinton towards the end of 1997. 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. After a study by Strathclyde Region and an exhibition by South Lanarkshire Council as part of a public consultation excercise, various measures were proposed, including a speed limit of 40mph, new street lighting and a package of traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures. Work proceed very slowly, but the Community Council continued to press during 1998 for a quick completion, and work was finally finished in the Autumn. We all hope that the main road through Dolphinton will be a safer place as a result.
Speed of Traffic through Elsrickle
On very much the same subject as the preceding point, the Community Council has been working with residents of Elsrickle concerning road safety in the village. At the last Community Council meeting of 1997, held on 3rd December, the main speaker was Mr Campbell Ross, Supervisory Engineer for the South Division of the Roads & Transportation Department of South Lanarkshire Council. Councillor Tom McAlpine, member of the Roads Committee of South Lanarkshire Council, was also present, as was our local Councillor, Rev. Bev Gauld, and around 25 local residents.
It was explained that measures in Elsrickle would be undertaken in a number of stages. In the first instance, new higher visibility 30mph signs, and new village signs with an appropriate message to drivers, would be erected, and this work was completed during 1998. In addition, he explained that a report would be prepared to examine the traffic calming requirements for the whole of the A721 between Carluke and the Council’s boundary. Members of the Community Council met with members of the Roads & Transportation Services on two occasions, on 12th August and 2nd October to discuss their report. The Community Council’s view was that the new speed limit signs were not sufficient, and it was agreed that further proposals would be put forward for public consultation. These proposals have now been made, and we await the outcome of the consultation process.
Planning
A number of planning applications were considered during the year, the two major ones being proposals for Carmaben Brae, Dolphinton, and Garvald Quarry.
Carmaben Brae
Muir Homes submitted an application for 30 houses on the Carmaben Brae site which had been the subject of the Public Local Enquiry in 1995. In broad terms, the PLI determined that a maximum of 12 houses could be built on the site. Many members of the local community expressed their concerns and objections to the Muir Homes proposal, and, in October, the Community Council wrote to South Lanarkshire Council reflecting these views and restating the findings of the PLI. Subsequently, Muir Homes revised their application to reduce the number of houses to 20, and the Community Council again responded, repeating its previous views. We await further information on the progress of this application.
Garvald Quarry
Tarmac Road Products submitted an application to extend the workings at Garvald Quarry Westwards into the Upper Dunsyre Valley. The proposed work will take 21 years, using a conveyor to transfer materials to the existing plant area. A number of representations were made to the Community Council by local residents, both for and against the development, although mostly objecting to the proposals. As a result, the Community Council submitted a response in December to South Lanarkshire Council, giving its views, both in terms of the statutory provisions of the Local and Structure Plans, and to reflect public opinion concerning the application. We undersatnd that revisions have been made to the Tarmac proposals, and we await further information in this respect.
Finally, Black Mount Community Council continues to be active in a wide variety of areas of local concern and importance. As mentioned above, a number of planning applications have been considered during the past 12 months, as well as matters as diverse as road maintenance, local bus services and electricity supply. It continues to publish the Bugle four times per year, it publishes an information sheet regularly with a wide range of local information, and was one of the first Community Councils in Scotland to have its own website on the internet. As always, grateful thanks are due to all those, both Community Council members and others, who have helped with all these activities over the past year.
Brian Curle
March 1999