TEN YEARS AGO
Friday October 4, 2013
Developer shows interest in buying Clock Lodge
A commercial developer has expressed an interest in buying the Clock Lodge in Lochgilphead and leasing the Grade B listed building to the community.
The Advertiser this week learned a developer, whose identity has not been revealed, is in discussions with Argyll and Bute Council, which owns the derelict building, and Lochgilphead Phoenix Project, which has long dreamt of transforming the lodge into a community asset.
The developer’s interest in the building was made known as the Phoenix Project, in partnership with Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust, completed an options appraisal on the lodge, built in 1803.
Having conducted a survey with local residents, the Phoenix Project was investigating the possibility of creating a heritage centre and art gallery in the lodge, which sits next to Lochgilphead Joint Campus.
However, its plans have not been dismissed by the developer. Malcolm Sinclair, secretary of the Phoenix Project, said: “Discussions are continuing amongst
all three parties on detailed proposals to restore the building.
“I am optimistic that a proposal will be reached and agreed upon which will suit the needs of the community, the council and the developer.”
Argyll and Bute Council confirmed it had been in discussions with a “potential
developer” but would not provide any further details. However, a local authority
spokeswoman stated the original terms of sale for the Clock Lodge, drawn up in 2011,
remained in place.
It states: “The adjacent ground may be considered for enabling development but any
proposals must be sympathetic to the Clock Lodge.”
The documents suggest a proposal to use the lodge as a community centre or tourism
base would be favourable, while a register of various actions the council is seeking in
order to preserve the lodge, has also been listed.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
Friday October 3, 2003
New hall for Ardrishaig
There is still a long way to go before it becomes a reality, but the congregation of
Ardrishaig Parish Church has had a glimpse of how its new hall could look.
A model currently on display in the old hall shows a much-improved modern hall
with additional meeting rooms, a kitchen and men’s, women’s and disabled peoples’
toilets.
In addition, the development, expected to cost around £300,000, will have a new car park, a glass reception building between the hall and the church and new access to the church at the point of an existing window.
While excited about the prospect of the new building, Reverend David Carruthers
assured members of the congregation that the plans involved no great changes to the
fabric of the main church.
The only difference would be the conversion of a window to a door to allow access to
the church for less able members of the congregation. In addition to the hall being in need of an upgrade, the church had to make access and toilet changes to comply
with disability legislation.
The addition of a glass reception area between the hall and the church has been made
possible by British Waterways donating the land, currently a grass track that runs
between the two buildings.
“The congregation is grateful to British Waterways for that,” said Mr Carruthers, who explained that the church had acquired the land for a nominal sum.
Ardrishaig Parish Church started looking into building a new hall around four years
ago. A small group was formed to look into all aspects of the development. Low-key fund-raising events have taken place over the last year, including a sponsored cycle by some of the congregation’s younger members. But the real effort could not start until the church had a better idea of the design and costs of a new hall.
That has since been completed and a planning application for the development has been lodged with Argyll and Bute Council.
Now Mr Carruthers and members of his congregation are tasked with securing
thousands of pounds from lottery and other grant-making bodies and planning more
fundraising events.
When and if the money is in place and the development gets the go ahead from the
council, work is expected to take six to nine months.
Mr Carruthers said he hoped work would start in springtime in a bid to reduce
disruption to the activities of PACT, PACTpod and imPACT, the church’s youth
groups.
Other organisations that use the hall, including the pipe band and Talking Newspapers,
have been informed of the plans and arrangements will be made to house all activities.
FORTY YEARS AGO
Friday October 7, 1983
Decision time for Portavadie
A decision on the future use of the Oil Construction Yard at Portavadie on Loch
Fyne could be made later this month when Argyll and Bute District Council’s
Planning and Building Control Committee meet to consider a number of
representations which offer a variety uses for the yard.
In accordance with the provisions of the Scottish Development Department, the
Secretary of State is formally seeking the district council’s views on possible future
uses of the yard prior to his offering the site for sale as soon as reinstatement work
is completed.
Portavadie was completed and ready to receive platform orders early in 1976 and the
sad history of the site since that time has been well documented.
In spite of prodigious efforts made by the government to direct platform orders to the
yard, no order came and despite an attempt to establish a range of alternative
uses for the yard nothing has happened.
The area of ground under consideration excludes the Pollphail Village site which is in
separate ownership.
In October 1982, members of the district council agreed to reinstatement proposals for
Portavadie which excluded the workers’ village at Pollphail.
These included work on the dry dock and coffer-dam, the removal of all concrete
bases, the landscaping and re-seeding of ‘bare areas’ and the retention of the jetty
and breakwater.
The various representations which have been made to Argyll and Bute District Council will be looked at by the planning committee when they meet at Lochgilphead on October 26 under the chairmanship of Colonel Hamish Taylor, Southend.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
Tuesday October 1, 1963
City trippers throng Tarbert
Tarbert’s tourist season closed with a flourish at the weekend, when a number of
private buses brought holidaymakers to the district on their autumn break. Many more arrived by service bus and steamers.
Road tanker in Loch
Townsfolk and visitors were surprised to see a large, red, road tanker part submerged
in Loch Fyne.
The tanker, loaded with 4,000 gallons of paraffin, ran away from South Main
Street, knocked down the parking sign, careered across a car park, down a slip way
and came to rest in Loch Fyne.
The paraffin was transferred to another lorry and breakdown crews worked until
evening before it was finally hauled to safety. The lorry was on its way from
Grangemouth to a depot at Ardrishaig. No-one was hurt.
Storm affects fishermen
The midweek fierce gale which swept the West of Scotland and wreaked havoc on the
land among those who were trying to gather the harvest also hindered the other harvesters, those of the sea.
Although the fishing boats were either kept in port or rode out the storm at sea, the net
result made little difference as quota restrictions were in force at Tarbert and other
west coast ports.
Catches were, however, brought in by Carradale, Campbeltown and Ayrshire
boats.
Landings were: Tuesday, 1,500 baskets for meal, pet-food, canning and freshing;
Wednesday, 100 baskets for meal, pet-food, canning and freshing; Thursday, 60
baskets for pet-food at 13s 6d per basket; Friday, 250 baskets for pet-food at 13s 6d
per basket; Saturday, 930 baskets for meal, pet-food, canning and freshing.