Flooding solution
Reading in The Oban Times about the damage to properties caused by the flooding at Lochavullin reminded me of the discussions held with the public a few years ago by consultants employed by Argyll and Bute Council to come up with a solution.
They held three open evenings at Rockfield and at the end of the last one we were informed the major cause of the flooding was the backing up of the Black Lynn at high tide, making it impossible for the floodwater to run out to sea.
Their suggestion to the council was to be that a low wall and sluice be built at the bottom end of the Lon Mor to contain water during heavy rain.
When the tide was out in Oban Bay and the exit of water from the Black Lynn unimpeded, the sluice would be opened to allow the contents of the Lon Mor to empty through the Black Lynn to the sea.
Even to someone with no knowledge of engineering, it does appear to be a fairly simple solution and I wonder if such a project would be practical.
Maurice Wilkins.
Letter of thanks from Oban War Memorial Centenary Group
I write on behalf of Oban War Memorial Centenary Group to thank the community, our many partners, Argyll and Bute Council, those who funded our plans for the centenary commemoration, the Rockfield Centre which hosted the centenary group and those who donated time and effort to enhance the area around the memorial.
Highlights have included the profiles in The Oban Times over the last year, the Poppy Trail and the ‘Lest We Forget’ projection which heralded Remembrance week.
There have also been talks, illustrating the enormity of the losses, and exhibitions featuring artefacts and personal family records from some of those commemorated on Oban’s war memorial.
We greatly appreciate all the support and assistance throughout the planning stages and on Remembrance Sunday.
We were blessed with a beautiful day. It was a time for reflection and thanksgiving for everyone who fell in World War 1, World War 11 and the Falklands War.
On a personal note, I most sincerely thank my colleagues on the Centenary Group for their commitment, professional expertise and friendship.
By researching and recording the 247 names on the memorial, which was a huge task, they have ensured ‘Their Names Liveth’.
Elaine Robertson.
The kindness of strangers
My friend and I were recently in Oban with a coach party from the Claymore Hotel in Arrochar.
Unfortunately my friend, who is elderly, had a bad fall beside the harbour. Two gentlemen came to help her and were very kind and caring. We were overwhelmed by their kindness.
I only got their first names. Alan, who told me he was a student, went into Wetherspoons and brought my friend and I a cup of coffee. The other man was called Niall and he also looked after us with care and kindness. We will never forget them.
Mrs A Inskipp and Mrs M Robson, Tyne and Wear.
Corran Ferry disaster
I am one of the oldest residents in the area affected by the Corran Ferry fiasco.
More than 50 years ago, we had a first class ferry service, with two in use. Decades later the area’s population has increased. A big percentage of these people do not want a bridge. All we are asking for is to get back to the service we had many years ago.
Sadly, judging by reports in The Oban Times, this is not going to happen. Councillors seem to forget there are communities to the west of Corran Ferry.
There is no easy answer but I would say forget Inverness and let people living in the areas depending on the Corran Ferry have a bigger say. If this does not happen, the Corran Ferry disaster will continue.
Donald McPherson, Strontian.
Editor’s note: The Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt last week announced £20 million to fund improvements for the Corran Ferry, after the Highland Council’s £50 million bid to the UK Levelling Up Fund for a new electric ferry failed.
Short-sighted closure
Oban recently hosted the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association conference which, it would appear, makes the closure of the Alginate Industries factory at Barcaldine in 1996 a short-sighted move.
The moral of this story is, there’s always a use for something useful. Don’t let it happen again.
Margaret MacKay, Barcaldine.
It is now 20 years since the Cairngorms National Park was formed.
After much consultation and listening to the concerns of the local, native and indigenous population in multiple village hall consultation events, it appears one of the original promised aims has been dropped because it says it is no longer a priority and to quote them “things change in 20 years”.
We were all promised that our way of life would be the most important objective the new park would uphold.
That one concern was that we wanted our cultural heritage preserved and nurtured. To us that was our way of life, jobs, history, heritage and lifestyle. Now the only cultural heritage mentioned in the current five-year plan 2022-27 is Gaelic language, song and story. That is only a tiny part of what we considered our cultural heritage to be.
Also, the Cairngorms National Park Authority is obsessed with “saving the planet” and reducing climate change for the rest of the world. A drop in the ocean. All at the cost of our “climate” with rural jobs being lost and people made homeless from tied housing. It is a huge price for the original people of the national park to pay. Is it too much of a cost for us to pay? Are we really better as a national park or would we be better off without it?
We never wanted to become an ‘environmental theme park’. The Highland Clearances all over again.
Ruaridh Ormiston, Kingussie.