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news updated: 11/05/08

March 2008 Minutes

LOCHMABEN & DISTRICT INITIATIVE---MINUTES OF MEETING 5 March 2008

Present:    Jack Wade, Tom Russell, Sandy Grant, Anne Johnston, David Mair,  David Rose, Kathleen Ward, Derek Whiterod, Cllr Michael Dickie,
                  Jamie Ferguson (CLD).

Apologies:    Alistair Brown, Isabelle & Paul Gow, Maurice Green, Sue Coulthard.

Minutes:         The minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 February 2008 were taken as read and adopted.

Matters arising:

  • Guides—equipment for litter clean up is available from Combined Services and there may be the possibility of £50 grant from CVS.Leaflet
  • Holders---they had been distributed round Lochmaben and to nearby locations
  • Roadshow---investigating the possibility of getting funding for the Church Hall as it is a “community” resource. Community Learning & Development (CLD) had a Funder Finder programme which could point applicants for funds in the right direction. Grants for the Voluntary Sector are available through the Area Committee. Sue Coulthard would be our contact re funding.
  • BBC Bus---no one had been able to visit it. We don’t go Digital until May 2009. Nearer the time it might be possible to invite Ivan Kennedy to speak about the change over.

Waste Management & the Eco Deco Plant:
Moira Weatherup gave a full, informative presentation of the Council’s Waste Management programme and the operation of the Eco Deco Plant, the only one in Scotland with the one other at present in London. There are also 8 in Italy. The plant is fully computerised. The public is urged to continue to use the current recycling facilities and soon one for computers should be available at the Lochar Moss. Gas from the old tip is being used to generate electricity. A useful booklet was given to all those present.

Finance:       The current balance stands at £7,904. It was agreed to look at cheaper options when the website renewal fee was due.

Community Learning & Development:
Jamie gave a resume of CLD’s remit. Through Sue we should be able to access funding for projects, share ideas with other areas and work to improve facilities in the community for both young and old. The Paddling Pool was a good one to start with.

Paths:
Jack reported that forestry operations were taking place along the A709 and the B7020 and should be on target for completion before the end of March. A large beech tree had been blown down and would be made into a feature. Some of the timber was going to the Bio-mass plant at Lockerbie. Extraction of timber by horse hadn’t taken place yet.
A meeting re the Annandale Way is at 2 pm, Monday 17 March in the Town Hall

Working Groups:

  • Castle Loch Volunteers: no progress can be made until the felling operations are completed.
  • Fringe Lily: areas had been identified for trial application and spraying. One in the north was to have a Dichlobenil application in March and an area in the north-west was to have four sections—glysophate + sticking agent; dichlobenil; control area; glysophate. Buoys and stakes would mark the limits and masks would have to be worn when applying the Dichlobenil.
  • Paddling Pool: Emma Bell and Isobel Laurie were willing to join the Management Group. It was hoped that Sue could now take the project forward with a Management Plan, agreed with the Council.
  • Publications: The Gows have started work on the Town Trail and would have a fuller report at the May meeting.

Website:     There had been a genealogy enquiry from New Mexico, news items on Postcode Challenge & Community Forum meeting and links to a Banking Guide and Allaboutlockerbie. An Annan Initiative member wishes to meet us to discuss matters of mutual interest. Kathleen is preparing to contact all the Accommodation and Business entries for their annual donation. Nicolson the baker has indicated that they wish to advertise on the site.

Council Report:
Cllr Dickie reported that the Budget had been fixed and the Area Committee allocation made. It is likely that the Initiative will receive £1000 rather than the £1700 bid for. Some 3 year Scottish Office projects are coming to an end with no further funding available. The Burgh Yard is up for sale for £40,000. Progress is being made re the new Lockerbie Academy and there are monthly meetings to monitor that it is up to schedule. A Planning Application for houses at Glebe Terrace is back again with the problems of access and sewage still relevant. Affordable homes at Vendace Drive is also on the agenda. Funding has been found for Core Paths and an Economic Regeneration Officer.

AOCB:

  • Matters raisd at the Annandale North Community Ward Meeting included getting an agreement from the Council to clean out the hessian screen at the Mill Loch regularly and provide a Litter Bin at the Mill Loch park.
  • A list of members will be compiled and committee members will be included in this.

There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 1610 hrs.

Next Meeting        2pm, Monday 12 May 2008, Lochmaben Town Hall