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news updated: 22 May 2008

May 2008 Minutes

LOCHMABEN & DISTRICT INITIATIVE MINUTES OF MEETING 12 May 2008

Present:    Sue Coulthard, Isabelle & Paul Gow, Sandy Grant, Anne Johnston,
David Mair, Tom Russell, Jack Wade, Kathleen Ward, Derek Whiterod,
   
Apologies:    Alistair Brown, Cllr Michael Dickie, Maurice Green, David Rose.

Minutes:         The minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 March 2008 were taken as read and adopted.

Matters arising:

  • Guides had requested the clean-up equipment but no one was aware of the area(s) they had covered.
  • No Litter Bin so far at the Mill Loch Car Park
  • Committee members gave Kathleen £1 for Membership of the Initiative. Some members wondered if it was a one-off payment or an annual one. The matter would be discussed at the next meeting.

Finance:       The current balance stands at £7880. The books are presently being examined by Ian Stewart. Since last month the main income has been grants from SNH (£600) and Dumfries & Galloway Council (£1000) and main expenditure the Website ( £750).

Community Learning & Development:
Sue’s remit covers the Action Group, Initiative, Paddling Pool Group, Toddlers and Youth. At present she is helping the Youth Project Group (YPG) to put together a Summer Programme and is involved in the Youth Achievement Awards.  The latter are a series of challenges. 6 Lochmaben youngsters are about to complete their Bronze award with the aim of attaining their Silver by Christmas. Currently 5 young people are hoping to achieve their Silver awards by this summer. The YPG AGM is at 7 pm on Monday 2 June 2008 in Lochmaben Town Hall.

Paths:
The Castle Loch path upgrade is nearly complete as is the felling at the Castle and along the A709. There is a “window” to the Castle from the A709 car park but it was not practical to do the same from the Victory Park.
Kathleen mentioned that the hedge along the B7020 was in a bad state and could do with attention. Ed Forrest would be informed.
The map of the proposed Annandale Way was circulated. It was pointed out that the final route may differ from that shown. Viv Wood-Gee had been appointed as a consultant to finalise agreements with farmers and landowners by the end of May. When that is achieved progress can be made on the route.

Working Groups:
Reports from the Groups are found on the accompanying sheets. Points to emerge at the meeting were as follows.

Castle Loch Volunteers: Tom Henry’s event on 1 June concerns Dragon Flies and Damselflies.A local man, Ross Gemmell, has just been appointed as Ranger for Annandale &  Eskdale so hopefully the good work started at the Castle Loch will be continued and developed.
A pre-meeting with Tom or Ross before events might help to make them run more smoothly.
Fringe Lily: Current issues at the Mill Loch are possible infringements re fishing for pike and interference with the stakes put out to delineate the areas sprayed and those still to be spayed. The sticking agent would not be available until June. The Canadian Pond Weed could be more of a problem this year.
Paddling Pool: An application for funds had been made to the Common Good Fund. Awards for All were also a possible funding source.
Publications—Town Trail: Tom had still to give Paul photos to sketch. Further leaflets were circulated to give ideas for a possible format. One of the best was of Rye. The Castle Loch leaflet is completely out-of-print and requires updating before reprinting. Members took some Newsletters away to distribute, the Primary School were a possible source for distribution.
Publications---Newsletter: Anne Johnston would like Working Group reports in her hands by end of July.
Website: Agreed not to advertise the Counselling Site on our website. Kathleen produced an up-to-date spreadsheet of the businesses advertising on the website. Currently there are 40 on the list.

Council Report:   None

AOCB    :

  • A copy of the Annan Initiative Constitution is available
  • There is to be a meeting with Stuart Cameron re the possible link path from the railway behind Mossvale to the Mill Loch. Alistair McBryde, Lochbank, would have to be approached. One possibility would be to get Meridian to help finance the project and at the very least to cure the drainage problem from their fields.
  • Bill Agnew and Jim Shaw had raised the problem that the new housing development at the Hospital had resulted in local residents losing the use of a path round the perimeter of the development. Further enquiries on this topic were required.
  • There being no other business, the meeting closed at 11.45 hrs.
    Next Meeting        2pm, Wednesday 2 July 2008, Lochmaben Town Hall