August 2019 monthly update

Sunart Jetty Car Park Now Belongs to the Community!!

Several years ago former Community Councillor Jim Kirby suggested that the community should take over the jetty and car park, when it was discovered that the Council were considering selling it off privately. After years of wrangling over legal matters the Highland Council has finally handed over the land at the jetty to the community for £1 and has re-assigned the lease on the jetty. Thanks to support from Highlands & Islands Enterprise towards legal and survey costs, and the persistent lobbying from volunteers of the Loch Sunart Development Group, legal matters can now be concluded which paves the way for funding applications to secure the repairs to the jetty and a feasibility study into the next phase of improvements. Meanwhile the visitor moorings have attracted a number of yachts down the loch and donations for their use continue to come in. Visiting yachts can purchase overnight mooring tickets from the Strontian Stores, Post Office and the Strontian Hotel and all monies collected go towards insurance and maintenance costs.A meeting is planned in the autumn where community views will be sought on how to create docking facilities that are accessible at all states of the tide.

Oakwood Crafts and Visitor Centre

The community shop continues to do a brisk trade thanks to all the volunteers who help staff it however we know we are losing sales at the weekend as we do not have enough volunteers to open the shop. If you can spare a few hours, particularly on a Saturday or Sunday –perhaps on a rota basis so you only need volunteer every other weekend or one Sunday in three,we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Izzy or any of the volunteers for more information or pop in and say hello.(Training is provided so don’t worry if you have notworked in a shop before!)

Community Land Week August 10-18th

Yes,on the same day as the Sunart & District Agricultural Show, Scotland beginsa nationwide celebration of all the communities who have bought property with the help of the Scottish Land Fund.Readers will recall that Oakwood and the Strontian Community School Building both received funds from this source, and we are to be featured on the Community Land Scotland website this year.https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/events/the-sunart-story/There will be a stall at the Agricultural Show beside ourusual Burger Stall with company information, membership forms etc. In addition the brand new Strontian Primary School will be open for guided tours on the afternoonfor residents and visitors alike. Directors of SCSBL will be on hand to answer questions and show visitors around. If you haven’t yet visited the school this is a great chance to sneak and peek!