COWAL CELEBRATES THE QUEEN’S GOLDEN JUBILEE
DOWNPOURS aside, Cowal put on a show of its best red, white and blue colours over the holiday weekend, to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Events and entertainment happened all over the peninsula, from aerial fly-overs, rollicking ceilidhs and barbecues, to pipe bands, Highland dancers and fireworks.
Dunoon’s programme for the festivities centred on Argyll Gardens with a line-up of entertainment, which included fiddlers, country and Highland dancers, singers, pipers and displays from the Air Training Corps.
Among the performances marking the event were “The Jubilee Jig,” by the Dunoon Country Dance team, “The Gay Gordons,” by Dunoon Accordion and Fiddle Club and “The Bride’s Jig,” by Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band.
The bandstand area was decorated in true Jubilee style with red, white and blue bunting and balloons, and an enthusiastic crowd of around 500 people cheering on the proceedings.
Despite a downpour when the heavens opened halfway through the programme, the show carried on until the lighting of the beacon on Castle Hill at 9.30pm.


WIND FARM GETS GO-AHEAD
MIXED views met the news that the proposed wind farm at Cruach Mhor, Glendaruel, was given the go ahead this week.
At an informal planning hearing held in the village on Tuesday, members of Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to the recommendation to grant planning permission for 35 wind turbines, subject to the applicant, Scottish Power, adhering to a Section 75 Agreement, which consists of 16 Heads of Agreement and 28 planning conditions, meeting with the guidelines laid out by the council following public consultation.
Permission was also granted for the formation of vehicular access and improvements to road junctions prior to the implementation of the turbines.
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “Members of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee resolved to grant planning permission, provided always that the conditions and the Heads of the Section 75 Agreement are remitted to them, while satisfactorily addressing all the issues, particularly in relation to private water supplies.”
One Glendaruel resident said: “Granting this decision is simply the usual whitewash! I am in favour of so-called renewable energy, but only from a viable source. I am not happy with the decision taken by the area committee today!”
However, Scottish Power are delighted at the decision, saying: “We are extremely pleased that the council’s decision was to grant permission.”
Prior to the decision, much consultation was undertaken and letters of objection, as well as of support, were lodged.
The life of the turbines has been extended from 25 to 26 years, to take into consideration the 12 months required to construct the site.
The turbines will be tubular tower and pale grey in colour, with a maximum height from blade to tip of 71 metres.
Each one will have a self-protection mechanism to enable it to shut down during very high windspeeds and the actual windfarm will have the capacity to produce somewhere in the region of 29MW- enough to power 17,000 homes.
Under the Section 75 Agreement Scottish Power will have to stump up a bond of £115,000 prior to any works, to ensure that when the 26 years are up, there are sufficient funds to return the land to its former glory.
Water for the areas immediately affected will be upgraded and a Community Trust Fund of £21,000 per annum for the life of the wind farm is to be set up.
Television signal problems will also be addressed, as will Habitat Management and other important areas.
Numerous restrictions, including a noise management plan, will also be placed to ensure that there are no noise problems, although Scottish Power do not consider noise to be a problem.
The A886 to the West of Kilnaish Cottages is to be upgraded to allow the construction of turbine access roads in a loop arrangement.
Additional road signs and removal of scrub will be implemented prior to works to ensure that the road safety criteria is met.
A wash bay will also be present within the site to prevent vehicles from carrying mud on to the public road.
A spokesman for Glendaruel and Colintraive Community Council spoke at the meeting, saying: “We have discussed this issue at four separate Community Council meetings and, as such, we feel that people have had ample opportunity for everyone to make their views known.
“The majority of the residents are in favour or neutral regarding the proposal, although there is a minority that are opposed to the development.”
He continued: “We do still have some reservations, although many of these have already been addressed by Scottish Power, and we would like some guarantees that these will be sorted, for example, we would like operations to cease between 7pm and 7am every day.
“We would also like to be assured that the bond will prevent another Portavadie or Ardyne happening.”
The decision to grant permission was unanimous, following Councillor Douglas Currie moving to grant permission providing the conditions are met. This was seconded by Councillor Bruce Marshall.


BODY DISCOVERED AT HUNTER’S QUAY
THE BODY of an unidentified male was discovered by local police on the shore opposite Hunter’s Grove, Hunter’s Quay, on Wednesday, June 5.
The man, allegedly a missing person from the Strathclyde region, was found lying face down on the foreshore at around 10.50 a.m.
There are thought to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and police are following a line of enquiry.


DRUGS CACHE DISCOVERED
A LARGE quantity of controlled drugs, with a street value in excess of £50,000, was recovered by local police on Wednesday, May 29.
Police, continuing their ‘Crime Brakers’ operation, discovered the stash – thought to be diamorphine – in the Sandbank area.
The mammoth find is being hailed by police as a significant step forward in the fight against drugs.
A police spokesman described the recovery as “a significant quantity which has been taken off our streets.”


HOTEL IN WILDERNESS
THE FIASCO surrounding the plight of the Queen’s Hotel, in Kirn, is set to continue, after it was discovered that little has so far been done to halt the building’s miserable decay.
The “Observer” highlighted the hotel’s long and involved history last summer, together with its recent and unfortunate decline. There were hopes that the structure would be converted into flats, but its static presence on the Kirn front only goes to support the notion that a solution is a long way off.
Many local residents in Kirn consider the listed building to be a genuine eyesore, and its presence as the focal point of the village looks certain to accentuate the slump in the area’s fortunes.
Despite modestly successful attempts at improving the area, the lack of action over the building is infuriating Hunter’s Quay and Kirn Councillor, Brian Chennell.
He said: “Unfortunately, we are in the same position as we were last year. The building is owned by a private individual so we have no real indication of what is happening.”
He added: “When the plans were passed we hoped that we would find a solution, but there has been a huge delay in proceedings. I am hopeful that something will be done in the near future.”
The hotel’s owner, Charles Gilpin, tried to explain the hotel’s stagnant situation: “There has been a lot of interest in the building but there has been nothing constructive.”
He continued: “It is arguably the most beautiful building in Dunoon, but the problem of its sale lies in finances. Anyway, the building has been in decline for 20 years and it was the council who closed the building, just like they close everything else around here.”
With no solid prospects in sight, local residents will have to sit and wait patiently for action. Presently, the fate of the once proud “Arts and Crafts” styled hotel lies in a muddle of ominous uncertainty.


STATESIDE FOOTIE
THREE former Dunoon Grammar School pupils have placed their feet firmly on the sporting ladder of success after recently committing to soccer scholarship offers from two prestigious universities in America.
Colin Bence(17), Paul Gabel(17) and Vicki McKinven(18), all from Dunoon, will begin their star-studded soccer careers this August. All three players are successful products of the “FirstPoint UK Sports Scholarship Programme” which was established in Dunoon two years ago and now operates throughout Europe.
Midfielder Vicki, currently playing with Queen of the South Ladies FC, has signed to play and study at “Lassen College” in California, and will become the first female player from Scotland to represent the team when she flies out to begin pre-season training this summer.
Colin and Paul have been signed by “Northern Oklahoma College” and will join a side that has been recognised as being among the “Top 25” in the USA. Colin will be taking a two-year National Certificate in a sports orientated subject, as well as providing sturdy cover for his team as a left-back.
Colin said: “Playing football is what I want to do with my life. They have a great league system out in America so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Celtic fan Paul, whose father is originally from Washington, also added his enthusiasm to the glamorous prospect of playing “the beautiful game” under the warm sun of the States: “This is a great opportunity for me. After I finish my studies I will definitely think about staying in America and playing football professionally.”
Andrew Keane, the Managing Director of “FirstPoint UK”, was delighted with the success of all three players and is positive they will enjoy the unique experience of competing and studying in America.
He said: “ I am very confident that the bulk of the players we send out to the US will go on to have very good professional careers; the US scholarship system and the American game helps to facilitate this.”


COWAL PENINSULA CHEERS
THE sun shone on the village of Tighnabruaich last weekend when their Jubilee celebrations got under way.
Saturday saw fireworks at Rhubaan Point, where spectators witnessed a spectacular display of dazzling illuminations.
Despite a slight change in the weather, Sunday evening made way for the outdoor family church service, conducted by the Rev D Kellas. More than 150 people attended and listened intently as he spoke on various topics, while at the end he led the congregation in ‘God Save the Queen.’
Heralding the start of Monday’s celebrations was the procession through the village of the Jubilee Queen, 10 year old Rohanna Irvine, who was crowned at Sunday’s church service by Christine (Totie) Chambers, a well respected member of the Kyles community.
The procession route was lined with well wishers and Jubilee flags and bunting adorned the village.
Many locals entered into the spirit, dressing up in the Jubilee colours and wearing Jubilee hats.
On arriving at the venue of the playing fields, Rohanna released the Jubilee balloons to mark the start of the party, and later on she officially cut the Jubilee cake, which was made locally by Debbie Armstrong.
The compere for the day was Iain Wilson, who was also dressed up, and 1950’s music was played throughout the celebrations.
The afternoon was a mass of fun and games, as kids and adults alike took part in the various sporting events, including the Tug of War, which was won by the strong men of Kames! Other races included the egg and spoon race, the sack race, the three-legged race, as well as the 1,000 metre sprint.
There was also other carnival entertainment, such as jugglers and the traditional stocks, which saw many a victim splatted with shaving foam!
Complimenting the energetic sporting events was a feast fit for a King- or even a Queen! Inside the marquee lay a fabulous picnic, while outside was a mouth watering barbecue.
Councillor and Mrs Douglas Currie judged the children’s fancy dress parade, picking six year old Dayna MacLellan as the winner, with her detailed Hawaiian Hula dancer outfit.
But the highlight, all be it very quick, was the R.A.F. fly past, so low and so perfect that it left many open mouthed in amazement.
And for those who enjoy a look into the future, there was a fortune teller with a difference, as the Jubilee sported its very own drag queen Madame Wilenska.
At 9.30pm the representatives of Kames Coast Guard Search and Rescue Team were piped to Kames Pier by the local Police Constable, where they lit a beacon and let off flares to mark the occasion. The beacon was kept alight until the fireworks commenced at 10.45pm, and another spectacular display was enjoyed by all, as illuminations were set off simultaneously at Kames and Tighnabruaich Piers.
The celebrations were brought to a close with a ceilidh at the Kyles Hotel, arranged by the Tighnabruaich Sailing Club.