Councillor George Farlow North, West and Central Sutherland Contact Details: george.farlow.cllr@highland.gov.uk Tel: (01854) 612780 Cllr George Farlow is the SNP Highland Council Group spokesperson for the Environment. George is glad to help wherever he can with any issues that you might be concerned about in North, West and Central Sutherland

BOUQUETS AND BRICKBATS OVER LAXFORD BRIDGE

North West and Central Sutherland Highland Councillor, George Farlow has sent his personal thanks to Neil Gillies, Director of Transport, Environment and Community Services at Highland Council.  He requested that they are also passed onto his staff for reacting skilfully and courteously to the aftermath of last week’s road crash at Laxford Bridge.

 The SNP Group Transport Spokesperson said: “Thankfully the soldiers survived miraculously intact, although I wouldn’t mind betting the debriefing might be a wee bit more painful.  I hope they are well: the road clearly requires upgrading for this type of military traffic. “I have also spoken to some of the emergency services who attended the accident and thank them also for their work too in some pretty awful weather conditions.  It just goes to show no matter how careful, how healthy and how law-abiding we are, there are still many occasions when we will need fully-crewed, locally-based emergency services. “So, I welcome the statements made by Northern Constabulary and the Highlands and Island Joint Police Board regarding the permanency of the renovated police station at Rhiconich at its official opening last Thursday.  I am looking forward to the public open day there involving as many emergency services as possible. “As to the future of the bridge and its approaches, I am pursuing with Rob Gibson MSP the complete compensation by MoD to all involved.  This will come from their insurance company but I am mindful of the small print. As this is not a trunk road, the Highland Council is responsible for the care and repair but we should be looking for a widening of the bridge yet still retaining its iconic appearance.  With stretched budgets from the UK Government, it is therefore timely that they in Westminster redress their omission of some 15 years when the original plans were dropped. 

The MoD cannot use Cape Wrath to the inconvenience of the many, cause significant annual damage and then walk away to come again in the spring to carry on the same exercise.  This is morally wrong and it is time the MoD paid for this privilege.  They could start by attempting to win the hearts and minds of local people in Sutherland and give us some community benefit.

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Gaelic Committee Needs Equal Status in Highland 29/09/09

Am Bratach article  

George Farlow, SNP Councillor for North West and Central Sutherland, has called on The Highland Council again for recognition of the Gaelic Committee equal to that of other strategic committees rather than hanging on the coat-tails of the Education Culture and Sport Service.

The Gaelic Committee of the Highland Committee met in Ullapool on 25 September 2009. A resident of Ullapool, Councillor Farlow said: “There is tremendous support for Gaelic in Wester Ross and across North West and Central Sutherland and I wanted to come here today to congratulate local people for their efforts in giving our children the higher standard of achievement that goes with Gaelic Medium Education.  My thanks though to Highland Council for recognising the aspirations on the west coast and coming to Ullapool to show that support. “But at the same time it’s disappointing that the meeting clashed with Wester Ross MOD in Poolewe and that Parents of Gaelic schoolchildren were unable not only to see the Committee in action but also to have their demands for greater support for Gaelic up and down the west coast addressed and to move smarter and faster on the appointments of the many vacancies in the services.  The financial support is in place as are the structures – what we need now is action and delivery.” At the committee meeting, it was once again noted the current small pool of Gaelic speakers available for not only teaching positions but also for educational support.  However, as a result of questioning from Councillor John Finnie it materialised that two posts had yet to be advertised and had still to be approved by Highland Council’s Resources Committee at the next but one meeting in December even though most of the funding was from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.  Equally the long outstanding vacancy for a Gaelic Education Development Officer prompted discussion on the necessity of some compromise on the qualifications in order to start to fulfil the aspirations of parents in Lochbroom, Assynt and Scourie. Members noted the higher attainment of children taught through the medium of Gaelic and that the benefits of being bilingual and multi-lingual shone through in the latest round of examinations.  Maintaining and improving the quality of Gaelic Education included continuous monitoring by Highland Council Quality Improvement Officers. A report from the Gaelic Development Officer showed that the recently proposed changes by the Highland Council involving the watering down of its bilingual sign policy was seen by Bòrd na Gàidhlig not to be a minor amendment.  The Committee was reminded by the SNP Group Leader that the SNP Group had in June voted in favour of the status quo and agreed with BnG that this was indeed a major departure from the policy of equal respect across Highland for the Gaelic language.  “It was disappointing that the Council was pursuing a policy of acquiescence,” he said. 

Members continued their day attending a course on Gaelic Cultural and Language Awareness and lessons at Ullapool Primary School where they met children in the Gaelic Medium Unit, amongst whom was Robert Farlow in P5, young son of Councillor Farlow, and all working away at learning their decimal sums in Gaelic even on a warm autumnal Friday afternoon.

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Rural Transport Must Get Special Attention 30/09/09

George Farlow, SNP Councillor for North West and Central Sutherland, has called for action on preserving public transport links in rural Highland. At the Highland Council's TEC services committee he highlighted the need for special attention. Read The Press and Journal report here

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Geopark Awaits Accolades 02/09/09

This weekend people in the communities of Assynt, Coigach, Durness, Kinlochbervie and Scourie welcome members of the European Geopark Network (EGN) to the North West Highland Geopark.

Bounded for the most part by the Moine Thrust in North and West Sutherland and Coigach, the North West Highland Geopark awaits the revalidation of the EGN and UNESCO accolades.

SNP Councillor for North West and Central Sutherland, George Farlow, will be helping to host the assessors from Austria and Germany.

He said: "A seismic shift has taken place in the Geopark since we hosted the EGN Conference in 2007.  Much work has taken place to encourage the sustainability of the Geopark in Sutherland and Wester Ross - from "jewel in the crown" at Knockan Rock to the other gems right up the coast to the award-winning beaches in Durness.  I thank all members of the communities in West Sutherland who have worked so hard to bring the Action and Development Plans to fruition.

“It is important not only for the communities within the Geopark but also for the gateway villages of Tongue, Ullapool and the Ferrycroft in Lairg.  I welcome all their support for this Sutherland initiative which many suggest could result in the teaching of geology, geo-tourism and earth sciences at Higher Education Level in the area.

"This comes hard on the heels of recent Geopark successes in winning funding from the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and from Awards for All – and even more recently, from The Highland Council's North, West and Central Sutherland Ward Discretionary and Tourism funds."

The Geopark's new keynote report, "Landscapes and People – Earth Heritage, Culture and Economy", was launched in Tongue during a recent visit of The Highland Council Convener Sandy Park and Chief Executive Alistair Dodds.  It contains articles from a wide range of eminent contributors, including Scottish Government Minister Mike Russell, prominent members of the European Geopark Network and the British Geological Survey, SNH Chairman Andrew Thin, and senior representatives of Highland Council and the Crofters' Commission. It will also be used to help guide Geopark work over the next three years.

As Geopark Steering Group Vice-Chairman George Farlow continued, "This visit from EGN representatives coincides with the Scottish Geology Festival - Rock On.  I hope as many folk as possible get out and enjoy the unique and world-class geology, landscapes and wildlife – to say nothing of our vibrant community spirit and local culture – there is a huge amount on offer.  Check out http://www.northwest-highlands-geopark.org.uk/events.html.  I have no doubt that the assessors will recognise our world class contribution."

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Read George's Column as submitted to the Northern Times:

Curly Hair, Councillor Watch and something at the end of the Rainbow: 14/08/09

A long time ago, I was told once that if I ate my crusts I would have curly hair and if went out after a bath I would get pneumonia.  Well, I ate my crusts and most everything else for that matter - except potted heid as it’s called in Fife - and I did go outside after a bath but I was always fine.  I now reckon that broccoli will improve children’s ability to pass a rugby ball.  You probably realise now that we should really take the information we are given with a pinch of salt.

Maybe we shouldn’t go as far as Jeremy Paxman and question the parentage of the messenger and why indeed they are lying, but then everybody has an interest and maybe even an axe to grind.  Wickedpedia and the internet should carry a warning too and so perhaps should the holiday postcards we receive – was the weather really all that great?

As expected last Friday there was a thud on the doormat indicating the arrival of my Committee Papers.  I was in Elphin at a meeting with CREAG and felt the earth move.  Councillors then have a few days before the strategic committee meetings to read the reports; have little time to discuss matters with constituents and to do our own research.  So Jock of all trades and masters of none we councillors may become.  They are there online for you to read and lobby accordingly.  That’s where you should get involved and soon you will be able to check us out in webcasts online too.  That surely is progress because instead of waiting for a transcript of what your councillors said they said, you should be able to watch and hear what they actually said.

So how sceptical therefore should we be of these committee reports?  Especially in opposition I would wonder why do they need to spend tax-payers’ money on this; consider whether that really is a priority; and, how would that demonstrate good governance, economic sense and social justice.  You’ll not be surprised therefore that SNP activists have an innate sense of whether “this is not for us” or “that could work”.  Does it fit with our government’s strategy; does this advance Scotland’s cause and does that benefit Highlands?  What is not innate is how this will feed through the myriad layers of control; manifest itself in each of our communities; and, what are the unintended consequences?

Last week the Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, officially opened the department’s office on Golspie beach.  It’s a co-location of allsorts: SNH; SGRPID, the Forestry; together with HIE and Community Energy.  That should keep costs down, encourage interdepartmental communication and create more efficient and effective service delivery.  A One Stop Shop as it were from which comes a one-start-officer who hopefully can say “Yes we can”.  Sceptical?  Hmmm! Me too.

Along with Highland Council’s Area Council Offices in Drummuie as well, my sense of social justice is more than flashing amber.  There’s a lot of togetherness on the East Coast but it’s something we have inherited.  But with UHI in Dornoch where does North and West Sutherland sit with Rural Development and the Earth Sciences?  Well nevertheless I am sure we wish all well in their new premises.

No committee member has it easy though.  Some Independent Councillors may examine merely the effect on their ward as they call it although some may eventually take the agreed Administration line.  The LibDems, always eager to be most helpful, must have a difficult time on the shooglie fence or maybe they actually had input into the process of preparation of the reports.  But then are the officials empire building and protecting their delegated budgets; are those supposedly knowledgeable ones just making life easier for themselves; or would some be merely trying to advance their careers?

One of the contradictions of proportional representation and a rainbow coalition is that where there is a wide range of opinions, it is so easy for officials to slip into the vacuum left by an Administration.  We are consistently told that councillors make policy and officers ensure that it is delivered but I have also heard that even our 17 strong SNP group on Highland Council has made policy.  Perhaps then the party with the most numbers should see that their vote as a green light from the electorate, grab the thistle and lead a minority administration.

That is what the SNP Scottish Government has done and with some minor stushies it has worked quite well.  Some manifesto proposals, which in a way are for an Independent Scotland, have acquired a lower priority in this term because we need the support of other parties to progress them.  Indeed the £600 million (and rising) Edinburgh tram has gone ahead against the Government’s programme – that money could be being spent now – today - on the A9 for example and what a burach the whole scheme has caused to folk in the capital.

Last week by Loch Assynt I saw the world’s finest rainbow - a perfect semi-circle of translucent lights with one end in one croft and the other an other croft.  Would that be two pots of gold for crofters then?  Purely speculative so I’ll take that with a pinch of salt too. 

For real information: http://www.highlandsnp.org/SNPHighlandCouncilors.html

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Campaigns:

Sustainable Community Transport in North Sutherland;

Rural Post Offices,Services and the Postbus have been removed by an uncaring and remote Royal Mail Head Office.  Independence for Scotland will deliver the post.

The pursuit of sustainable replacement Care Units for Older Adults in North and West Sutherland;

The SNP Highland Group delivered on NHS Migdale Hospital after 15 years of dithering by the Liberal Democrats

The Speedy Progress towards a fully-staffed, full-time Emergency Ambulance service for Kinlochbervie, Scourie and Durness;

The SNP Highland Group has already helped bring £4.7 million to phase out years of single-crewed ambulances in rural areas and on 23rd March 2009 there was a further funding for 700 new ambulances as well as fast response and patient transport vehicles.

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Sango Steps

North Highland Councillor has stated that we must change the way the Highland Council Administration now operates.  We must restart the process of community consultation that appears to have been done away with over the last few months.

George Farlow SNP Councillor for North West and Central Sutherland is unhappy at the decision process by which the steps down to Sango Bay are to be removed by Highland Council. 

He says: “Sure, we must protect public safety.  Folk are cautioned not to use the steps and there are barriers at both ends.  I guess this is the way it has to be in our increasingly litigious society, but nobody wants to see anyone get hurt."

“But, that is the immediate issue.  The steps have been like this for a good while and Durness Community Council has been trying to get the County Roads Department (TECS) to repair and maintain the steps.  Only last week the Press and Journal published a picture of the stunningly beautiful beach at Ceannebeinne, quoting from the Lonely Planet Guide which has praised the area and the drive along the west coast of Sutherland through the North West Highland Geopark.  Surely it’s daft economically now to remove the steps for good"

“It may be seen by some folk as a fit of pique by Council Officials as a result of a “Turf War” – I hope not.  The steps were installed by Highland Council some while ago, paid for by the Ward Discretionary Fund and so perhaps who owns the land owns the steps and of course has a duty of care. The community and the council should be one of the same.  So, I believe we should seek appropriate funding to put steps in that are fit for purpose, just like the ones at Smoo and Ceannebeinne. Our family came up last Sunday and we had a great time”. 

As to the future, Councillor Farlow urges the Council Administration to support community consultation in deeds as well as words; accept that these steps are a high priority for the Durness Community; and, identify funding that will add to the enjoyment of their visit to “a must-see, must-return” place. 

Sincerely 

Councillor George FarlowNorth West and Central Sutherland WardHighland Council SNP Grouptel no:   01854 612780

mobile: 07765921741

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