MERKINCH Community Council are to push for a replacement for PC Dominic Sermanni, the Community Beat Officer who last month was moved from Merkinch to Lochardil, leaving the area with just one bobby on the beat again.

At their recent meeting Donnie Kerr expressed his concern at the turnover of community police. In the last year PC Norman Macleod was replaced by PC Sermanni. An additional officer was appointed – PC Mick Waters – only to be replaced by PC Alistair Stewart, now on his own.

PC Stewart said Dominic and Mick had been brought in for specific operations. “But,” he said, “I’m committed to staying here for five years. I requested the job!”

PC Stewart said he had been going round the area with the dog warden. “I’ve been doing a bit of overtime,” he said, “going out between 6pm and 2am – that’s the worst time.”

He also reported that he was going round with council officials once a month to check on abandoned cars in the area.