LOCAL bus company Stagecoach was severely criticised at Merkinch Community Council’s October meeting for its continuing poor service. Among the aspects of the company’s unsatisfactory provisions are:

• Changing bus timetables without notice and having no printed brochures with the new timings;
• Having times that were not geared to the needs of customers - i.e. lack of hospital bus service in the evening.
• Charging 95p for a trip to town.

“People have been so mucked about,” said Dell McClurg, “that they are finding other ways to get around. We want to pressurise them into sensible timings.”
She referred to the present timetable leaving Church Street at 5.45pm and then nothing until 7pm. It hardly gives people time to leave their work, she said. Ann McCreadie pointed out that the service to the Carse had seen improvements recently. And Brian Cain of South Kessock Residents Association said that they were currently carrying out a survey into the matter - forms are available at Craigton Avenue.

Other issues…

THE Welfare Hall in Grant Street could be in need of far more work to bring it up to scratch than was at first thought.
Councillor Peter Corbett told the October meeting of Merkinch Community Council that a report was expected shortly, but the surveyor thought the back of the roof would need considerable repair. The stairway was a fire hazard, and there would need to be work done to give access for the disabled and a fire escape at the rear of the building. The condition of the back wall on to Nelson Street was also questionable.

• Councillor Corbett also drew the community council’s attention to the Community Economic Development event being held at the Community Centre on 19th November.
  “We’ve not given Karen Thomson of CED much in the way of ideas,” he suggested. “I said that the scheme seemed rather vague, but there is a share of around £45,000 available.”
  Members mooted various ideas, such as a “village officer” for Merkinch or a one-off event such as a trade fair.
• Only about 20 houses in Maclennan Crescent are still inhabited, members heard. Demolition is set to begin early in November. Tenders are to be sought and work on the refurbishment on half the Crescent is likely to start early next year.
• Thanks to the mild autumn, people were still visiting the Dolphin Centre at South Kessock well into October, Dell McClurg reported - though they were mostly local people rather than tourists.
• Everything was going well in South Kessock, Brian Cain of the residents’ association reported. The metal replacement fencing was nearly complete in Carnarc Crescent. A start was soon to be made on the one-bedroomed flats in Kessock Court North and South which are to be flattened.
  “They are spending a lot of money doing up voids,” Mr Cain said. But there were mixed feelings about the use of the show house, which is next door to the Craigton Avenue offices. Perhaps a room could be rented out, or it could be used for training young tenants.”
  Mr Cain also announced that SKRA were not going to be renewing their membership of TIGHRA.
• Merkinch Traders representative Clair Pieraccini reported that there were still no residents parking only signs or improvements to lighting.
• The way that pensions and other benefits are going to be paid is to be changed. The aim is to make the present system more fraud-free. People would still be able to collect their benefits at the Post Office using a card system.
• Councillor Corbett expressed concern about the poor level of contents insurance - 70% of the houses flooded recently in Inverness had not been covered - and spoke of a 70p per week basic policy which was operating in Ross-shire.
• Ann McCreadie agreed to stay on as secretary in a temporary capacity until a replacement can be found. This summer she announced her intention to retire from the post she has held for many years.
• Chairman Aly Maclean brought members’ attention to a seminar on anti-social tenants which is being held at Highland Council HQ on 27th November from 10.30am to 3pm.
• The community council’s granite tribute to the late Morag Soane had now been placed on her grave, members were told.
• The community council’s next meeting is on 14th November at Merkinch Primary School at 7.30pm.