Wester Ross councillor suspended from SNP

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🟡 Wester Ross Councillor Chris Birt has been suspended from the Highland Council SNP group after it emerged he was one of six male councillors who voted to allow a convicted rapist to keep his taxi operating license. At the time of writing, Mr Birt remains a member of the council licensing committee despite a huge public outcry, national press attention and criticism from Highland SNP MSP Maree Todd, among others. Four of the other men who voted to award the license have resigned from the committee, with one of those deciding to resign from the council altogether. Cllr Birt gives his side of the story here. Scott Maclennan broke the news of Cllr Birt's suspension. Read more: Scott Maclennan | Inverness Courier

As a consequence of the furore, Highland MSPs are now said to be discussing how taxi licensing laws can be improved at a national level. More: Skye News

🟡 Thanks have been paid to Liz Macrae who recently retired from Gairloch High School after teaching Physics there for thirty five years. During her time at the school she even taught both the current head teacher and the depute head teacher of the school. More: Facebook

🟡 Lochcarron man Robin Pettigrew has submitted a new petition to the Scottish Parliament urging MSPs to ban camping in a vehicle outside of designated camping zones. A previous petition on the same issue could not be considered by MSPs as they ran out of time before the last Holyrood election. More: Scottish Parliament

🟡 Speaking of camper vans, Highland Council has published documentation setting out how it hopes to vary the rules at off-street car parks throughout the region. Notably, it includes proposals that could see camper vans facing mandatory charges for overnight stays in car parks that are currently just "invitation to pay" car parks, like Gairloch Harbour. Some community councils may object to the plans because of fears the new arrangements could result in less cash being ring-fenced for local projects. Comments must be submitted by July 27. More: Highland Council

🟡 A two bedroom semi-detached bungalow at Aultbea has come on the market for offers over £150,000. More: Facebook

🟡 There is much celebration among regular users of the A832 at Badcaul after a section of the road there was repaired by Highland Council. There is also much puzzlement about why the council did not repair other nearby pot-holed stretches of the same road at the same time. Locals have been urged to report defects to the council via Fixmystreet.com and to "keep nagging" officials. More: Facebook

🟡 Work has finally begun to repair the community-owned wind turbine at Coigach. More: Facebook

🟡 The Chair of the Lochcarron Games, Joanna Macpherson has thanked Salmon farming firm Bakkafrost for upping their sponsorship of the games. The extra cash, she says, has allowed them to include Women's heavy events, such as shot putt and hammer throw for this first time at the July 18 event. More: Bakkafrost

Events

This is just a selection of some of the latest events that have been posted to our people-powered Wester Ross events calendar. You can check out all the events here. If you've spotted a missing event, you can add it using this form.

🟡 NOTE: The July meeting of the Gairloch Community Council has been cancelled. The next meeting will be in August.

🟡 UHI North, West and Hebrides drop in session
Are you thinking about studying something this year? Come along to the UHI North, West and Hebrides drop in session in Gairloch. Our student services team would love to chat with you! Located within Gairloch Museum.
Tue 14 Jul | 11.00am | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Family Engagement Event
Join us for an exciting parent and family engagement day! Arts & crafts, bouncy castle, nature crafts, work, money and wellbeing advice. Drinks and snacks. FREE.
Thu 16 Jul | 10.00am | Lochbroom Leisure Centre · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Lochcarron Games Dance
Run by Lochcarron Camanachd with music by The Electric Cherries. Strictly over 18s.
Fri 17 Jul | 8.30pm | Lochcarron Village Hall · Lochcarron & Strathcarron | More info

🟡 The Edinburgh Quartet with Rosie Staniforth and Clare Juan
The wonderful Edinburgh Quartet returns to Ullapool with two concerts as part of the annual Variations Summer Course. This summer they bring us a FESTIVAL OF SCHUBERT with Rosie Staniforth (oboe) and Clare Juan (cello).
Sat 18 Jul | 7.00pm | Macphail Centre · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Museum Book Group
You can join our friendly group for tea, coffee, cake and lively discussion in person at the Museum at 3.30pm or online at 7.30pm via Zoom.
Tue 21 Jul | 3.00pm | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Gairloch Bog Trotting and Stone Hopping Running Meet Ups [Every Tuesday]
A group for off road runners who don't mind dirty trainers based around Gairloch and surrounding area. Regular Tuesday meet up at 7pm in summer and a place to share weekend runs if you want company.
Tue 21 Jul | 7.00pm | Gairloch | More info

🟡 Guided Walk - Roundhouses & Ethnobotany at Achtercairn
Join volunteer Jeremy Fenton and Ranger Katie Grant for a combined archaeology and ethnobotany walk along the Achtercairn Archaeology Trail
Sat 25 Jul | 10.00am | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Marine & Coastal Mammals of NW Scotland - free evening of talks
Spend an enlightening evening with wildlife experts in Ullapool ferry terminal, to learn all about the amazing species that populate the coastlines and ocean off the coast of NW Scotland, and the work of scientists and conservation organisations seeking to study and protect wildlife in the Minch.
Mon 27 Jul | 7.00pm | Ullapool Ferry Terminal · Ullapool | More info

Jobs

Do you have a job vacancy you are trying to fill? The deadline for the next issue of the Gairloch and District Times is Friday July 10 at 10am. Book space here.

🟡 NHS Highland are looking for people to join their Wester Ross Care at Home team. More: Facebook.

🟡 The owners of Tanera, in the Summer Isles, are looking for a Marine Skipper and a Gardener. Both roles are permanent, full-time jobs. For more, email: [email protected]

🟡 The Dipping Lugger in Ullapool is looking for a full-time Kitchen Porter to join their team from September. More: Facebook

🟡 The Am Bàrd Cafe in the Gairloch Museum is looking for a part-time seasonal worker to join their team. More: Facebook

More News

🟡 The closure of the Bank of Scotland branch in Gairloch got a mention in parliament by local MP Angus MacDonald recently. He told a representative of industry body Finance UK: "To describe my area as a bank desert would be an understatement." More: Facebook

🟡 The Ledgowan Lodge Hotel at Achnasheen has been given the green light by planning officials to build new staff accommodation and chalets, despite six objections from locals. More: Iona M.J. MacDonald | Ross Shire Journal

🟡 If you have a spare £4.5m, just north of Ullapool the 7,800 acre Runie and Keanchulish Estate is for sale. More: Rightmove

🟡 Remember the £10m fund launched by the Scottish Government to help people with heating oil costs? It turns out only £1m has been paid out so far, and the scheme is due to close in September. More: Andrew Learmonth | The Herald

🟡 Attadale Estate has been awarded prestigious Wildlife Estates Scotland accreditation for its commitment to wildlife management and biodiversity enhancement. More: Hector MacKenzie | Ross Shire Journal

🟡 The Scottish Government is consulting on proposals to introduce two new council tax bands targeting homes worth more than £1m. More: Scottish Government

🟡 And finally here's a video from the campaign group Open Seas that explains the positive impact of the Wester Ross Marine Protection Area. Watch: Facebook