Village News 154th Edition - March 2002

COUNTRY PEOPLE'S CLUB
For the March meetings on Wednesdays 6th and 20th in the Heywood Hotel, Shore Road, Skelmorlie at 2:30 p.m., we are pleased to announce the following speakers:

6th March - Mr. David Carson on the subject of "BUDGIES REPAIRED - A HISTORY OF CARTOONS"
20th March - Mrs. E. Hinshalwood - "THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY"

All members, old and new, and visitors will be made most welcome. For further information contact Ann Haig Tel. 522316.

REGISTERED CHILDMINDER
Registered Childminder with N.N.E.B. has vacancies for children aged 0-5 years on a full or part-time basis. Tel. 522060 for further details.

SKELMORLIE GOLF CLUB - NEW MEMBERS WANTED
We are looking for new members, both Ladies and Gentlemen, so for a limited period we are suspending our Joining Fee. Annual Subscription - £370.00.

For further details telephone 520152 or 520774. Or visit the club website www.skelmorliegolf.co.uk.

RECYCLING RETURNS TO WEMYSS BAY
Inverclyde Council has plans to place four glass bins, can, paper and textile bins in a comer of the car park at the Community Centre in the near future. Let's hope that this will encourage our ever-growing community to do their bit for the environment.

DUNLOE HOUSE
Many people have asked when we will be opening Dunloe House as a Hotel with restaurant and bar. We applied for permission for change of use last summer from Residential to Commercial. Members of Inverclyde Council Planning have been very supportive of the application, as have many residents in Wemyss Bay. The primary objection is from Amey Highways who are concerned at any possible increase in traffic at the entrance to Wemyss Bay Road. The Planners are still negotiating possible solutions. We were hoping to open the hotel before this summer, when the views and grounds are at their best. Meanwhile we hopefully await a positive decision!

THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
It is heartening to report that our Community Centre is very much alive and well and being used by a wide variety of groups and individuals. The Management Committee have worked hard to ensure that the centre is financially healthy and that it is being well maintained. The heating problems seem to have finally been solved and a renewal of basic furniture and some refurbishment is underway.

After the success of last year's Easter Fun Day it has been decided to repeat it this year, so please note SATURDAY, 30th MARCH in your diaries and keep it free. There will be the usual Easter Bonnet and Miniature Garden Competitions plus Discos for the youngsters. See posters in local shops for further details nearer the day.

Plans for this year's Gala Day are also well in hand. It will be held on SATURDAY, 15th JUNE, with various events and attractions taking place throughout the day, culminating in a Family Ceilidh (this time with a proper wooden floored marquee to ensure the dancing is of a high quality and safer too!).

Most of the bookable slots for the community centre in the week have gone but there are still times on Monday and Friday mornings as well as times at the weekends for parties etc.

The Lettings Lady is Kirsty Donnelly Tel. 520738, and she will be only too pleased to help.

WHAT'S ON LOCALLY IN MARCH
McLean Museum and Art Gallery (Kelly Street)
Until 16th March - SCOTTISH SMALLS -
An exhibition of mini-prints made by artists working in all the Scottish Print Studio Workshops. There are around 100 prints in all print mediums : etching, woodcut, screenprint, lithograph, and mezzotint.

23rd March - 27th April - BRITISH WATERCOLOURS -
Two centuries of British watercolours will be on show in this exhibition. Artists included will be: William Russell Flint, John Frederick Lewis, Arthur Melville, "Grecian" Williams, Charles Napier Hemy and Patrick Downie.

Greenock Arts Guild Theatre (Campbell Street)
Saturday 16th March at 7.30 p.m. - STEDFAST SILVER BAND.
Greenock's very own Silver band is back for their annual concert. Sure to be another spectacular show! Tickets £5 and £4

Thursday 21st - Saturday 23rd March at 7.30 p.m. - SCDA ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL
The second round of the One Act Play Festival featuring the winning teams from each district in the Western Division. Three plays will be performed each evening and the winning team will go forward to the Scottish Finals in Pitlochry.

THANK YOU LITTER PICKERS
Thank you for all the help in starting The Big Clean Up after the recent Big Storms. Many of the local boys gave up their time during the mid-term break to start to clear the rubbish from both the beach and the verges along Wemyss Bay Road, especially in front of Mansfield and Dunloe.

We will continue to remove litter until the Official Annual Village Clean-Up later in the Spring. All, and any litter removal is always appreciated by those living on the road and those using the non-Council maintained road and beach.

THE GREENOCK CUT - AN INGENIOUS WATERWAY ABOUT TO BE REVITALISED
The Cut, a fine example of Scotland's world-renowned engineering prowess, was built in 1827 by the acclaimed engineer Robert Thom. It provided safe, clean water to the people of Greenock for domestic and industrial use as well as one of the earliest forms of hydroelectric power in Scotland. Prior to this, Greenock's unreliable and untreated water supply system led to frequent bouts of cholera and other similar diseases.

The Cut has gradually fallen into disrepair after being decommissioned and replaced by a tunnel leading into the Overton Water Treatment Works.

West of Scotland Water, the owner of the Cut, is teaming up with Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverclyde Council, Clyde Muirshiel Park, Scottish Enterprise, Historic Scotland and the British Waterways Board in an attempt to secure heritage Lottery Funding to bring the waterway back to life. It is estimated that a grant of nearly i I million will be needed.

The Cut has now been deemed a Scheduled Ancient Monument and while it remains a complex hydrological system and a popular landmark, extensive repair work is needed to restore it to former glories of a bygone age.

After the restoration programme is complete the Cut will be transferred into the hands of the Clyde Muirshiel Park, who will incorporate the "ancient monument" as one of its attractions.

ARTICLES FOR APRIL
Articles for the April issue of the Village News should either be sent to Jenny McGee (tel. 521090) or put in the Village News envelope behind the counter in Spar, on or before 20^th March 2002.