TEN YEARS AGO
Thursday May 1 2014
Rally round to save Old Fort
Lochaber MSP Dave Thompson has vowed to do everything in his power to improve safety at one of Fort William’s most historic sites, the Old Fort, and support efforts to recreate it as a visitor attraction.
The SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has said he will chair an open public meeting in the town - in the Old Fort if weather permits - with representatives of interested agencies and organisations.
Mr Thompson was speaking after holding talks with Friends of the Old Fort (FOOF), a small, accredited group of volunteers determined to ensure the town’s history and heritage are preserved and promoted.
Thanks to their fundraising efforts and help from Highland councillors, businesses and organisations, the friends have transformed many of the internal and external aspects of the former fort on the shores of Loch Linnhe.
Disabled-friendly paths have been installed, replica cannon now sit on the ramparts and five free-standing interpretation panels are displayed in the fort’s neatly-kept grassed area.
Flowers and shrubs add a touch of all-year-round colour to the site visited by an estimated 10,000 tourists annually.
The ruined fort is owned by Transport Scotland and is a scheduled monument under the wing of Historic Scotland.
Fencing was recently installed by Bear Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland as a safety measure to protect people from the possible danger of stones dislodging from the walls of the fort.
The work was done as a result of a report sent to Transport Scotland by FOOF.
Last month, there was outrage when dozens of the wooden fence posts were ripped out and burned on a bonfire by vandals, an incident currently being investigated by police.
Following that incident, FOOF chairman Norrie MacLean called for urgent action from national and local agencies to protect the monument. The call prompted Friday’s on site meeting between Mr Thompson and FOOF representatives.
Following the meeting, Mr MacLean said: "Over the past 13 years, I have been bringing attention to the condition of the remains of the Old Fort.
"Absolutely nothing has been done to rectify the situation regarding the deterioration of the Fort’s wallheads and faces.
"Transport Scotland own the site but, as I have been told, are in the roads business and don’t seem to have a budget available for these necessary repairs.
"Historic Scotland has never had a financial package in place for the fort remains and do not seem interested in upgrading the site for future generations.
"The FOOF group has done its best to raise funds, with the help of Highland councillors and Fort William Community Council, but this action has not been sufficient to save the walls from decline."
Mr MacLean added: "What should happen now is for common sense to prevail by renovating and improving this landmark which is a major historical tourist attraction, its walls dating back to 1690, the original Cromwellian fort having been built in 1654 on the same site.
"It is of great benefit to our town, which is named after it.
"Since 2001, I have seen the infrastructure of the Old Fort suffering badly from neglect, especially the unsafe locations around the wall tops and faces, which are affecting the general public. In addition there has been weather damage to what is left of the fort.
"The town of Fort William entertains hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. We should really be conscious of this fact. The upgrading of the Old Fort and its beach area would create a feel-good factor for locals and visitors."
Mr Thompson said: "I think the Old Fort needs to be turned into a tourist asset for Fort William and Lochaber and fully support Friends of the Old Fort in its aspirations.
"I will contact Transport Scotland again and discuss how we can move this forward although it is unlikely it would wish to do that itself.
"If that is the case, we must identify a more appropriate body to take ownership of the Old Fort. Historic Scotland may be interested or a local development trust which could access funding for its re-creation.
"Whatever the way forward, I will do all I can to help progress the vision of FOOF."
Poetry and essay writing competition winners
Prizewinners in a poetry and essay writing competition run by the Rotary Club of Lochaber received their awards at the club’s weekly meeting in the Alexandra Hotel.
Winner of the Primary 1-3 category for poetry was Gracie Henderson of Lochyside RC Primary School who wrote a poem called Water. Runners-up in this category were Abigail Kay from Spean Bridge and Favour DuJay from Roy Bridge.
The winner in the Primary 4-7 category for poetry was Katie Bridges of Spean Bridge who wrote a poem called The Sea. Runners-up were Walter Baak from Spean Bridge and Abbie MacKay from Lochyside.
Rotary Club president John Rosie said: "It was a delight to have the young folk, their teachers and parents visiting us. The children chatted away to members.
"We look forward to this again next year. This was one of the happiest meetings members could remember.
"Thanks to John Goodall, Mike MacGruer and their team for organising and judging the competitions and for arranging the visit to the club."
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday May 1 1999
Mallaig centre gets the go-ahead
The new £900,000 Mallaig Resource Centre should start to take shape over the next few months.
Situated adjacent to Mallaig High School, the premises should open by the spring of 2000, providing day care for elderly people and a residential unit of eight beds for long and short term care.
It is envisaged the short term provision will include opportunities for local elderly people to have rehabilitation and for the centre to offer carers much-needed respite stays.
The day care service will also offer respite for carers, as well as giving older members of the community the chance to enjoy social activities.
The building will also have an office for the community social worker and visiting services.
It is expected the centre will provide an employment base for at least 15 people.
Mallaig’s Highland councillor Charlie King said: "This is great news for Mallaig and Morar. I am delighted the council has shown its commitment to the West Highlands with this significant investment.
"The need for such a crucial community facility has been highlighted for many years and I am thrilled all the components necessary to get the project off the ground are now in place."
Councillor King added that the location, beside the high school, is ideal, enjoying panoramic views to Skye, the Small Isles and Ardnamurchan.
"I have no doubt it will prove to be one of the most important assets in the community," he said. "The bonus is that up to 15 jobs will be created. That is always welcome in a small community."
SEVENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday April 30 1949
Two climbers swept down mountainside
Two of three young mountaineers who set out to climb Ben Nevis on Friday had a remarkable escape when they were swept several hundred feet down the mountainside in an avalanche.
The three mountaineers were cutting their way through a snow and ice cornice near the top of the Gardy Loo gully when the accident happened.
The three mountaineers were Miss Audrey Webster, student, University Hall, Liverpool; N Davies, student, 14 Benthal Drive, Liverpool, and Arthur J Perman, Birmingham University.
They were roped together. Davies had reached the top when Perman slipped and fell, dragging Miss Webster down with him. The sudden movement caused the massive snow cornice to give way and Perman and the girl fell several hundred feet before coming to rest in deep snow on a ledge.
Perman was unhurt but Miss Webster injured her knee. The three spent the night in a mountaineer’s hut and on Saturday Miss Webster was taken by a stretcher-party to Fort William.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday May 3 1924
Harnessing Ben Nevis watershed
A scheme to harness the watershed at Ben Nevis - the highest mountain in Great Britain - to change the face of the neighbouring country and to convert the township of Fort William at the foot of the mountain into a prosperous and populous city of 12,000 inhabitants will begin, it is hoped, this summer.
The undertaking will cost £5,000,000 and has already received the sanction of Parliament.
It is a commercial scheme towards which, under the Trades Facilities Act, the government is guaranteeing £2,000,000 and is being carried out by the North British Aluminium Company, a subsidiary organisation of the British Aluminium Company.
"It will take three or four years to complete the project,’ said Mr W Murray Morrison, general manager of the company, ‘and during that time employment will be provided for at least 2,000 people.
"When the water power of the district is harnessed for the purpose of the works that we are erecting at Fort William, permanent employment will be found for a similar number."
Mr Morrison added that parliament had stipulated that at least 5,000hp of the electrical energy secured from the Ben Nevis watershed should be available to any other industry that starts in the locality.
The watershed is 3,333 square miles and includes Loch Laggan and Loch Treig.
Engineers will have to construct a water tunnel 15 miles long, 168 feet in diameter and 370 feet beneath the surface from Loch Treig to Fort William. It is hoped 75,000hp will be generated by about 840,000,000 gallons a day.
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