From 'The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald' of Thursday, December 18, 1986.
COMMUNITY enterprise may assure the future of Kinlochlaggan's sole filling station.
Laggan Community Trading, a local community enterprise scheme, is spreading its wings to take over the running of the filling station from next April.
This leasing arrangement from owners Ardverikie Estate should mean one permanent part-time job and possibly one or more summer jobs.
"This should safeguard fuel supplies for the estate, save locals a 28-mile round trip for petrol and serve the summer tourists," said community group secretary Mrs Shirley Grant.
Laggan Community Trading's main business at present is in running Laggan's community co-operative store.
"This will be a service to locals and will give Laggan Community Co-operative a presence in Kinlochlaggan, where people have been very supportive of our efforts," added Mrs Grant.
Ardverikie Estate factor Mr George Chalmers said they were "very relieved" by the takeover arrangement.
"We do not really have the time to do it all," he told the 'Herald'. "It will give work locally and service some very faithful customers.
From mid-June until August each summer tourist customers get through about 25,000 gallons of petrol from the station in Loch Lagganside.
Pool closure claim denied
STAKIS plc have denied their plans for the Aviemore Centre include closure of the swimming pool.
But Aviemore Community Council have been assured that is precisely what is in the pipeline.
Councillor Bill Hemingway told members: "On November 23 a member of the centre management said the pool would be concreted over next year.
"I would suggest we ask Stakis to come up with their plans so the community knows just how it stands for facilities in the future."
Councillor Jim Duffy said the public were always the last to know in these situations, and he was sure the pool closure would be a major concern in Aviemore.
"Justification for closing the pool would rest on the fact that the people of Aviemore don't use it," said Councillor Audrey MacKenzie.
Aviemore's swimming club has a healthy membership but is small in comparison to the population of the area.
"It is all very well for club members who get to swim for half price," said Councillor Hemingway, "but non-members are certainly not going to pay £1 for a swim.
"Nor will they be attracted by the session arrangement where they can only swim during a certain period and cannot use the pool at any time."
Turning on acid rain pressure
LOCAL MP Sir Russell Johnston is to press the Government to speed up its programme to eliminate air pollutants which cause acid rain.
He has been told by Scottish Office Minister Mr Michael Ancram that the Government fully shares widespread concern about acid rain and is doing all it can to eliminate the problem.
But Sir Russell said: "I remain very concerned - as I know do other people - that we are still not doing enough to prevent acid rain, and I shall continue to press for an accelerated programme."
Sir Russell took up the case with Ministers after surveys had revealed widespread black snowfalls on the Cairngorms, first revealed in the 'Herald' in November, 1984.
Mr Ancram says the phenomenon of black snow is not new and is known to occur from time to time in particular weather conditions when pollutants from Europe and from south of the border are transported north.
He said the UK had already made a substantial contribution towards reducing European air pollution.
Truce in the classroom
LOCAL schools should be free from teachers' industrial action at least until after the festive break.
Two separate working parties - comprising government, local authority and EIS representatives - are studying pay, conditions and resources. Working on tight remits, they are due to table their findings by December 23.
"We are just waiting now to see what will come out of this," said local EIS secretary Mr Ken Deans.
"At least they are looking at these issues separately, as we are against any trade-off of one against the other."
Options in the New Year, after the working parties have reported, are likely to be either further disruption in the education system or the hopes for an end to the dispute.
Too late to keep peace
LATE suppers from Grantown's new Chinese take-away are likely to get the thumbs-down from divisional planners.
They are being recommended to say 'No' to a plea that the restaurant should be allowed to stay open until 3am on Saturdays and Sundays.
Mrs Sai Mui Wu will be asking Badenoch and Strathspey divisional planning committee to vary consent for the restaurant at 58 High Street.
At present, the take-away is not allowed to operate as a hot food shop between 11.30pm and 7am, in the interests of the amenities of surrounding properties.
But planners are being recommended by divisional officer Mr John Partridge to reject the change because he says it would be likely to generate additional noise at an unsociable hour.
This would be detrimental to the amenities of neighbours and tourist accommodation in the area.
Local talent in short supply
ONLY TWO people, it seems, in the whole Spey Valley want to grab the chance of appearing on a major BBC daytime show.
The Tom O'Connor Road-show is being broadcast from Aviemore at 12.25pm every lunchtime for five consecutive days in February.
Show producers appealed through the 'Herald' two weeks ago for local talent and quiz contestants - only two people have applied.
"We really want to include local people in the show, but if they don't come forward we may have to rely on holidaymakers," said a BBC spokesman.
The BBC are looking principally for quiz contestants with good general knowledge and an outgoing nature.
The quiz will be hosted by Tom O'Connor himself, and there will be small local prizes plus the chance of qualifying for the final and a major prize.
