From "The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald"
of Thursday, February 19, 1987.
LANDMARK Centre at Carrbridge is set to achieve another first with the construction of Britain’s first forestry heritage park.
The £250,000 project will take up 15 acres of the 33 acre grounds of the heritage centre, which, when opened in 1970, was Europe’s first.
Mr David Hayes, centre director, said: "Scottish forestry has a fascinating history and nowhere is it being told.
"Many items that would help to tell the story are being lost or destroyed each year."
Work is expected to begin soon on the project and should be completed by the summer of 1988. It will create up to six new jobs, including that of a curator for the forestry museum to be built within the park.
It is hoped there will be a working steam-powered sawmill, and visitors will be encouraged to try their hand at using two-man cross-cut saws and working a pit saw.
For the 60ft high tree-top tower, there will be views out across some of Scotland’s biggest forestry plantations in Strathspey.
Recent new attractions there have included a 50ft long twisting steel tunnel, the "Tube", and Scotland’s longest monorail.
Fighting to the bitter end
THE battle to retain one lying-in bed at Grantown’s Ian Charles Hospital is going to the Scottish Office.
Badenoch and Strathspey local health councillors will not accept what appeared to be a final decision to re-designate all three of the hospital’s maternity beds as geriatric beds.
Now they are taking their case to the head of the house – Lord Glenarthur, Scottish Office Minister.
"I believe the mothers of Grantown will think we have failed them if we do not fight this battle to the last ditch," said Councillor Jim Delmar, Grantown.
"Here we have a human need caught up in the tangle of bureaucracy and as a result we may lose a public service.
"We have fought for this service, paid for it in our taxes and we will not sit back and let them take it away from us."
Members long ago agreed they could not win the fight to retain a full maternity service at the Ian Charles but they have fought many long months now to retain one bed to allow local mother to lie in at Grantown after births in Inverness.
The health board were sympathetic to their request for a lying-in bed but the national board for nursing midwifery and health visiting put a stop to that.
They have said they cannot allow lying-in at the Ian Charles unless there is full 24-hour midwifery cover as the patients are their responsibility while in hospital but their own responsibility when at home.
Cut the moaning
ANOTHER Strathspey council has voiced its opposition to a suggested transfer of the area to Moray.
Cromdale and Advie Community Council says it is happy to stay under the wing of Badenoch and Strathspey District and Highland Regional Councils.
It joins Grantown, Boat of Garten and Carrbridge councils, who have already opposed suggestions that an application be made to the Boundaries Commission for a review of the Borders.
The suggestion comes from Grantown historian Mr George Dixon, who feels the area is getting a raw deal from the Kingussie-based district council and would be better off under the Moray authority.
Mr John Rainy-Brown, secretary of the Cromdale council said after members had discussed the matter: "We come to the conclusion that there would be no advantage in changing back to Moray.
"Many present had not wanted to leave Moray at the time of local government re-organisation but now, 12 years on, it is not possible to tell if the Moray Council offered anything better."
Needle works wonders for prize dog
A BOAT of Garten prize-winner has found himself involved in a needle match.
And thanks to it, Datroy Eriskay of Lornford could soon be back on the rosette and silver trail.
Datroy, a large German Munsterlander, had a freak accident, twisting his spine, which caused paralysis in his hind quarters.
So owner Mrs Sheena Kelman, who runs Lornford Kennels at Boat of Garten, called in fellow dog owner and osteopath, Mrs Judith Rumbold.
And, at the weekend, a session of acupuncture on Datroy saw him taking his first steps since the accident.
"At one stage we considered having him put down, it was so pathetic to see. He just trailed his back legs," said Mrs Kelman.
"But the treatment seems to have worked wonders and one more session is planned."
Acupuncture on animals is not common, though Mrs Rumbold has carried it out on horses and prize-winning sheep.
Datroy, who is a professional stud dog – his puppies can fetch up to £1,000 – was expected to do well at Crufts, after being best of the gundog breed at the Scottish Championship Show in November.
Backing for late drinks licences
LIQUOR licences till 2am are favoured by the majority of Aviemore community councillors.
The debate on whether licences should be extended beyond 1am aroused strong emotions among councillors.
Their opinion on 2am extensions was sought by Badenoch and Strathspey District Licensing Board.
"We are a holiday centre here to provide services for the visitor," said Councillor Charles Haggerty.
"Holidaymakers are our bread and butter and if they want 2am opening they should get it."
Councillor Cameron Shearer argued against a further on-hour extension on the grounds of early morning disturbance to local residents and hotel and guest house residents.
"If we allow licensing until 2am this year, next year it will be three, then four and where will it all stop," he said.
"We have to draw a line somewhere. People can already drink from 11am until 1am and that is a fair whack of the day."
