april-13 - Lochwinnoch Online

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THE STIRRUPCUPWEST BANKSIDEFARM, GEIRSTON RD,KILBIRNIE,We specialise invintage & modernjewellery, antiques,curios, art and localcraftsGreat for Gifts or treat yourselfwww.thestirrupcup.co.ukAntiques, Curios and CraftsA dynamic selection of oils, watercolours and Limited Edition printsBespoke crafts by local artisans, vintage and contemporary jewelleryWell worth discovering for yourselfThe Barn on the farm, open 10am till late every dayContact Greta Logan on Tel: 01505 683338Email: greta@thestirrupcup.com www.thestirrupcup.co.ukWest Bankside Farm, Geirston Rd, Kilbirnie, KA25 7LQJust opposite the Golf Course on the Largs RdGarnock ValleyAllotmentAssociationIf March was hectic, then April can betruly frantic. This is probably the keymonth of the year for working on theallotment. Fortunately the days aregetting longer so there is plenty ofdaylight to help you get as much doneas possible on the plot.A wide range of crops can be sownoutside, and as the seeds germinate andsprout, there will be lots of thinning outto do (unless you've managed toovercome the curse of oversowing) andgentle cultivation of everything that'sgrowing-and hopefully growing well.There are even more vegetables that canbe sown outdoors with gentle heat.Seedlings of crops sown inside will needpicking into small pots or plug traysand maybe even planting out towardsthe end of the month if theweather's right. Always harden offplants properly before putting themoutside: how would you like it if youwere thrown outside into cold weatherhaving sat in front of the fire for days onend? I know- we do it every yearthrowing ourselves into gardenactivities and finding all those muscleswe had forgotten about- Ouch!Early fruit blossom may needprotection from late frosts; you can saygoodbye to a bumper crop if the youngdeveloping fruit are damaged.Throwing fleece over the plants is allyou need to do- and maybe pegging itdown so it does not blow away.Sadly this month marks the time whenpests and diseases and weeds start tomake their mark. A little regulardiligence will prevent things getting outof control Try to spend a few minutes atevery visit to the allotment checking forproblems and keep the hoe going;dealing with weed seedlings is so mucheasier than fully grown weeds.If you fancy taking up the outdoor lifeand growing your own, come alongand visit us at Sersely Drive, Kilbirnie,visit us on Facebook or our websitewww.gvaa.co.uk. For membershipinformation please contactCath Macdonaldcathmac@lineone.netSave Your Regional ParkDo you remember 2013 is officiallythe “Year of Natural Scotland” – Saveyour Regional Park from beinginappropriately industrialisedRemember an application fromAirtricity for a wind powered powerstation on Corlic Hill at the north endof Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park?After a Public Local Inquiry (PLI), itwas eventually refused by ScottishMinisters in July 2007. Anotherdeveloper, 2020 Renewables, withmany ex-Airtricity staff, is to lodgeanother application on Corlic Hill, butwith a different name. It is calledInverclyde Windfarm this time.This second attempt at ruiningpeople’s enjoyment of the importantnorth end of the park within easywalking distance of Greenock & PortGlasgow would have 10 turbines of upto 110m high & 3MW each.A series of so called ‘consultationexhibitions’ were held by 2020Renewables. As usual, SYRP arrangedto have teams of members outsideeach event, talk to people visiting theexhibitions and take an exit poll.Visitor attendance was very poor andreaders will not be surprised to hearthat of those attending, the majoritywere overwhelmingly against thisdevelopment.The fact that there was a very poorturn out by the public doesn’t reallymatter to the developers whose mainobject is to be able to say that thepublic had the opportunity to attend.The developer also emphasised theproposed ‘Community Benefit’ which isnothing but a sweetener to persuadesupport and compensate the public forhaving to suffer this intrusivewindfarm. The total fund, if 3MWturbines are chosen would be £150,000per year, but nothing can compensatefor the loss of this corner of ClydeMuirshiel and don’t forget, you, as anelectricity consumer would be payingfor this ‘benefit’, and that from everyother Windfarm, through yourelectricity bills. – DO NOT LET THISBLATENT ‘SWEETENER’ INFLUENCEYOU TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL.The developers gave the impressionthat despite the fact that they intend tomake their formal planning applicationto Inverclyde Council in April, they stillhave not decided the final height orprojected rated output of the turbines,merely “up to 110m and up to 3MW”.Visitors were advised that there will bea second round of exhibitions, probablyearly April, prior to their planningapplication being lodged. However,their literature contradicts this sayingthat the exhibitions would be held afterthe application is lodged! The latter ofcourse would confirm that anysuggestions from the secondconsultation would have zero effect onthe application – what a surprise!To remind you why Airtricity’s CorlicHill application was refused we quotean extract from the letter from theScottish Government on behalf ofMinisters – “. The Scottish Ministersconclude that, in view of theunacceptable impacts of the proposalon the safe operation of GlasgowAirport and the recreational use andamenity of Clyde Muirshiel RegionalPark, consent under section 36 of theAct should be withheld and accordinglydo not direct that planning permissionbe deemed to be granted.”It would be foolish of us to becomplacent in thinking that we can relyon a similar reaction from InverclydeCouncil, Ministers and airports withthis new application. Clearly 202014
Renewables consider that they have avery good chance of approval and weneed to gather as many objections aspossible as soon as the application islodged. We will be in touch with youregarding objecting in due course andask all our members and contacts tosupport our campaign to help SaveClyde Muirshiel Regional Park from yetanother inappropriate development.For more information on 2020Renewables seewww.2020renewables.comApplications currently lodged orunder discussionMillour Hill 2, Dalry, CommunityWindpower Ltd – application for 2 x410 ft / 125m turbines. Applicationlodged with North Ayrshire on 4/6/12.SYRP have objectedBlackshaw farm, West Kilbride - onBlackshaw Hill – CommunityWindpower Ltd are preparing anapplication for their biggest turbines yetin CMRP. We expect an applicationsoon for 5 x 492ft / 150m turbines eachrated at 4 MW. These would be justsouth of the Dalry/ West Kilbride roadand would be adjacent to and slightlynorth of, the existing ArdrossanwindfarmInverclyde windfarm – new namefor Corlic Hill 2, Greenock – SeeaboveSkelmorlie Windfarm – Proposalfor either 21 or 16 x 3.5 MW turbinesunder but no further newsLadymuir turbine, Kilmacolm 1 x46m 12/0304/I C by Mr & Mrs JHorseman. Just outside CMRP –SYRP ObjectedCairncurran Farm, Kilmacolm – 1 x53.7m / 176’ turbine – 0.6km / 219 ftoutside CMRP Special Protection Area.SYRP objected Jan 2013.Applications approved orconstructedArdrossan, 15 turbines, 2 of whichare in Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.Built and now operated by Infinis.Wardlaw Wood, Dalry – 6 x410ft/125m turbines constructed in2006 by Community Windpower Ltd.OperationalMillour Hill 1, Dalry, 6 x 125m/410ftturbines – Community Windpower. Asecond application to North AyrshireCouncil was approved followingrefusal of the first application and anappeal to the Scottish Government.Operational.Kelburn, Fairlie – After a PublicLocal Inquiry (PLI) Scottish Ministersapproved 14 x 100m turbines againstthe decision of North AyrshireCouncil. Operated by RESMurdieston Farm, Greenock – 2 x22m turbines approved by InverclydeCouncil 8/12/11. OperationalCornalees Farm, Inverkip – 1 x20.6m turbine approved by InverclydeCouncil 24/1/2012. OperationalNational Offshore Wind TurbineTest Facility, Hunterston, Fairlie – 3x 10MW turbines eachup to 651ft /198.5m high and 3 anemometers forfive years. Approval has been given byNorth Ayrshire Council for anApril hath put a spirit of youth in everything—William ShakespeareSpring is Here…. It’s time to come out of hibernationA WIDE RANGE OF GOOD OLD FASHIONED TOYSFROM BALLS TO BUBBLES TO CARS AND SKIPPING ROPESAVAILABLE AT THE POST OFFICEVISIT OUR FLOWER NOOK FOR SPRING BASKETS, BOUQUETS AND BUNCHESOF FRESH FLORIST FLOWERS AS WELL AS OUTDOOR PLANTSFOR MUMS WHO DON’T LIKE TO INDULGE THEIR LITTLE ONES IN TOO MUCHCHOCOLATE, EASTER ARTS AND CRAFTS PRESENTS AVAILABLEREMEMBER WE CAN TRANSFORM ANY PARTY WITH OUR BALLOON DÉCOROR LIGHT UP SOMEONE’S DAY WITH A SINGLE BALLOONVISIT US IN PERSON, CALL US ON 01505 842-257OR ON FACEBOOK“air of distinction balloons” FOR MORE DETAILS.application by Mitsubishi, Siemens andScottish Enterprise in Oct 2011. Theseenormous turbines are just outsideCMRP, they will have a devastatingeffect on the view to Arran and theCumbraes from CMRP and Kaim Hillin particular. Under construction.Garrow Hill, Leitchfield Farm,Greenock – 1 x 47.15m high 100 kWwind turbine approved by InverclydeCouncil August 2012.Kelly Mains, Wemyss Bay – 1 x 19.8mturbine approved by InverclydeCouncil on appeal.Finnockbog farm, Inverkip,Ardgowan estate -2 x 47m turbinesapproved by Inverclyde - 20/11/12Scottish Government arechanging the Planning rules againand holding consultationsSYRP was represented at the ScottishPlanning Policy (SPP), StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA) &the National Planning Framework forScotland consultation in Glasgow on29/11/12. Special pleas were made forthe protection of Regional Parks inaddition to National Parks, by addingRegional Parks to the Landscape andGeodiversity mapping list. Governmentofficials admitted that this was anomission that should be addressed.SYRP also requested that ScottishGovernment obligations under theAarhus convention, adopted by UK in2001 but ignored up to now, beincorporated into the advicedocuments.Additionally, we and otherscommented on the totallyunsatisfactory current arrangementsregarding notification of planningapplications to neighbours (onlynecessary within a 20 metres radius ofthe development and to the generalpublic via Edinburgh Gazette and anysingle local paper).Time will tell what appears in the nextdraft documents.CC ShockIt was an unedifying sight to see ourCommunity Council members brawling,rolling on the floor of the Bowling Club.While it is understandable thatmembers would want to meet the‘Puddytat Dolls’ when they appear inLochwinnoch and only the Chair andVice-Chair have scored ‘backstagepasses’ such jealous behaviour fromother CC members is unacceptable in acivilised society such as ours.Gordon Nicholl is recovering well buthis jacket will never be the same.Gordon’s jacket has our sympathy.15
Page 4 and 5: LPIGMany of you are aware of the Lo
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Page 10 and 11: What’s OnRegular clubs, classes a
Page 12 and 13: EventsSat 06 Apr—Otter SpotterOtt
Page 16 and 17: LEAP isRecruitingLEAP is currentlyr
Page 18 and 19: New TitlesLochwinnoch LibraryNORMAL
Page 20: From The Editor’s ChairWell the d

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