Carradale

[LO]

Gary

Everything is relative I suppose and it is true that the Carradale of today is not the one of 30-40 years ago.

However, it can also be said that the village itself seems to be a bit perkier now than it was say 10 years ago when empty houses would lie on the property market for years. At least people want to come and live in the village now, and like yourself, they are not all of retirement age. The rejuvenated Community Council has also showed that a strong, proud heart is still beating up there.

With regard to shops and other amenities, if people still wish to live in the village they will also want to use the services. When I was a boy, Carradale had not 3 but 8 shops that I can think of ( The Pier Shop, MacDougalls, the shop adjacent to Lochpark Tearoom, Rachel's at the Hotel, Archie the Butcher, The Bakers, Willie Ramsay's and Donald Campbell) as well as 4 Tearooms (The Bungalow, Lochpark, Ashbank and Donald Campbell), so you can see how things have already changed over the past 40 years.The challenge for the existing businesses is to adapt to life in the modern world and there are signs with some of them at least that this is beginning to happen.

I believe that there will still be fishing out of Carradale in 10 years time albeit in a much reduced way. However, those remaining will be successful if they keep focussed on niche marketing, quality of catch and perhaps even local branding. Already there are a number of entrepreneurial individuals in both Carradale and Tarbert who are treading a path which they wouldn't have dreamed of 10 years ago (live langoustines, farmers' markets, value-added etc.) where they control all aspects of their business rather than just focussing on their boats.

I would also say that the cod farm has great potential for the area, although this will largely be down to the way that production is managed. Suitable cod sites are at a premium and so the market is not going to balloon like that of salmon. Thus there are opportunities to control the levels of production to attract premium prices.

Also, the source of juvenile cod will be Machrihanish Hatchery, as it is 50% owned by the company wishing to develop in the Kilbrannan Sound.These young fish are already certified "organic" so there should be no difficulty in operating the Kilbrannan sites as organic farms. I have no idea if organic farming is what they have in mind, but at least the opportunity is there to be exploited which is another reason to be optimisitic.

There is nothing wrong with tourism, and it has always existed very happily in Carradale in some way or other for many, many years. However, it is difficult to see how the village could be marketed as a major tourist attraction. as I understand it, much of the charm of the place to the outsider relies on the setting and the fact that it such a small, quiet place rather than there being plenty to do! If, through inappropriate developments the balance of the village is changed, you might find that this alienates the people who would be attracted to visit in the first place. With a bit of tweaking, some of the outdoor opportunities could probably attract more people but again the numbers won't be large enough to induce an economic revolution.

A couple of coffee shops and a nice seafood restaurant with sea views would certainly enhance the place for visitors and locals alike but anything more than this - new hotels, more holiday homes, themed attractions are likely to have a negative effect, yet without increasing the local bed capacity (and I accept that yachties bring their own) you are not likely to bring in massive numbers.

Nothing is Easy !

Les

[GarySutherland]

I agree about the niche marketing. That's where the money is in a lot of cases, that and the Carradale branding.

I don't think anyone wants to see more hotels or holiday homes(=death to communities) but it's equally important to make the village attractive to families both to keep 'home-grown' people and to attract others to come and live here.

The cod farm people say there'll be 12 new jobs created for local people which will be a big boost for the village. (I'm particularly fond of Cod myself.)

Good letter in the Courier, by the way. Agree 100% with what you said there.

EKCC meeting tonight, with a Windfarm Trust meeting afterwards. Should be interesting.

Regards
Gary

[LO]

it's equally important to make the village attractive to families both to keep 'home-grown' people and to attract others to come and live here.

Cheers Gary

Interesting perspective above.

Obviously there was something about the village that encouraged you to take the major step of relocating both your family and business in the first place. Would you say now that having lived in Carradale a while that village life does not meet with your original expectations or have opportunities and facilities got worse since you came? If you had to pick one thing that would make a difference, what would you do now to ensure that both a sufficient number of home-grown people remain and a new wave of others are attracted to come and live there?

Keep us posted about tonight's meeting!

All the best

L

[Ship called Dignity]

Well folks 177 replies and 3500 odd views for this thread to make sense!

Someone on the Carradale thread speaking sense! God - what next!

Good posts mind you and interested to hear* what Gary says.



*I had here!!

[oorly gourlay]

I agree 100% Davie, 12.5 pages before anything makes sense to anyone but the Crofters. I just hope that if Carradale is being courted for development, the developer is not involved in golf courses, call centres, 4/5 star hotels at the head of the old quay and Livingston FC (the "c" stands for cheats)

[The Heidless Horseman]

I just hope that if Carradale is being courted for development, the developer is not involved in golf courses, call centres, 4/5 star hotels at the head of the old quay and Livingston FC

If the rumours are true, you are not even cold there and by the sound of the jungle drums development is well off the menu! Seemingly a return to stern Calvinist values all round is what's required to sort out the wee village. The new mantra is Tough Love - close everything down that might deflect them from the true path. Drive the drink away once more. Starch your collars boys. Rechabitism is the new Rock and Roll!

[oorly gourlay]

Well HH you have my sincere sympathies if that's the case. It'll be like the Clearances again with only the sheep and the White Settlers remaining. Surely there is enough resource up there to set up a still in Airds Wood and a shed on Shore Road to use as bothan.

[The Heidless Horseman]

Well HH you have my sincere sympathies if that's the case. It'll be like the Clearances again with only the sheep and the White Settlers remaining. Surely there is enough resource up there to set up a still in Airds Wood and a shed on Shore Road to use as bothan.

Consider it done a bhalach - will disclose location by PM once we're in business!

[GarySutherland]

Well, I was born into a farming village of some 400 souls, so anyone who's got me down as 'just another townie' needs to start revising their opinions. I've seen the available services dwindle due to big-business competition and an influx of 'dormitory' dwellers who make no use of local services.

At one point my old primary school was down to single figures for kids and it took a huge local effort to save it from closure and I'm pleased to say today its roll is as healthy as it has ever been, even to the extent that they've had to build an additional classroom. Unfortunately there is no longer a shop or post office but the two pubs still manage to get by.

Why Carradale? Well, to be honest it wasn't our first choice. We spent a year or so on the Isle of Mull but along with so many other families found the quest for suitable housing or building land to be too great (we've four kids) and were lucky enough to find our present house.

Carradale is quiet. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside and has a wonderful beach. Very low levels of crime. For children growing up in a modern world it is as safe as you can get and by and large the people are friendly and welcoming, and the nature of my work means I can do it from pretty much anywhere with access to the internet and mains electricity.

Cheers
Gary

[Bochan Mor]

I see from the 'Carradale Goat' that the Windfarm trust has been splashing the cash around. Gary from Carradale has stepped forward and volunteered to empty the vessels on a regular basis. Its a dark lonely job, but I suppose that somebody has to do it, and with the new Councillors being far too busy doing their own things, there was never any chance of them taking up the batons! They're saying that the stainless steel receptors may be sponsered by the local Web-log aka 'The Carradale Goat'

[i]83. G.Sutherland/EKCC - Purchase and erection of two dog waste bins and waste bag dispensers on Sally's Walk, Carradale - £779 applied for. £779 approved (provided alternative funding is not available from A&B Council.)[/i]

Reports are also emerging of the destruction of much of the internals of the Sport Pavillion. The Police are not sure whether they are looking for a duck or a turkey, answering to a name like: 'Bubbly Jock' or is it 'Gie us a knock'. Those within earshot said that they heard somebody or something taking: 'A hissy fit'.

I would say that this was probably the Peninver Hall Committee when they heard that their application for a grant towards an internet connection had been turned down.

The crofters seemed to have managed to ring-fence the entire pot for use in the village, although the Picture Hoose in the toon was a benefactor.

It's Snoddy we need here to keep them on the right track. Any seconders?

[GarySutherland]

You're talking b*ll*x, goblin. The limit of sponsorship would extend so far as a notice that they were provided via a grant fron the Windfarm Trust. Is that such a contentious issue?

Yes, I have applied for and received (condiditionally) grant funding for the supply of bins for the depositing of dog waste on Sally's Walk. As part of the package I've offered my time not only to install the things but to empty them too. A dirty job? Absolutely! Are you offering to take-on 50% of the task yourself?

Regards
Gary

[bubbly jock]

bochan mor

The only hissing heard up here is coming from the slants. As for the destruction in the pavillion wasn't that the last time the Geneology meeting was held and the crowd turned nasty.

Mind you you're getting close with the "gie us a knock"

Garry you're too sensible for this site. Imagine an incomer having the cheek to integrate so well and have such a community spirit. You'll naw do right for doing wrong. (talk to you at the next meeting if you are there)

They're all jealous of the beautiful new hall at peninver and green with envy at the one at Tayinloan It's just soor grapes that's why they all go round with goosberry mooths.

bubbly

[Snoddy]

I agree wholeheartedly with Bubbly Jock on this one. The problem in Carradale is, and always will be JEALOUSY!

Yes, they hate to see anyone doing better than themselves, and they will do anything to knock you down from that position. Those involved in the fishing industry are probably the worst.

Perhaps you and me are more alike than I thought Bubbly Jock!

[Sanyanya]

What a lot of nonsense, one a doctor and the others a postman. Damn all in common but their bedside manner.

[Bochan Mor]

Damn me Sanyanya, your smerter than I gave you credit. The two of them are Post Graduates. How did you possibly work that one out?

Seemed to have pulled the wrong beard with Gary there. I think he was nearly upset for a minute

Bubbly's maybe out painting his red van yellow!