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May 26, 2019February 28, 2026

Village Hall – Successful End to a Difficult Year

It is fair to say that this year’s outgoing Village Hall committee did not have an easy ride. They inherited a hall in a serious state of disrepair and had committee transitional issues and reneged on builder commitments to resolve. Nothing insoluble but which required extraordinary effort and dedication. However, despite the odds, they were able to report some considerable achievements.

Fabric of the hall

Last year’s AGM had approved the spending of a proportion of contingency funds to cover the necessary repairs to the fabric of the building. Some critical faults were identified in the electrics resulting in a complete upgrade of fuse boxes and sockets.

Roof timbers need attention as do some slates along with the flat roof section of the building and quotes indicate that the roof repairs will cost around £3,000. There are also plans to roughcast (£1,000) and paint (£1,800) the exterior, all of which should improve the integrity of the building.

Activities and events

The village hobbies, indoor bowling, badminton and bridge clubs have continued to run throughout the year contributing £7.00 an hour to hall funds. There have also been well supported courses in Tai Chi, Ceramics and Watercolour with Bill Williamson donating his ceramics course fees to the Hall. The Hall hosted a Community Coffee Morning; a Winter Fair; a Kids’ Xmas Party; a New Year Party and a Spring Concert. Hire of the Hall by groups such as the community council earns £10.00 per hour while private hire achieves £100 per day.

Savings and Innovation

A change of insurers to one specialising in village halls resulted in an annual saving of just under £200

An offer of a cheaper electricity tariff in exchange for permission to erect a pole on village hall ground as part of the latest hydro electric project was warmly accepted by the hall committee. Robert Brakes, partner of Co-Hydrover, was in attendance to update the meeting on progress and answer any questions. Work to erect the pole and install the necessary connection box etc. should begin late summer and when in place should provide a 70% tariff reduction while the turbine is running.

It is anticipated it will run for 10 months of the year and the supply will automatically revert to the grid and the existing tariff for the months of July and August. During the installation the personnel will stay on site in a caravan and use the hall’s facilities, providing additional rent to the hall. In addition, and in line with the existing Baron Turner scheme, the Ardentinny community will receive 5% of the profits per annum, paid through Ardentinny Renewables Trust.

Therefore, despite the challenges, the committee achieved improved integrity of the building and significant savings both now and for the future while running a full programme of activities and events.

It was agreed to establish a ‘Friends of Ardentinny Hall’ programme to boost funds and to begin a hall membership drive while also looking at the current and previous versions of the constitution with a view to deciding if further changes are required for members to vote on.

Returning and newly elected committee members are: Guy Elder (Chair); Clair Tierney (Secretary); Susie Robertson (Treasurer); Merle Ferguson (bookings); Margo Hendry.

May 25, 2019February 28, 2026

Is the tide turning on fish farms?

After the recent Panorama programme on the destructive effects of fish farms coupled with a lack of adherence to industry regulations, will public opinion force a re-think? The Scottish Government is taking note, according to Rob Edwards with Sepa planning unannounced inspections.

Anyone wishing to make a personal representation to SEPA with regard to the Car Licence application by Dawnfresh Farming to establish an industrial rainbow trout farm off Ardentinny can refer to local action group Aff The Clyde’s website https://afftheclyde.org for details of how to do so.

There you will find contact details, deadline date and a suggested template letter, which may be used to help tailor your response.

Photo courtesy Corin Smith.

May 18, 2019February 28, 2026

Trout Farm Opposition in evidence

Summary of Survey:

Jann Garratt of #AfftheClyde action group compiled, circulated and has now analysed the local questionnaire eliciting residents’ views on the Dawnfresh trout farm proposal for Ardentinny which are summarised as follows:

AFF the Clyde was formed by a group of volunteers, resident in the village of Ardentinny. The group formed to oppose the development of the Industrial Fish Farm proposed by Dawnfresh, the largest producer of trout in the UK.

AFF the Clyde undertook to survey the views of Ardentinny residents regarding the proposed Industrial Fish Farm Developments using a questionnaire devised for this purpose. A total of 130 questionnaires were distributed within the village and 71 were returned. 55% of questionnaires were returned, however it is not possible to calculate an accurate response rate as there are an unknown number of unoccupied second homes and holiday rentals both within the village and caravan park.

Although AFF the Clyde is a campaigning group with a clear remit to oppose the Dawnfresh development proposals, any views expressed in favour of Dawnfresh’s Fish Farm in this survey has been reported in full. The raw data gathered in this survey is available upon request.

The questionnaire looked at whether people were against or in favour of the development. It also looked at the strength of concern around environmental issues connected to the Fish Farm, together with the impact of the Fish Farm on wildlife resident in the loch and the impact upon Ardentinny and its surrounds. Respondents were also invited to identify any other issues of concern to them.

Analysis of the data shows that the overwhelming number of respondents are against the proposed Industrial Fish Farm development, with a total of 90% of respondents being against (85% strongly against and 5% against). Only 3% were in favour of the proposals with no-one being strongly in favour of them. Respondents also reported being very concerned about the wider environmental issues of the fish farm (92%), very concerned about the impact of the Fish Farm on resident wildlife in the loch (86%) and very concerned about the impact of the Fish farm on Ardentinny and its surrounds (87%).

In the final question, respondents were invited to identify any issues of especial concern to them, and many different issues were raised. The most frequently occurring issues of concern to respondents were the range of different impacts upon the quiet and beautiful village of Ardentinny, the impact on mammals and other sea life in the loch with especial reference to the small seal colony resident near to the proposed development site. Concerns about the effects of chemicals added to the sea pens during the farming process and the potential of those pollutants to negatively impact on the health of those using the loch for recreation were also frequently expressed, as were a range of concerns about the company of Dawnfresh as the company developing and operating the Fish Farm.

It is very clear from the questionnaire and the resulting analysis of the data that the overwhelming majority of Ardentinny residents who responded to the survey were strongly against the proposals by Dawnfresh to site an Industrial Fish Farm on the shores of Loch Long next to the Ardentinny village. The view which has clearly emerged is that this development is unwanted, uninvited, unwelcome and should proceed no further. It is intended that this report is to be fed into the planning process. It is hoped that serious weight is given to the depth of feeling against the proposed Fish Farm development by the Ardentinny community.

View complete survey results on #AFFtheClyde.

May 10, 2019February 28, 2026

Ardentinny Trout Farm Proposal – Ways to respond

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) CAR (Controlled Activities Regulations) Licence application for the proposed trout farm in Ardentinny, submitted by Dawnfresh in December 2018, is out for consultation. The consultation period is 28 days and is open to the public to comment.

According to Dawnfresh Environmental Manager, Peter MacDougall, “ The CAR licence process is completely separate to the planning process and its function is to decide whether the location, in this case Loch Long, has the carrying capacity for a trout farm of the size proposed based on current flow, bathymetry, seabed grabs and video survey and computer modelling of the worst case scenarios in the context of existing discharges into the loch. Sea lice treatments are regulated by SEPA under CAR and the consented quantities of medicines are determined by the carrying capacity of the loch.”

The application can be accessed at https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/consultations/advertised-applications-under-car/cars-hidden/1178003/ and written representations received by SEPA within 28 days of its advertisement in today’s (10.5.2019) Dunoon Observer & Edinburgh Gazette will be taken into consideration in determining the application.

Representations re Permit Number CAR/L/1178003 should be made in writing by email to: registrydingwall@sepa.org.uk or by post to: Dingwall Registry, SEPA, Graesser House, Fodderty Way, Dingwall, IV15 9XB.

Thus far, SEPA has received public authority representations from Argyll District Salmon Fisheries Board 5/4/2019 and Marine Scotland Ltd. 9/4/2019

Petitions

Local action group ‘AFF The Clyde’ (against fish farming in Ardentinny and the Firth of Clyde), has organised an online petition and there are several copies of their paper petition in public locations in Dunoon and along the Shore.

Questionnaire

A questionnaire eliciting residents’ views on the trout farm proposal has been distributed to local households, the results of which will further inform a village response. These can be returned to 6 Ardenfield, Ardentinny.

April 25, 2019February 28, 2026

Easter Fun on hottest day of the year (so far!)

Sizzling ‘Summer’ sun but spring flowers and a budding orchard were the backdrop to Ardentinny’s Easter Fun Day at Glenfinart Walled Garden last weekend, encouraging a large turnout for the Easter egg hunt, egg and spoon races and Easter Bonnet competition.

There was plenty for the adults too with a variety of stalls, a busy burger bar and tea room and the opportunity to just chill on the lawn and watch the kids play.

It also marked the season’s opening of the garden which is once more open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays 1 – 4.30 p.m. and at other times, by appointment.

For enquiries or requests to visit the garden contact Anna on 01369 810238 or any other Trustee. Email sec@glenfinartgarden.org, follow us on Facebook or visit at www.glenfinartgarden.org

Click any photo to enlarge and browse.