SNOW CHAOS

Parts of Argyll and Bute were hit witha weather bomb

Protest over playpark anniversary

Friends of Oban Community Playpark (FoOCP) are planning

Street lighting will cost £120,000 to fix

Street lights on Islay have been causing issues for

Islay distillery could be back in business soon

Plans are progressing to revive a former island distillery

Liz shares luck withfamily and Oban charity

Lucky Liz Crawford is sharing her trolley dash winnings

Taynuilt panto is sell-out success … oh yes it is!

Audiences lapped up panto time in Taynuilt, making

POLICE FILES

• At about 10.05am on Wednesday January 16, on the

Driver who crashed near school banned

A driver who lost control of his car and crashed near

Workshops booked up at Rockfield

Designer BethLancaster was at Oban’s Rockfield Centre

Calls for Oban drugs mapping

Calls are being made for a drugs mapping exercise to

Oban to the ‘four’ in holiday survey

Oban remains a top choice for staycationers, according

Visiting motorist banned for dangerous driving

A visitor to Oban reversed the wrong way down Argyll

Housing plan given ministerial approval

Construction work on phase three of the Dunbeg Development

Argyll College and SAMS students unaffected by planned strike action

Argyll College and SAMS students unaffected by planned

Oban officer retires after 30 years

A well-known Oban police officer carried out his last

Leave barrier alone, councillor appeals

Oban’s Black Lynn flood barrier is ready and waiting

Book your place for Oban Gaelic Gathering

Argyll and Bute Council is encouraging people to book

First monthhas passed in a flash

I had expected to have a nice quiet January at work

Argyll and Bute is poor for broadband speed

A recent survey has placed Argyll and Bute Council

Oban High’s fest event inspires special release

Skerryvore are to release a new music video and a special

Bagpipes are booming in the islands

There are now around 30 pipers across Lewis and Harris

Heart and Soul of Scotland

A new campaign has been launched to encourage visitors

Man placed on supervision after disturbance

A man caused trouble when living in accommodation for

Dunbeg’s Kirk Road fails surface inspection

A road in Dunbeg which received a £1.75 million grant

Drive to help people on low incomes

The Scottish Government is urging low-income families

Safety figures at Clyde naval base are ‘reasonable’, claims councillor

Safety figures at Clyde naval base are ‘reasonable’

Appeal to patients over appointments

Argyll and Bute Healthand Social Care Partnership (HSCP)

Dad of two confronted by man wielding knife

A holidaymaker who thought someone was knocking at

£5,000 grant awarded to islands project

The Crerar Trust has awarded a grant of £5,000 to Islay

Oban Rotary gives cash boost to Hope

The Rotary Club of Oban raised £260 from the raffle

Argyll and Bute MP hosts fishing summit

Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O’Hara has called for wider

Jahama boss jumps ship for MacBrayne’s

Duncan Mackison, the chief executive of Jahama Highland

MacPhail

The first weekend of Celtic Connections got offto a

Have you got the right ingredients for this job?

Luing’s Atlantic Islands Centre is on the look-out

Iona aims to beat the blues

Iona McMurdo has been appointed Beating the Blues coordinator

Jill wants to help smokers to quit

Argyll and Bute Healthand Social Care Partnership (HSCP)

Dunollie Preservation Trust marks 21st birthday

Almost 19,000 people visited Dunollie Museum, Castle

Argyll and Bute HSCP expresses support #smearforsmear campaign

Argyll and Bute HSCP expresses support #smearforsmear

Opticians look at lens recycling

Oban opticians are looking into joining the UK’s first

Seafood Temple has best office view in Oban

Following the closure of the Seafood Temple in Oban

Argyll MSP backs investment bank

Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell has said SNP plans

Pictorial record of smelter build saved for the future

Some 4,500 rare glass plate negatives and historic

SSE roadshow for Spean Bridge area

Energy generator SSE is holding a roadshow event today

Correction

In a contributed article in last week’s edition of

Fears grow over Glencoe hydro ‘gold rush’

Backlash over plans to build a river hydro scheme near

Seaweed farm idea to be floated in Arisaig

Arisaig could be in the vanguard of a move to farm

Glenfinnan community council latest

Glenfinnan Community Council held its January meeting

Nevis Bakery ‘delighted’ after taking champion bridie prize

Nevis Bakery ‘delighted’ after taking champion bridie

Loch Arkaig osprey electrocuted in Spain

An osprey raised at a nest in Lochaber has been killed

New Iolaire film on show in Sandwick

A new film about the Iolaire is now being screened

Glen Nevis project appeals for support to raise funding

The Nevis Partnership has issued a plea for support

Ferry fares increase fears

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has expressed concern after

Group hosts carbon course

Morvern Community Development Company (MCDC) is to

Fort’s Home Bargains store marks first birthday

Home Bargains in Fort William is celebrating its first

Council’s new budget approach

The Highland Council says it is taking a new approach

VIEW FROM THE CHAMBER

It’s now only a few weeks away, but the way ahead for

Community councils to merge amid review

Lochaber councillors gave an impassioned plea for

Forbes: SNP draftbudget is ‘great news’

Lochaber MSP Kate Forbes has said the SNP’s draftbudget

Lochaber schools make FilmG shortlist

Two Lochaber secondary schools have made the shortlists

Arisaig WI holds January meeting

Arisaig WI held its January meeting last week, when

Arisaig electric charge points

Work has started on the installation of electric vehicle

‘NHS Near Me’ video clinic to open at Belford

One of NHS Highland’s innovative ‘NHS Near Me’ video

Keep warm this winter and save on your energy bills

Now that winter is starting to bite it is probably

Meet Lochaber Times’ new columnist – Holly Gillibrand

This week sees publication of the first in a series of columns from our new occasional columnist on the environment – Holly Gillibrand. A second year pupil at Lochaber High School, Holly, 13, from Kinlocheil, recently featured in our pages after she launched of a series of school strikes protesting at the lack of climate change action from politicians and government. Holly’s new column is entitled A Cry for the Wild and will tackle various environment-themed topics. The first is printed below.

WHAT’S ON in Lochaber

▀ Entries for the 45thannual Lochaber Music Festival

Glenfinnan House Hotel wins seven awards at regionals

Glenfinnan House Hotel picked up seven awards at last

MacPhail

The first weekend of Celtic Connections got offto a

Ragtime Dolls’ Corpach show

Kilmallie Community Centre was the venue for a trip

Greenpeace activists target supermarkets

Members of the Fort William branch of Greenpeace were

Fort firm’s cash boost for air ambulance service

Staffat Balfour Beatty, based at Carrs Corner in Fort

Shoe box appeal thanks

Blythswood Care in Caol would like to thank everyone

NorthSkye footpathwork set to start soon

Work on two new pathprojects is set to get under way

Western Isles trust to sponsor cash-strapped mart co-operative

Point and Sandwick Trust (PST) has announced a sponsorship

First crofting wind farm submission

The first of the planning applications from the four

Work starts to preserve arches

Work is under way on £200,000-worthof improvements

Local history workshop

As part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Written in the

Old songs and days of youth

Last week I wrote about Dr John Maclachlan of Rahoy

Beyond time for the council to have playpark repaired

As we report on our front page this week, it is now

Praise for workers who battled winter

Winter arrived witha vengeance this week across Argyll

Deer are damaging to Rahoy Hills Wildlife Reserve

Regarding Iain Thornber’s Morvern Lines (The Oban Times

Thanks for generosity from team at New Hope Kitchen

On behalf of all the team here at New Hope Kitchen

Statistics show a decline in drug deaths in Argyll

Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) and Councillor

History is repeating itself over controls on fishing

I was fascinated to read the article by Iain Thornber

High time for another independence referendum

I refer to the supercilious letter in the Lochaber

Beachd Ailein

‘S mathan sgàthan sùil caraid! Sin seanfh acal glè

Environment is of crucial importance to every one of us

Environment is of crucial importance to every one of

Praise for public servants this winter

Praise for the staffin Belford Hospital’s Accident

Deer are damaging to Rahoy Hills Wildlife Reserve

Regarding Iain Thornber’s Morvern Lines (The Oban Times

Thanks for generosity from team at New Hope Kitchen

On behalf of all the team here at New Hope Kitchen

Statistics show a decline in drug deaths in Argyll

Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) and Councillor

History is repeating itself over controls on fishing

I was fascinated to read the article by Iain Thornber

DISTRICT NEWS

Four singers and a pianist from Scottish Opera will

Mull firefighters give boost to charities

Firefighters from Tobermory Community Fire Station

First sod is cut for housing development at Kilmartin

The first bit of turf was cut at Argyll Community Housing

Sixty foundation apprenticeships available in the Western Isles

Sixty foundation apprenticeships available in the Western

At random

A former colleague here at The Oban Times, Pauline

SPEAN BRIDGE, ROY BRIDGE AND ACHNACARRY

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council

New pathplanned for NorthRoad

Plans are being drawn up to build an extended footpathat

Arisaig litter pick makes all the difference

After just three hours of litter picking last week

Retro Roamer

?? I must have come pretty close to getting done for

Big Farmland Bird Count is back again

Farmers, landowners and gamekeepers across the country

Argyll residents urged to watch the birdies

Nature lovers across Argyll and Bute are being urged

UK’s only polar bear cub celebrates first birthday

Hamish, the first polar bear cub to be born in the

This week’s walks

The walk leader is to be contacted beforehand for meet-up

Farming vital to Argyll, union tells members

fiftThflTravelling from all corners of the Argyll and

Eighty years a shepherd – and now a stalwart

Shepherd Sandy McKirdy from the Isle of Bute is the

How important our homes are

At times of uncertainty our homes are our best bet

Not all your money has to come from traditional lenders – just ask the government

Not all your money has to come from traditional lenders

Get the cash and funding right before you start

Before you pick your architect or choose your kit home

CP Architects – concept to completion

New-build and renovated homes come to life withthe

Freedom from worry and value for money

You could build a new home without an architect but would you want to?

Planning to succeed

It has never been easier to navigate the system, thanks to online help and the pre-application services

Kit yourself out!

Kit homes are one of the most popular ways to build your own home there in the Highlands and islands and they come in all shapes, sizes and materials

Is SIPS the next big thing?

The choice is remarkable in kit building including some innovative, industry-leading alternatives

A helping hand for self and custom builders…

Scotland’s Self and Custom Build Portal has been created to provide advice, guidance and support to those interested in building their own home in Scotland.

Living on site

Witha self-build property more money is needed up front

Getting your new home on the grid

As far as your kids are concerned broadband and a mobile signal are essential, never mind about mains water!

Energy and renewables

Building a new home means you can benefit from the

Why build to Passivhaus standard?

The international Passivhaus standard is the world’s

A new home? Don’t waste your energy!

All the planet-saving, greenhouse gas reducing, technological solutions aside, what is nicer on a dreich day than being cosy in front of a wood-burning stove?

Backwoodsman

If your new house specifications include a wood burning

Milligan Transport: Delivery problem solved

No matter how remote your delivery in the West Highlands

An island life for me!

Do you want to join an island community or build yourself a home in magnificent isolation on the mainland? Don’t be daunted by the logistics, when it comes to living on islands or in remote rural places, we’ve been doing it for centuries we’re experts.

Don’t move – improve

You love your home it is in a great place, witha good

Is your renovation your great innovation?

Which renovator are you? The one who has bought an uninhabitable shell to turn into a home or the one who wants to breathe new life and space into the home they have loved for so long.

Highland Blindcraft

Great night’s sleep in a Highland Blindcraftbed ‘hand made witha touch more care’

Wood and wonder

There is something elegant and reassuring about a wooden

Time for your new home to blossom

Take the indoors outdoors and bring the outdoors indoors to make the most of your garden throughout the year

Oban author wins book prize

An Oban author and children’s book publisher has been

Ballet West’s Nutcracker tour opens in Oban

Taynuilt’s Ballet West opens its Scottish tour of The

Skye to host first Gaelic music fest

Gaelic music lovers can look foward to the first ever

Glasgow Letter

A brilliant evening was held on Friday night in the

Deadline for small arts funding

Organisations and individuals involved in Scottish

Seil to stage the fairest pantomime of them all

Lines are being learned, backdrops painted, magic mirror

Travellers’ tales fire up the engines for Bookends 2019

Travellers’ tales fire up the engines for Bookends

Quartet set for Oban concert

Sinopia String Quartet will be performing in Oban next

New author send ‘write’ message to young readers

Taynuilt author Matthew Hall is celebrating his coming

Campbell connects at Celtic music celebration

That is what Celtic Connections does to you – it gets

New year farming 2019

It is a sobering thought, but as the UK’s farming unions

Tips to help you save money on your heating bills this winter

Tips to help you save money on your heating bills this

NEW YEAR, NEW REASONS FOR CHOOSING ŠKODA AS FRESH JANUARY DEALS ARE ANNOUNCED

NEW YEAR, NEW REASONS FOR CHOOSING ŠKODA AS FRESH JANUARY

Healthy Working Lives Award for Oban, Lorn and Isles

Argyll and Bute Healthand Social Care Partnership is

THOUGHT for the week

We may think we have our problems withBrexit and Britain

Kenny Wotherspoon back withthe red and blacks

New Oban Camanachd manager Stephen Sloss has named

Tarbert Gun Club get offto a wet start

Tarbert Gun Club recently held their first competition

Bowling club festive pairs competition

Inveraray Carpet Bowling Club recently held its annual

Impressive display from the Green Machine

On a cold and sunny Saturday afternoon Oban welcomed

Young rugby players entertain at Glencruitten

Oban Lorne U14s hosted Mid Argyll on Saturday at Glencruitten

Clyne gets set to deliver in Oban

Top Scottish squash player Alan Clyne will be courting

Results and fixtures

Last Saturday’s results: West of Scotland Cup, 4thround

Results and fixtures

Last Sunday’s results: Under 13s no game; Regional

Saints prove to be a Thorn in the flesh

Oban Saints bounced back from the disappointment of

Bob secures partnership withOrion Group

Glencruitten golfer Robert ‘Bob’ MacIntyre is set to

Clyne gets set to deliver in Oban

Top Scottish squash player Alan Clyne will be courting

Saints prove to be a Thorn in the flesh

Oban Saints bounced back from the disappointment of

Lochaber boxers have impressive winning start to the new year

Lochaber boxers have impressive winning start to the

Fort William FC match postponed

Claggan Park fell foul of the recent cold weather as

Bob secures partnership withthe Orion Group

Oban golfer Robert ‘Bob’ MacIntyre is set to swing

Lochaber 10-pin bowling leagues

After week 10 of the Lochaber Building Supplies 10-pin

Wheelers old and young enjoy Glen Loy race

West Highland Wheelers held its fourthwinter league

Glengarry shinty girls hold awards night

Glengarry Girls’ Shinty Club had its awards dinner

Fast times at Fassifern Faff

Lochaber Athletic Club hosted the Fassfern Faffon Sunday

Fort William sack manager

After just seven months in charge, Fort William FC

Families rally to support blaze-hit Fort nursery

Parents and friends connected witha Fort William nursery