Grantown High Street Fire

This afternoon Grantown-on-Spey high street has come to a standstill as firefighters battle to put out the fire in Beale and Pyper, a furniture shop which has been doing business for over 100 years.

It is suspected that the fire was started by an electrical fault and emergency services were swift in arriving on scene.

Photos courtesy of Rory Boyd, Cairngorm Studios

National Park Path Plans

The Cairngorm National Park Authority have adopted a plan to lay the foundation for an effective network of paths in the Park that, it is hoped, will encourage more people into the outdoors.

The Plan highlights an overall path network of new and existing tracks, roads, pavements and water courses in the Park totalling around 932km (579 miles) – that’s further than the main road equivalent of Aviemore to London. It will also provide the basis for a programme of improvements that will deliver a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits.

David Green, convenor of Cairngorms National Park
“Once completed the work will allow users to move around and enjoy the Park more easily while minimising conflict with farmers, foresters and estates who manage the land.”

Power line opponents demand new public inquiry

Image by Jonathan Gill

Those opposing the highly controversial Beauly – Denny ‘mega’ power line are demanding that the public inquiry into the scheme be reopened.

Two groups which represent 16 national and local bodies have voiced their opinion that the energy minister made procedural errors in not taking into account the view of the public inquiry reporters.

The two umbrella groups, Scotland Before Pylons and the Beauly-Denny Landscape Group also said there is a need for a strategic environmental assessment.

Helen McDade, Chair of the Beauly-Denny Landscape Group, Head of policy, John Muir Trust
“It is vital when there have been 20,000 objections to a development that the proper procedures are followed and the concerns of objectors are dealt with.

Cairngorm World Record Attempt

This Saturday (6th March) at 11am Cairngorm Mountain has set itself the goal of breaking the world record for the largest number of kilted skiers and snowboarders heading down a piste at once in aid of charity.

Promoted as a charity event with a Scottish twist the resort are hoping to attract around 600 participants in the kilted ski from the Ptarmigan top station down to the car park.

Chief Executive Ian Whitaker
“Snow conditions this winter are so fantastic at CairnGorm Mountain that staff wanted to celebrate the skiing from top to bottom in a memorable way that would also involve the public”

See the Cairngorm Mountain website - http://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/- for further details

Carrbridge Village Hall Update

At Carrbridge Village Hall there are a number of plans in place to improve disabled access and generally maintain the hall.

Work being done to improve disabled access:

• A ramp is being built at the moment alongside the already complete steps, this will be accompanied by a widened parking area
• Toilet facilities are to be improved and this will see the addition of a disabled toilet

General work to be done:

• Re-plastering of the main hall
• New curtains
• Resealing of hall floor

In the long term the village hall committee plan to upgrade the kitchen facilities.

£6million set aside for A9 Upgrade

The Scottish Government has announced a package of works totalling £6m to take place on areas of the A9 in Perthshire and the Highlands.

Image © James Ross - www.pbase.com/carrhighlander

The plans will see an overtaking lane being added at Moy, near Inverness, and the road surface upgraded at Ralia, near Newtonmore.

Both these areas are expected to take between 10 – 12 weeks to complete with the Moy additional starting in March and the Ralia work in Spring.

“This key route is seeing over £16m of improvements during a three-year period, with the completion of schemes at Carrbridge and Bankfoot last year, the works at Moy and Ralia this year and also a project at Slochd scheduled for next year.”
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson

Derailed Train Lifting Pictures

Health Walk Volunteer Leaders

COAT (Cairngorm Outdoor Access Trust) the group responsible for the current upgrade of the Riverside Path in the village are looking for volunteer health walk leaders in Badenoch and Strathspey – as part of the development of a suit of health walks in the area.
What is a health walk?
A health walk is a short, safe, local, led walk targeted at people who would benefit from increasing their physical activity. The weekly walks last 30-60 minutes and are led by trained volunteers from the local community.

Who can volunteer?
Anyone who:

• Enjoys walking and the outdoors
• Is sociable and enjoys spending time with other people -Can encourage and motivate others -Can comfortably walk for an hour

What do you do as a volunteer?

• Lead at least one walk a month
• Encourage and support walkers
• Ensure the walk is fun, sociable, safe and appropriate to the group -All leaders are provided with a one day Walk Leader Training Course, and ongoing support

To find out more, please contact Mandy Way on mandy@cairngormsoutdooraccess.org.uk or 07766103967.

Riverside Path - Carrbridge

Get Involved with Carrbridge News!

Image © James Ross. www.pbase.com/carrhighlander

We are constantly on the lookout for local folk who would like to get involved in maintaining and helping out with Carrbridge News. Irrespective of what you are or aren’t able to do,  get in touch if you’d like to lend a hand – we’ll be sure to task you with something you’d enjoy doing.

Perhaps your a keen journalist with an aim of documenting a specific local topic: nature, events, review, politics and if that’s you then we’d happilly give you your own column on the website as well as allow you to write for the programmes. Perhaps you’d like to take photographs and have them published online or even video!!

Leave a comment in reply to this post (below) if you think you may be interested.

WANT TO HANG OUT…on a trapeze…!!!

Friday February 12 – Monday February 15

Physical theatre workshops

Craig Maclean Centre, Grantown-on-Spey

Led by performers from Strange Bird

contemporary circus company

Sign up now
Tel: 01479 870281

Sessions times

1pm – 3pm S1 – S3 pupils

3.30pm – 5.30pm S4 – S6 pupils

7pm – 9pm 18+ and adults

Must commit to  the four sessions over the four days