Newsround from Islay

Romance scams are on the increase, Islay is being warned.

 

The island's police sergeant Morag Stirling highlighted the concern during a report to last week's community council meeting.

 

The 'romantic dupes' could be a side-effect of lockdown, she said as the number of on-line scams being experienced in Argyll and Bute are on the up.

 

Police are also raising awareness of rural crime, getting in touch with landowners and farmers with information packs on how to be on the look-out and what to do if anyone suspicious is spotted or in cases of dog attacks on livestock.

 

Police Scotland has also launched a new campaign to recruit locally to work locally, the meeting heard although there was no information on how closely the force was working with schools and colleges in Argyll.

 

Islay is also gearing up for the whisky feis that officially starts this Friday May 27 welcoming thousands of visitors to events at its distilleries.

 

Community councillors agreed to get in  touch with Scottish Water and Argyll and Bute Council to see if current works on the islands' road will be continued during the festival time or put on hold to ease any congestion as Islay's population is expected to treble.

 

Islay airport is bouncing back to pre-Covid numbers. Community councillors heard the airport was one of the hardest hit because it had no international travellers passing through for a long time.

 

The community council discussed fuel poverty and plans to keep a close eye to see what it can do to support people in need on Islay. It will also be asking Argyll and Bute Council how it intends to help and how it will be directing people to other agencies that can give assistance.

 

Niall Colthart told the meeting: 'It's a concern I'm hearing out in the community. Everyone is feeling it.'

 

Islay's problems will be exacerbated by the housing stock, many old properties with no double glazing or insulation, said Mr Colthart.

 

Community councillors also heard that although there was an Islay Benefits Trust, previously 'a bit of pride has been getting in the way of asking for help'.