What's In This Week's Oban Times - 17th May 2023

We have lots of interesting news and photographs for you in this week's Oban Times newspaper and at www.obantimes.co.uk

 

Oban RNLI is appealing for help from holiday hosts to share a safety message with kayakers and paddle boarders to have the proper equipment and a means of calling for help.

 

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Archeologists have recently discovered two ancient cairns on top of a hill above Balvicar Farm on Seil. One is possibly neolithic and the other could be from the Bronze Age.

 

Over on Lismore, the community is being encouraged to have its say about the design and to come up with ideas for two new affordable homes on the island.

 

Staying on Lismore, a big shout out to the volunteer firefighters for marching eight miles in their full kit last Saturday in sweltering conditions. They raised more than £3,000 to buy a defibrillator for the ferry waiting room at Point.

 

We've also been hearing about a static caravan that is stuck on Oban's South Pier, resulting in £1,000s of lost takings, while it waits for a CalMac ferry.

 

Elsewhere, Highland Council has backed a bid for up to £50 million from the UK Government for a new electric ferry to be used on the Corran Ferry route. A proposal for a single electric vessel was agreed at a meeting last week, with this relying on the 23-year-old MV Corran for back up until a second new ferry can be delivered.

 

Argyll & Bute Council is seeking to exempt high schools from the Deposit Return Scheme, citing bullying and organised crime, as well as the negative impact it could have on free school meals.

 

Meanwhile, the Rum Community Council have defended Lorna Slater's decision to hire a boat to travel to the island instead of taking a CalMac ferry.

 

In Taynuilt, the village's community council have expressed their concerns at new forestry car park charges at Fearnoch and Sutherland's Grove forests.

 

In other news, a petition has raised concerns about suffering feral sheep on St Kilda and we hear from Chris Mason, who has embarked on a fundraising tour of every RNLI lifeboat station in the British Isles and Ireland. He has been completing his West Highland leg of the journey, stopping off at Oban RNLI on his way from Campbeltown to Stornoway.

 

In the sport, we have the latest shinty round-up and there was success for Seoras Neil and Fraser Pollock in the World Union of Karate-do Federations Irish Invitational Championships recently. The youngsters won three silver medals and one bronze between them as their coach Rab Neil took home two medals himself.

 

There was also some superb rugby skills on show at the Mull Dalriada, with primary school pupils from across Argyll and Lochaber in action.

 

Mid Argyll RFC's development day in Lochgilphead was also a success, with Under-12 and Under-14 girls' teams taking part in skills training between competitive matches.

 

We also have the latest sailing action, a preview before Bob MacIntyre travels to Rochester, New York for the USPGA Championship, and some great photographs from the ABCD 10K run.

 

You can read all these stories and more by visiting www.obantimes.co.uk or by picking up a copy of our newspaper in local shops and garages.