News; we seem to thirst for news. On a common journey like this one folk want to know what progress is being made, which is fair enough but translating what steps are being taken into a news story can be difficult. It certainly won’t sound exciting in a web post and doesn’t create a talking point for the followers. So gaining information, analysis, thinking, working with funders, Government, their agencies and other parties, negotiating, staying aware, manoeuvring, leafleting, emails and phone calls, pretty well sums it up. But, “News”? Not really; more like ‘auld claes an parritch’ – business as

The Trust, which only started recruiting in mid-July, now has over 1,000 members and growing! We name our 1,000th member as Dougie Pryce from Inverlochy, who works at Nevis Cycles in the Village. When phoned by Trust Chair, John Hutchison, Dougie said, ”My family has lived here for generations and some have worked at the Factory and in Glen Nevis. I know most corners of the estate really well and for it to be owned by the community is the right way to go for the future. I urge everyone to get behind what the Trust is trying to do”.

We’ll have a stand at the Lochaber Agricultural Show on Saturday 27th August to let us speak about our ideas and hear your views. We look forward seeing you there!

We have now had a series of community meetings, partly as information but also to test our proposed approach to business and project ideas. Apart from being an essential step for us, the meetings proved very worthwhile for discussion, suggestions, sharing anxieties and exploring ideas. All of this will now allow us to improve our plans as we move forward. The Trust will look to lead projects, support or partner with local groups, business organisations and others to promote sustainable projects that are within existing settlements, adjacent to industrial areas or fit the wider countryside policy. In case you missed

There has been good discussion and feedback on project plans and ideas at community meetings over the past two weeks and, following attendance at the Laggan Community Development Trust Ltd AGM on Monday 22nd August, we will review these plans and consider our next steps. Membership continues to grow and is now well over 800. All members are encouraged to introduce others, bearing in mind that the majority of members (75%) need to live in the local area.

The community meetings in Fort William, Kinlochleven and Caol this week have all proven successful with sound comments on our emerging proposals and folk have raised new ideas. On Thursday 11 August we will be holding a meeting in Kilmallie Community Centre in Corpach. During w/c 15August we will be holding the following meetings: Monday 15 – at Inverlochy in the Braxi Hall Tuesday 16 – at Roy Bridge in the Memorial Hall Thursday 18 – at Onich in the Village Hall All meetings will start at 7pm.