DEAR DIARY !

New Year 2017

A very Happy New Year to all our readers of this website.

Take Care and Stay safe

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Wednesday, 4th January 2017

A chilly start to the New Year!  A pink mooring buoy recovered from the Foreshore has been tied to the post by the Haakon Bar.

The Litter totals for 2016 are as follows:

Kyleakin Village amounts to a total of 218 bags of Litter, with 28 bags from other areas as 26 bags of Litter from Uig Woods (Woodland Trust) and 2 bags from the burn under the Sligachan Hotel.

Additionally, 383 bags of Dog Poo were collected around Kyleakin, which is well down on last years' total!

Sunday, 22nd January 2017

Sadly this month we have already collected over 60 bags of Dog Poo in Kyleakin alone.  Please pick up after your dog and avoid an £80 Fine.

The persons that thought smashing glasses in the Play Park last week should think again.  The area has been cleared after KEG were contacted by a local resident.

Sunday, 29th January 2017

It is sad to see that so many Dog Owners are choosing to NOT pick up after their dog has 'done its business, ie had a poo'.

It's no good blaming the tourists - we haven't got any!  Can we remind Dog Owners that it is their duty as a Dog Owner to pick up 'after their dog' in a public place.  Both the Police and The Highland Council can impose £80 Fines.

The worst areas affected in Kyleakin are from the Footpath to the Old Telescope, the northern grassed verge along Kyleside to the Haakon Bar and The Corran.

And please don't let your dog shit in the Play Park or on the Sports Ground.  Thank you.

KEG pick up Litter and Dog Poo all year, not just during the Spring/Summer (Tourist months).  To date we've picked up 101 bags of Dog Poo for this month alone!

Thursday, 9th February 2017

The National Trust for Scotland & Plantlife Scotland are holding a series of Walks & Talks around the Celtic 'Rainforests' at Balmacara.

For further information see our NEWS pages.

Tuesday, 14th February 2017

KEG asked the Community Council for help in purchasing Poo Bags that fitted onto our Poo Picker as the ones that THC had provided didn't.  Unfortunately, despite having provided the CC with a box of 2,000 bags (that don't fit) they were not interested.

So, as of today, KEG will NOT be picking up Dog Mess in the Village.  Can we remind Dog Owners/Dog Walkers that it is their duty as a Dog Owner/Dog Walker to pick up 'after their dog' in a public place.  Both the Police and The Highland Council can impose £80 Fines.

Unfortunately KEG cannot continue with this voluntary service due to funding constraints.  Litter Picking, however, is not affected and will continue.

Friday, 3rd March 2017

We were saddened to hear today of the sudden and tragic death of Stuart Ashton who was the Secretary of the Skye Mountain Rescue Team.

Our thoughts and condolences are with his Family and fellow Team Members at this time.

Tuesday, 7th March 2017

For the marine buffs out there, the large blue landing craft at anchor near the Causeway on the Skye Bridge is the "Forth Guardian" which is rated as a cargo vessel.

Thursday, 30th March 2017

KEG received a box of 500 Dog Poo Bags from a very kind member of THC who drove all the way down from Caithness with them, so Dog Poo picking can continue for a while at least.

The large piece of machinery adjacent to the former CalMac Slipway is not for extracting gold!  It is in fact the aggregrate crusher from the Quarry, although there are some trial adits across the Kyle for Gold and Silver - but we're not telling you where!

Thursday, 20th April 2017

We heard this morning from a local fisherman called Bally that someone had been interfering with his creels, ostensibly to 'cut free birds'.  At least, I think he said 'birds'?

Well that's a new one to KEG.  However if you do see anyone damaging creels or interfering with the Lifesaving equipment, including the AED's please contact the Police on Tel. 101.

Saturday / Sunday 22nd - 23rd April 2017

Obviously high jinks in the Haakon on Friday night as one of the carved wooden 'hand' seats had sailed over the wall from the Pub to the Foreshore!

A vessel nameplate was noted in the Harbour, unfortunately after Litter Picking was finished the tide had covered it and it had gone by Sunday morning.

Interesting sight of a car wrapped up in plastic on Sunday morning outside Cameron's - someone's birthday or a novel way of preventing car crime?

The Works at Kyleakin Quarry are really going along at a smacking pace, with the Workers Housing nearly completed.  The 'thump - thump' thing heard from the depths of the Quarry are two pile drivers.

And yes, we know about the 15+ Dog Poos by the Bus Stop on the Brae and will be attending to that soon.  There are even two on the northern verge of the A87 opposite the Lighting Shop!

Wednesday, 26th April 2017

Actually, it turned out to be more than 15+!  Fifty-six (56) bags of Dog Poo cleared from the Village including thirty-two (32) from Kyle House Brae and Kyle Farm Road to the entrance to Hill of the Red Fox.

Caravan noted parked in Forestry lay-by.

Simon Upton (from Lochaline area) has finally moved his yacht, the "Chrisala".

The Marine Harvest sponsored event this evening was well attended and gave us all a chance to meet and speak to the various Companies involved in constructing the various parts of the new Feed Plant at Kyleakin Quarry.  KEG will be putting up a new page (in layman's terms!) about the site, in due course.

Meanwhile if you look under 'Suppliers' on our LINKS page - the Marine Harvest info is all there.

We have a report, as yet unconfirmed, that the local bus No. 55 has been withdrawn from service until June.

Thursday, 27th April 2017

Further to information received from a local resident yesterday regarding the loss of local bus services, KEG contacted Stagecoach at Portree this morning and it was confirmed that Service No. 55 has been withdrawn from service indefinitely.

It is interesting to note that Stagecoach invested thousands of pounds investing in new coaches for the Inverness run and automated timetable equipment in Bus Shelters, none of which worked until this morning, yet they can’t provide a much needed local service.  Citylink  buses aren’t cheap and taxis are even more expensive.

Stagecoach have set up their Timetables and Fare structure to deal with tourists who basically want to go from ‘a - b’ but not for local residents who simply want to go shopping in Kyle or the Medical Centre and/or the Hospital in Broadford.*

(* Kyleakin used to have a satellite GP Surgery which was part of the Broadford practice and when it closed down, all patients were automatically moved to Broadford Medical Centre.  Ironically, the Kyle Medical Centre, which is nearer, won‘t accept any new patients from Kyleakin!)

If you would like to complain about the loss of our local services then you can do so by contacting Cllr. Hamish Fraser (our local Councillor) via The Highland Council

Saturday, 6th May 2017

BUS UPDATE - The Service No.55 has been replaced by Service No.612 and the Timetables appear on the Automated Timetable Board, which, in Kyleakin is the Bus Stop opposite the Haakon Restaurant.  The 612 doesn't run on Sundays.

As the heat continues there are numerous wildfires springing up and smoke was seen at the north end of Raasay, over Rona and Applecross this afternoon.

Please dispose of cigarette ends, matches etc carefully ensuring they are fully out.  Better still pop them in your pocket until you find a Bin.  Broken glass can also cause fires as can Disposable BBQ's - for further information see our FIRE SAFETY page.

Monday, 8th May 2017

The young adult Grey Heron (deceased) or Ardea cinerea, if you prefer the Latin, that was recovered from the Obe yesterday morning has been sent off for post-mortem examination.

We contacted TEC Services some time ago about the lack of grass-cutting in the Village public areas (that the contracted chaps used to do) - if you want to complain please contact The Highland Council and not KEG.  Ta!

The Works in the Quarry are moving at a steady pace and the best place to view them is from the top of Hill of the Red Fox.

We will be opening a new page about the Feed Mill Plant and adding photographs as construction is underway.

During a walk up Red Fox today it was noted that the Picnic Table and Bench have disappeared either by storm damage, vandalism or theft.  FCS will be notified in due course.  The 'Kyleakin Sasquatch' was found!  Very good!

Saturday, 20th May 2017

The Highland Council - Grass Cutting Team were in the Village yesterday and cut all the normal areas including Kyle House Brae and the verges on Kyleside.  It all looks very smart.

Sadly, on Kyle Farm Road a rally type car parked (abandoned) at the layby by Hill of the Red Fox noticeboard was noted to be leaking oil into the gully adjacent.  It has been reported to TEC Services at THC.

Tuesday, 23rd May 2017

As Scotland wakes up this morning we hear of the dreadful terror incident at the Manchester Arena in England last night that has killed 22 persons and injured sixty-four.  Children are among the casualties.

The Police have issued an Emergency Number for those trying to trace family members: Tel. 0161 856 9400

Our thoughts and condolences go out to all involved in this tradgedy.

Right, back to normal KEG Works.

A Dog Poo Bin has now been installed at the entrance to Hill of the Red Fox on Kyle Farm Road - please note this bin is intended for Dog Poos only and not general litter.  You can take your litter home and dispose of it there.  Thank you.

Regarding local Medical Centres - the Kyle Practice are now accepting Kyleakin residents (due to the local transport problems highlighted above), if you want to swap from Broadford to Kyle please see your existing GP.

'DEAR DIARY' CONTINUES AFTER THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW

The Obe in Winter Viewed from across the Stepping Stones at low tide	The Obe at Low Tide On very low tides The Obe nearly dries out!
Kyleakin Forest Viewed from the Bench on Hill of the Red Fox	Kyleakin Play Park Thanks to the Kyleakin PTA, children now have a great new Play Park in Olaf Road
Operation Joint Warrior 2013 The Royal Norwegian Navy ~ S304 Uthaug passing Eilean Ban towards The Skye Bridge	Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band Playing on The Corran on the evening of 10th June 2013
Memorial to Andrew Gordon This Memorial Tablet is located at the Old Telescope by the Foreshore and is in remembrance of Andrew Gordon who tragically died in 2015 whilst out swimming by The Skye Bridge	Vectis Osprey at Kyle of Lochalsh This 8500 tonne UK Registered Cargo Vessel docked in early May to unload some truly enormous blades for Wind Farms
Vectis Osprey at Kyle of Lochalsh The truck beds used telescope out for these really long loads	The Skye Bridge & Eilean Ban Lighthouse Viewed from Hill of the Red Fox
Tom Leppard Known as the Leopard Man of Skye, Tom died in June 2016 aged 80 years	Marine Harvest - Kyleakin Quarry Drilling and installing piles

Sunday, 4th June 2017

Further to the two terrorist attacks in Central London last night, in which seven people died and forty-eight persons were injured, the Metroplolitan Police Casualty Bureau have issued a contact telephone number for those concerned about friends or relatives: Tel. 0800 0961 233.

The three persons responsible for this incident were shot dead by Police.

Our thoughts and condolences are with those affected by these tragic events.

We live in a beautiful country - Democracy Must Prevail.

Right, back to KEG Works...

The Car Park was noted to be nearly full (12 vehicles) of Motor Homes this morning, taking advantage of the free parking.  This is all very well but other visitors' vehicles end up blocking bus lanes, parked on pavements or across local residents' driveways.

Wednesday, 14th June 2017

We were devasted to see the pictures in the early mornng of a major fire at a Tower Block in North Kensington, in West London.

Our Thoughts and Condolences are with all those affected by and involved in this Major Incident.

A very special Thanks from KEG to their local Community for their Multi-Cultural Support.

Thursday, 15th June 2017

The large sailing vessel that entered the Kyle Akin this afternoon is the "Beluga II" which is operated under the Greenpeace banner and is currently docked at Kyle of Lochalsh.

Tuesday, 4th July 2017

Works are well underway in the Village preparing for the Gala this weekend.  The Councl Grass Cutters have been out as has John Rob trimming back the Corran.  KEG have started weeding the Car Park.  Whew - it's warm out there!

The broken down rally type car in Kyle Farm Road is still leaking oil into the gutter.  It has been reported to TEC Services.

The Seal pup abandoned on the former CalMac Slipway has been rehomed temporarily (until old enough for release) at a Wildlife Centre in Wester Ross.  Many thanks to the couple who reported it, the Village Shop, SSPCA, the Vet at Broadford and Police Scotland.

For future reference on what to do if you find an apparently abandoned Seal pup see our MARINE STRANDINGS page.

And don't forget - Let's Circus are back in the Village this week from 7th - 9th July in the field by the Village Hall.  See our NEWS Page for a Link through to their Booking Office and information.

Sunday, 16th July 2017

The Gala Weekend and Circus were both very well attended, apart from the Friday night dance - as usual.  Very midgy!

Many thanks to the Gala Committee and visitors for leaving the Corran so clean.  Last Gala KEG Litter Crew picked up seventeen bags of Litter over the weekend, this year - two!

The broken down rally type car in Kyle Farm Road has now gone.  Planning for the Cycle Path are back in hand, with Site Meetings coming up soon.

And finally, thank you to the patience of car passengers using the Car Park while it was being weeded by KEG recently!

...and yes, we know about the overgrown Grit Bin on South Obbe.  Next week...

Wednesday, 9th August 2017

An exciting new venture has opened in Kyleakin recently - a Haggis Hut, at the front of the Haakon Bar & Restaurant.

They offer Haggis themed Burgers etc in the evening which are very reasonably priced and now do Breakfast - Filled Hot Rolls from £2.50 in the mornings from 7.30am - 10.00am.

And yes, you can take your dog with you!

On other fronts, the Village is getting crazily full of tourist vehicles at night with some parking on pavements and verges (especially around the Kings Arms Hotel) and some even blocked our driveway.  This has prompted Flora into putting up a No Parking sign there - it's a bit bad when you can't get out of your own driveway in the morning!

Motor Homes and Camper Vans aren't exactly helping the matter as the Car Park has now turned into a Motor Home Park, with no less than fourteen being counted there this morning.

Friday, 11th August 2017

As KEG were preparing to weed the bridge to South Obe, having photographed the proposed Works some time ago, we were pleasantly surprised to find that someone has already started!

It was noted that some vessel had discharged its grey (toilet etc) water tanks in the Harbour again.  Kids should be dissuaded from swimming in the deep pool just west of the above area as there can be residue of sewage left, not to mention all the sharp broken glass there.

On a good note, it was noted that two of the benches in the seating area to the east of the sub-station by the Boat Park had been cleaned and artwork attached.  Worth checking out!

Thursday, 31st August 2017

The Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust are hosting a Clean Up of their Village this weekend - for information please see our NEWS page.  It has been noted that some irresponsible persons are still using the Grit Bins in the Kyle Co-op Car Park for dumping Litter, hopefully KEG can address this problem this weekend.

THC have put their big Road Sweeper round the Village, unfortunately alot of the road drains are still blocked, especially in Olaf Road and on Mews Lane.

Wednesday, 26th September 2017

Two KEG attended the Open Day at the Marine Harvest new Feed Plant in Kyleakin Quarry yesterday, which gave all attending a chance to get up to date with this impressive new build, to sample some salmon products and get the general low down on the construction phases.

It also provided a chance for youngsters to see what employment opportunities were available.

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