With the upcoming centenary of the UK entering the First World War, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell is urging his constituents to consider applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for community projects to learn more about the First World War.  

HLF is making at least £1million a year available until 2019 as part of the First World War: then and now programme for small, community grants.  It will provide grants of £3,000 to £10,000 enabling groups right across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.

The local MP is urging constituents to think about how they would like to mark the Centenary.  Successful projects will include:

·         researching, identifying and recording local heritage;

• creating a community archive or collection;
• developing new interpretation of heritage through exhibitions, trails, smartphone apps etc;
• researching, writing and performing creative material based on heritage sources;
• conserving and finding out more about war memorials

David Mundell said: “I’m delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is making this money available to local communities.  Like many areas across the UK, the impact of the First World War on the people of Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale was extensive.   For those who want to find out more about its legacy or who wish to mark the Centenary, I would urge them to get in touch with HLF.”    

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of HLF, said: “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond.  The Heritage Lottery Fund’s First World War: then and now programme will enable communities to explore the continuing legacy of this war and help young people in particular to broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.”

HLF has already invested over £46million in projects – large and small – that will mark the Centenary of First World War. If a group have a project idea to mark the Centenary of the First World War, an online application pack is available http://www.hlf.org.uk/ThenAndNow.  If a group needs a grant of more than £10,000 for a First World War project, it can apply to HLF through its open programmes. 

WAULKMILL CIDER WANTS TO CROWD FUND A NEW STILL

TO PRODUCE SCOTTISH APPLE BRANDY

In 2010 Waulkmill Cider started producing Scotland’s first craft cider and perry, made from locally pressed fruit.       

Now we want to create another first.  Scotland’s first ever Scottish Apple Brandy (aka Nectar of the Gods).

To turn some of our cider into Scotland’s first Cider Apple Brandy we need to buy a Spirints Still.  

Scotland is obviously already well hnown for its skill in distilling quality spirits, but this project is to distil Cider Brandy (to rival the well known French Cider Brandy).  This will be a true first for Scotland, we are really excited but we need your help in making it a reality.

It goes without saying that this is a huge step for Waulkmill Cider, we have already done a lot of the groundwork and we know how to make this happen to create a truly special drink. 

You can help us make it happen much more quickly by assisting us in funding a part of this project (arguably the most important and the most iconic part!!!) by helping us buy our first Spirits Still.

Your support will help evidence demand for this new Scottish spirit and, importantly, you will forever be a part of the creation of this new drink, creating a long term legacy by supporting the vessel in which this new Scottish spirit will be born.

A little bit of history…

The Original Langholm Distillery closed prior to World War One, a huge loss to the town.  We have bought the trading name and set up a new company using Langholm Distillery Limited (the original trading name). This will be such a great chance to re start distilling back in the town of Langholm (Dumfries & Galloway), reinstating a distilling heritage to this Border town.

With your help it all starts here

The purpose of this proposal is to allow you to be part of this re birth as a Founder Funder and to help us with the costs of getting this project started. We have created some great “Thank You’s” to show our appreciation for your commitment to helping us, including unique hopefully collectable gifts and opportunities for some hands on experiences. 

The most important part of any Distillery is of course the Still itself so we would like you to be part of the purchase of this and as a Founder Funder know that in years to come that you have been an integral part of what we are sure will be a piece of Scottish Distilling History.

To Find out how to Be part of this project go to https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-us-make-scotland-s-first-ever-apple-brandy#home

COMMUNITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICES COMMITTEE AGREES NEW HOURS FOR INTEGRATED SERVICE CENTRES

The Community and Customer Services (CCS) Committee of Dumfries and Galloway Council have confirmed the opening hours for the new integrated Library, Registration and Customer Service Centres.

Following the budget setting in February, a series of community consultation events were held during March this year to consult communities on the opening hours and range of new services being provided.

Wigtown Library hours have been cut from 42 to 28 hours a week , Langholm and Moffat are set  to 20 hours open per week and Whithorn down  to 12.

The Committee agreed to increases in draft proposals for hours after 4 local communities submitted business cases to increase the opening hours of their local facility.  The four communities who had submitted business cases to the Committee were Langholm, Moffat, Whithorn and Wigtown.

Chair of the Community and Customer Services Committee Tom McAughtrie said, “When the budget was set we made clear that contrary to a lot of misinformed comments, no final decision had been made in relation to the hours of the new integrated centres and we had built in flexibility to the budget to look at local circumstances. We have consulted widely and now agreed the hours for the year ahead which are fair and balanced. No one likes to make a decision that reduces any opening hours but I think the silent majority understand that in the real world the council has not only had to make £30 million worth of savings in the last three years due to Government cuts but we have to save a further £27 million in the next three years. Its easy for people to say, don’t make savings in certain areas but they are a lot slower to come forward with suggestions on where the savings should be made. You need to be living in a dream world to say the scale of savings we face can be achieved without any impact on services or that some areas should be completely exempt. The fact we have set out a positive direction for our libraries without a single closure, at a time closures are happening across Scotland is a remarkable achievement.”

“What also appears to have been forgotten is that we have integrated libraries and customer services together.  This will not only transform the services available to communities but will help secure the long term future of our libraries in the face of the biggest cuts councils have ever faced and hopefully the same level of support for our libraries from some communities will now be directed at those forcing the cuts on the council”.

Alongside increasing the library hours for Langholm, the Committee agreed that local community services were to be integrated in a location agreed by the community group responsible for “The Way Forward Project’

After the Committee meeting, Annandale East and Eskdale Councillor Archie Dryburgh said:

“The committee’s decisions have resulted in two positive outcomes for Langholm.  When the Labour group took over the leadership of the council, we said we would listen to local people and both of these decisions reflect that commitment.  By working with the community group to decide on the new location for the integrated services, we can ensure that the services are in the best location for the people of Langholm.”

Firefighters have urged Dumfries and Galloway residents to recognise the risks and help prevent kitchen fires striking in the area.

More fires begin in the kitchen than in any other room of the house, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) clear that even a moment’s distraction can lead to a devastating blaze.

Watch Manager Jason Gardiner, community fire safety officer in Dumfries and Galloway, said: “We know that fires start when people’s attention stops.

“A pot or pan left unattended on the hob can easily start a fire that quickly engulfs the kitchen and spreads throughout a home, causing massive damage and threatening lives.

“The fact is even a small fire confined to the kitchen can produce large amounts of toxic smoke that will affect the whole property and could kill or seriously injure anyone inside at the time.

“Everyone needs to accept that it can happen to them. We all need to recognise the risks and take very simple measures to protect ourselves, our homes and our communities.”

Dumfries and Galloway has seen several cooking-related fires in recent months and its firefighters are working to take potentially life-saving fire safety advice to residents throughout the area.

Simple measures like taking a pot off the heat and switching off the rings before leaving the kitchen, and keeping kitchen roll and towels away from cookers, dramatically reduce the chance of a fire starting.

Traditional chip pans are known to be a fire risk and SFRS advises anyone who still uses one to consider switching to a much safer modern electric fryer.

People who are aware of the risks and take simple steps such as these are less likely to experience a fire within the home but, when fire does strike, early warning is key to saving lives and limiting the damage.    

Watch Manager Gardiner added: “Whether a house fire starts in the kitchen or in any other room every second counts – early warning is crucial to people having time to get out and call for help.

“The presence of working smoke alarms is often the difference between a fire that causes some damage to property and one that causes devastating lifelong injuries or even death.

“With most fires starting in the kitchen we would also advise people to consider getting a heat alarm fitted there.

“By raising the alarm early heat and smoke alarms also increase the chance our crews will get to an incident and be able to bring a fire under control before it spreads to other rooms, which obviously reduces the damage.”

Protecting the public by reducing the chance of fire happening is central to the modern firefighter’s role and crews across Dumfries and Galloway constantly work to help people stay safe through initiatives like the Free Home Fire Safety Visit programme.

Reaching those at highest risk is a constant challenge for firefighters however, and members of the public have been urged to discuss fire safety with anyone they keep an eye on.

Watch Manager Gardiner explained: “Most of us look out for a neighbour or a relative who could use a little extra support so our message is for people to help by putting them in touch with the fire service.

“Our communities in Dumfries and Galloway are very close knit and that is a tremendous asset that can be used to keep vulnerable people safe.

“We want to reach older people and anyone whose lifestyle could mean they are at risk, so we can make them aware of hazards and help them to reduce the chance of a fire happening in their home.

“By taking advice on how to stay safe while cooking, making sure they are protected by working smoke alarms, and ensuring they know what to do if a fire does happen, we can reduce the chance of a tragedy.”

To join Scotland’s fight against fire and arrange a free home fire safety visit, call SFRS on the freephone number 0800 0731 999 or text ‘check’ to 61611.