BOBBY WILSON says

HI THERE I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT TO THE RIVER WELL DONE INDEED WHAT A IMPROVEMENT TO THE VILLAGE ,BUT ON ANOTHER NOTE WOULD IT NOT OF BEEN BETTER WITH METAL RAILINGS ROUND THE BURN INSTEAD OF THE WOOD AS THE WATER ALWAYS FLOODS AND WILL ROT THE WOOD,AS FOR THE BANKINGS ARE THEY GOING TO BE CUT AND TIDY EVERY SUMMER AS THE GRASS WILL GROW STRAIGHT THROUGH I REMEMBER THE BOYS DOING IT YEARS AGO THEY DONE A GOOD JOB BUT THEY SHOULD OF KEPT THE YOUNG BOYS THAT COULDNT FIND WORK ON DURING THE FOLLOWING SUMMERS TO UP KEEP THE BANKINGS ECT KEEPS THE BOYS OUT OF TROUBLE AND GIVES THEM A COIN IN THERE POCKET THE GOVERMENT COULD SURELY FUND IT SAY £50 A WEEK FOR EACH YOUNG BOY 16 AND OVER THAT WAY IT WONT GO BACK TO THE OLD WAY AGAIN AND BE A PURE WASTE OF MONEY.ONLY A SUGESTION . 

jamie wilson says

River along side football parks looking well, I agree with bobby that the wooden fencing should have been metal railings tho. Also could they have not changed the steps up onto the bridges into raised ramps,that way when it did rain heavy the kids could still get to school without going the long way around (as the paths flood at the steps.) This would also benift mothers with prams too.  

Bill Gibson says

Thanks to Bobby and Jamie for their comments, if I can take firstly their points with regards to the Wooden fence. During the five years it took to get this far all aspects for the project were considered one of which was to install a Bow topped galvanised fence however this proved to be a major stumbling block coming in at cost around £50,000 taking the project over £100,000 When we were seeking the funding no funder including EAC were prepared to cover this. There will be a mixed Hawthorn. Blackthorn and Beech hedge planted along side the fence this will in time engulf the fence keeping to the same height. Bobby's point on the maintence by a government scheme to boost the income of anyone seeking employment is an excellent one and should be pusued by everyone. However at the moment it is intended that maintenence will be carried out by CPO (Community Service Orders) with no cost inpact to the Community. With regards to Jamie's points on the bridges this was also in the project mix but again was frought with difficulties. At this time we have an architect drawing plans for new bridges with the proirity being the one Jamie refers to at the school crossing. It is also the intention that all footbridges should be wheelchair friendly. Whilst we at DTARA are well aware not everyone is keen to attend meetings, this type of feedback is both welcomed and encouraging to know that even at a distance we have support for what we are trying to achieve for the betterment our village.      

jamie wilson says

The mixing of Hawthorn,Blackthorn and Beech hedge is an excellent idea.Once grown this will provide food,shelter and hopefully nesting for all types of wildlife. Keep up the good work DTARA!

BOBBY WILSON says

YIP DEF AGREE IT SHOULD LOOK WELL. AS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE BOYS DOING THE RIVER YES THATS FINE .BUT I JUST THINK IF THE YOUNG BOYS DID IT AGE 16Y TO 18 YEARS THEY WOULD MAYBE RESPECT THE PLACE RATHER THAN TRASH IT THERES A LOT OF YOUNG BOYS OUT THERE THAT AGE NO WORKING ECT I PESONALLY THINK HEADS NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND FIND THEM A JOB IN THE VILLAGE A YOUTH TRAINING SCHEME OR SOMETHING TO THE AGE OF 18 YEARS THAT WAY THEY WILL MAYBE SHOW A BIT OF RESPECT FOR THINGS .

EXAMPLE THEY COULD START A LITTLE WOOD WORK PROJECT SAY MAKING SUMMER SEATS FOR THE OLD FOLKS ,BIRD BOXES FOR THE WALK BENCHES FOR ROUND THE RIVER WHARE ITS BEEN DONE SO WHEN THE OLD FOLK GO A WALK THEY CAN TAKE A REST .

ALSO A QUICK NOTE MORE AND MORE OLD PEOPLE ARE WALKING THE BACK ROADS I NOTICED THERES NO BENCHES I REMEMBER THERE USED TO BE HOW ABOUT TRYING TO GET FUNDING FOR SOME SUMMER SEATS METAL ONES FOR THE PEOPLE TO SIT AND HAVE A WEE CHIN WAG THE OLD ONES WOULD LOVE IT. JUST AN IDEA.

Bill Gibson says

Thanks for that Jamie.

There are many youth training and envolvement schemes avaialble all over Scotland,such as BTCC, FJF Outreach (Elaine Stuart Dalmellington) CJ Scotland and many more hovever these only survive through community envolvement (getting heads together) by securing the funding to operate them. Sadly this year the government scheme only provided enough funding for a pathetic 2.000 placements and that was for the whole of Scotland.

Earlier this year I attended a conference in Glasgow and got into a conversation with a Delegate form West Dumbarton and he informed me of a group of retired joiners out of work tradesmen who are working with youngsters making garden furniture from recycled railway seepers and telegraph poles, tables, seats swings which all sell at reasonable pricing to maintain the project and yes the youngsters are thriving on it as he also says when the young ones are out and about they take pride in what they have acheived and woe betide anyone who abuses what they have created. 

I should have mentioned before that there will be two more seats sited along side the new Taiglum Path. Our late Councillor Sutherland was intending to obtain the seating for around the village walks that Bobby is suggesting. But again with the right support this can still happen. The most successfull projects anywhere are community led, and I get to hear of many.

I really enjoy this type of dialoge via s1Drongan but I also look at all the other towns and villages are saying, many having the same issues. As we converse can't help trying to guess who'se making the points. With Drongan Aprox.3,500 Pop do I know Jamie & Bobby are they related, do we nod passing at the shops? by name only is fine by me, but just for the fun of it, you can of course correct me if I'm wrong guys from what I've read so far if I where to be thinking Jamie is an outdoor type and Bobby is a deep thinker and observer? (when use of capital letters in emails is termed as shouting) I would also assume that Bobby has a determination to be heard. Keep it coming guys and lets hope we hear from others.      

jamie wilson says

Great idea about benches around back road for old and young to sit and talk. Another suggestion i would like to raise- the path/pavement to the graveyard is a disgrace. People of all ages and parents with prams/children heading to the graveyard with flowers etc have to negotiate with such a narrow walkway. The introduction of speed caming lines is excellent but much more has to be done to make this area safer. Drongan, we're getting there......

BILL GIBSON says

Three years ago we DTARA highlighted the problem path Toll to Cemetery to the council. The council's brilliant reply was that when the new houses otherside of road were completed pedestrians would be able to cross the road use the new path then cross back over to the cemetery.

We the Drongan Tara had a meeting with East Ayrshire Council and EAC officers at Kilmarnock Tuesday 29th to discuss ongoing Drongan environmental issues. I would discribe the meeting as an ill tempered affair. Three years ago we (TARA) identified several environmental projects and at that time EAC were promised £20,000 to carry out such work. Despite repeated requests to get this work started, the EAC have continually ignored Drongan. They also insist that  the money is still there for Drongan whilst similar work having being carried out in other areas.

We consider this as totally unexceptable and said so once again on Tuesday. It was also pointed out to the EAC officers that they are NOT our masters we (you and me) are theirs, and such they should be doing our bidding.   

 Also on that point they have also been reminded that the council pays for nothing we do.  Also at this time I should clear up any misunderstanding with regards to our Christmas Illuninations. It was DTARA who obtained the funding to purchase the lights and also each year again have to find the funding to employ the EAC to install/remove them, the funding also has to be sufficient to pay for the electricity + vat again invoiced by EAC direct to DTARA. When people see the EAC workmen intalling the lights this happens only because DTARA is actually paying them to do so on their behalf and at no cost to the community.

jamie wilson says

Keep fighting DTARA.............

BOBBY WILSON says

hi bill thanks for your responce appreciated indeed ,just a little point here i would say i dont no if you agree with this but in my opinion i think DRONGAN BOWLING CLUB needs help i will tell you why . its the highlite of the village first thing that stands out to anyone driving through the village . could you correct me is there no help they can get for the likes of funding for the banks ect i would of thought there would of been an external funding officer who could help them get  grants ect for the likes of that ..  the fence and the sarroundings are in some state it looks very run down i was in the committee 2 years back and planted flowers ect put up hanging baskets and much more just to tidy it up. the bowling green in my opinion could look stunning and i mean stunning with the right heads and some backing for external improvements. its a shame to watch such a lovely place in the village go to tatters. the walls could be painted ,a new fence up .nice summer seats put round it.some hanging baskets,some wooden planters ect round about it .its never ending what could be done to make it a feature of the village. years ago it was lovely when geordie young did it credit to him.