2520

WELCOME ULLAPOOL

Last week the AGM of Welcome Ullapool was held, and a summary of the year’s activities was
provided which included finishing the village feature entrances with a very successful opening
ceremony. This was a huge project for the committee, interrupted by the pandemic, and we’re
delighted to have completed it.
The other successes during the year were the production & distribution of our free advertiser’s map –
over 10,000 copies went into circulation and thanks to everyone who looked after the distribution points.
We also had a lot of feedback from our members and visitors about how useful the ‘accommodation search feature’ is
on our website which saves multiple enquiries and has been copied by other destination organisations.
Our other activities include the village floral displays (special thanks to Chris Dwyer); dog poo bag dispensers and the
provision of bin casings. We have a great presence on social media and will be providing events listings for our
members on the cabinet opposite the harbour. The 2023 Members window clings will soon be delivered to all our
members.
The current committee of Di Rusling, Judy Bryant, Maureen Savage, Linda Tatchell & Angie Ford were elected for a
further year and will be joined by Jane & Steve Bowley.

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Ullapool needs a new NHS Dentist

CRISIS IN NHS DENTISTRY ACROSS HIGHLANDS
Highland Liberal Democrats have called on the Scottish Government to step up and save NHS dentistry across the Highlands, as the party sheds new light on soaring wait times, falling numbers of NHS appointments and a decline in the number of dentists performing NHS work.
Freedom of information requests submitted by the Scottish Liberal Democrats reveal that in NHS Highland:
● Patients waited up to 78 weeks for treatment in 2021, and on average are waiting nearly 6 months for a first outpatient appointment with an NHS dentist
● The total number of NHS dental claims across NHS Highland halved from 273,527 to 136,095
• The number of dentists performing NHS work fell from 233 in 2019 to 196 in 2022.

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MSP ENCOURAGES CROFTERS TO APPLY FOR SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT GRANT
Maree Todd MSP is encouraging crofters living in Caithness, Sutherland & Ross to apply to the Croft House Grant, to help them maximise the full potential of their croft and attract people to remote and rural communities.
Thanks to the Scottish Government increasing the grant rate for home improvements from 40% to 60% of the total project cost, more families, and crofters will now be able to benefit.
The grant scheme, which launched in 2007, has helped 1,100 households in rural or island communities upgrade or build new homes in their crofts, backed by over £24.2 million of funding from the Scottish Government.
Commenting Maree Todd MSP said:
“I welcome this significant increase in funding from the Scottish Government to support housing in our rural and island communities, which is sure to be of great help to many of my constituents.
“This Tory cost of living crisis has taken a heavy toll on many households living in remote communities in Scotland- who it seems have been all but forgotten by the UK government – and I urge any crofters living in the Highlands to check if they are eligible for this grant support.
“The Croft House Grant is another example of where the Scottish Government is standing up for rural communities; crofters, and farmers have already benefited from receiving advance payment of the Basic Payment Scheme- brought forward by the Scottish Government- to support Scotland’s farmers with cash flow and the cost of living crisis.
“We have a proud crofting history in the Highlands, and it is right that these traditions are supported and protected, so that it can continue to bring wealth and opportunities to the community for generations to come.”