2543

Broompower edging towards new affordable housing at Lael Forest

Broompower are about to take a significant step towards new affordable housing near the hydro footprint at Lael Forest.
Rob Gibson, Broompower Board chair explained “We are on the brink of conducting ground condition surveys for a pre-planning application which will be submitted on our behalf by Communities Housing Trust (CHT). As a charity CHT can access this planning advice for free. Whilst Broompower is a BenCom (community benefit society), making ‘profits’ from our activities so cannot access free pre-planning advice.”
Broompower have been working on a project to buy the land on which the hydro sits since 2018 and the pre-planning application is a significant step toward this aim. These developments will be discussed with our members at the AGM which is to be held on Saturday 23rd September at Ullapool Ferry Terminal”.

*****

Make a note in your diary:  Saturday 30 September

Opening Ceremony for Shore St. Promenade and Harbour Improvements 2pm

Full details later

*****

Harbour News 12 – 28 August 2023, 36 arrivals for the period

Whitefish totalled 3,700 boxes from two Scottish trawl and a single Anglo longline landing. A couple of Scottish boats have returned to Rockall looking to use up the remainder of their monkfish and haddock quotas before the winter.  Fishing has been patchy with loads of small haddock evident but not much by way of quality fish.  On the other hand, monkfish catches have been good. Anglo effort for hake and ling is very limited and vessels are either at home for the summer or working north and landing elsewhere.

The shellfish sector saw thirteen prawn landings from visiting trawlers which combined with the efforts of the resident fleet. Prawn fishing has been reasonable and the few that are at lobsters report good returns but poor prices.

Non-fishing was the busiest sector with the usual procession of fish farm support vessels for crew changing, bunkering fuel and buying stores. The larger vessels tend to do most of their shopping locally and regularly fill 6-8 trolleys of goods at the local supermarket.  Cruise ships Amadea, Europa and Viking Jupiter all made scheduled visits in reasonable weather and the MCA tug Ievoli Black called in for her monthly crew change.

Shore Street Project Update

The principal contractors cleared the site last week and will return in the coming days to complete some minor details. The new area adjacent to the harbour office, christened Shore Quay by the designers, has proved very popular with tourists and locals. The only issue has been litter, a daily problem attended to by harbour staff. Of the four double bins on Shore St the westmost one is always filled to overflowing.  Meanwhile, just a few meters away, the others are only half full, – inexplicable behaviour. To hopefully remedy this the harbour plans to trial a solar/battery compacting bin, which will squash the oversized takeaway boxes thus reducing the volume and making more space. If the trial proves successful, the harbour will purchase four smart bins for installation next spring.

Pontoon News

The pontoon installation has been a slow and tedious process with the electrical installation contractor in particular dragging their heels.  In addition, the breakwater mooring chains require adjustment and two of the 12m fingers sustained damage from a visiting trawler. Given that we have yet to understand the performance of the breakwater in stormy weather and we are now in September, pontoons berths will not be allocated this year. The harbour will correspond directly with the 90+ applicants in the coming weeks sharing information on terms and conditions, pricing structure and an application form for the various berths. Clearly demand very much outstrips supply but over the winter months the harbour will allocate berths based on submitted information and if necessary names will be drawn from a hat.

We are delighted to welcome Malcolm Macleod to his new role as Deputy Harbourmaster.  Malcolm brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge and has fitted effortlessly into the harbour scene.  We wish him every success in his career with the harbour.

*****

Ullapool Angling Competition 2023 saw 23 boats registered and 100 people out fishing – including 11 under 18s.

Despite poor weather, good effort and turnout. Weather meant we were mostly fishing around Isle Martin, and nobody got the chance of a skate this year – nor the hoped for tuna (which the original RJ MacLeod cup has been returned into use for – not used since 1974, but back thanks to Angie Allen’s family and Ullapool Harbour), but a good selection of Pollock, mackerel, some decent cod and even some flatfish taken through the day – all returned unless being eaten and excess mackerel went for creel bait.

Men’s heaviest, Jamie Cutler 8lb 13 pollock winning the Ullapool Harbour Cup
Women’s heaviest Martha Kerr 5 lb pollock winning the Arch Inn Cup
Under 18’s heaviest Marc Mackay 5lb 2.5 pollock winning the Mackenzie Cup
Skipper heaviest Jamie Cutler (still hoping for a sponsor for a cup for this)
Most mackerel Kenny Scott 92.35 kg winning the Wullie Macrae Cup
Best dressed boat Murdo Urquhart winning the Brigitte Macrae Cup
Thanks to bottles donated by Sandor Ross and Broomfield, Ash Regan MSP and an anonymous donation of a bottle of Farage Gin from someone….

Generous donation from Geoff Maynard (again) allowed us to get a great deal from Glasgow Angling Centre, two rods from Jim Turner, and a rod from the Saorsa crew donated a rod in memory of Gary Diesel.

Thanks to Ullapool Harbour for letting us hold this at the new marina – great difference it has made. And thanks to David McNair for coming up from Glasgow to help (and Kathleen for giving him accommodation) and others offering help and prizes – hopefully bigger and better next year which will be the tenth anniversary since we restarted this. (music and food to finish?)

Noel

*****