Issue - meetings

Murray Humphries from Loch Watch Loch Awe advised there is currently no fishermen at the loch and is all very quiet at this time of the year but confirmed that they are currently preparing for the summer where they will have more use of the new boat.  He advised that the boat is currently in the boat house as there was an issue with the mooring due to the bad weather but will be back in the water for the season starting.

Murray Humphries from Lochwatch Loch Awe gave an update on the Loch Patrol Boat and advised that due to the torrential rain in October, this caused the levels of the loch to rise by over seven feet and as a result of this, the pier and pontoon at Innis Chonain were rendered unusable. He advised the loch levels were at 125 feet, just 2 feet less than the highest recorded level and that there was some damage to the pontoon and pier but the patrol boar was safe on its mooring in the loch.  He confirmed that contingency plans were put in place to launch the boat if it was required but routine patrols had to be suspended and loch levels have now returned to normal.

He advised the Forum that LochWatch was launched at the Cruachan Power Station Visitors Centre in March 2010 making 2015 the fifth anniversary and plans to mark the occasion are being drawn up and members of the Community Safety Forum will be invited along.

Murray gave an update on Scotland’s Water Safety Reference Group and advised the next meeting will be held in December in Helensburgh.  He advised that local authorities, the emergency services and the voluntary sector are represented on this group.

He advised that LochWatch are currently looking for volunteers.

Murray Humphries from Lochwatch Loch Awe gave an update on the Loch Patrol Boat.  He advised that the pontoon and pier at Innis Chonain is complete and donations, materials and transport to the site have been made by Strathclyde Scaffolding, MacQueen Brothers Removals, Argyll Commercials, Homebase and West Coast Motors.  He advised that Atlantis Leisure have recently helped by donating some rescue training aids for the boat.

He updated the Forum on the press and TV interest in the loch patrol boat and advised they will be arranging an “open day” before the end of the fishing season for Lochwatch volunteers and friends and will also invite the press.

He reported that some of the marker buoys are off station due to high winds and fluctuating loch levels and that the safety boat will be used to sort these out and get them back into position.  He advised that there is a warning on the website and Facebook page.

He advised that they have obtained some orange hi-vis waistcoats which have “LochWatch” printed on them and thanked the Wool and Needcraft shop in Oban for their help with this.

He advised that they have currently been uploading videos and pictures of the boat on their Facebook and Twitter page.

The Chair updated the Forum on the recent meeting he attended in Perth with Murray Humphries which covered Water Safety and in-land safety in building safer communities.

Murray Humphries noted that there had not been any major incidents on the loch in this reporting period.   He also highlighted that Lochwatch had received a very generous cheque from one of the families of the victims of the accident four years ago, and that this would be largely used for the rescue Boat.   Murray noted that Lochwatch and the forestry had agreed the transfer of title of an area of land around the monument, and that this area would both be maintained as a memorial, but also be used as a staging point for rescue operations on the loch.  

Alex Purdie had to leave the meeting due to other commitments—