Events and Business

The Feolin Study Centre. September 30^th was the year-end for this group. The Trustees have to make a very hard decision within the next three months, as there is no funding to keep the project going. It is very likely that without a sound injection of capital that the Feolin Centre and this web site will close early in 2010. It is disappointing that all the work the Centre set of to do has never been achieved. If anyone knows of available funding do contact isleofjura@btinternet.com

Jura Community Council will cease to exist at the end of October. Only 4 people put their name forward to serve on the new council but the requirement is for a minimum of 5 members. Argyll & Bute Council have asked for more names to go forward and they will review the situation in December. It will be a blow for the island if there continues to be no council group to fight for the rights of the islanders.

The Jura Music Festival was held on the 25/26/27 Sept. This increasingly popular program is now perhaps at its maximum capacity, as all accommodation is full and the venues have limited availability of tickets. www.juramusicfestival.com

Jura Community Business. This is possibly the most important community business on the island as they run the petrol station. The directors are at present investigating how they can find finance to build an industrial unit on the adjacent land. The Annual General Meeting was held this month, where the directors informed the public that there may have to be changes the running of the fuel supply in the future.

Jura Progressive Care Centre. On her recent visit to the island HRH Princess Anne took time to visit the Centre to talk to staff and islanders. Photographs will shortly be viewable at www.ephotographic.com

Jura Distillery. It has been very disappointing for the island that three men have been laid off. The company says that they are reducing production so require less staff. Whatever the reason such moves are a blow to the island population and economy. Two of those who lost their jobs are leaving the island with the third still considering their future.

Tourist season. During October and the winter months the main tourism is for the deer stalking which is the main income source for the islands private estates. In terms of directly related employment, approximately 8% of the island population will be dependent on the field sports industry.

Overall it would appear that this has been a reasonably good season. The Ardlussa sports at the end of July and the Jura Regatta at the start of August were very well supported. Lets hope that the good weather we are encountering in September will encourage a few more visitors to come for short breaks before the onslaught of winter, as the island needs to have cash flow to retain its business community.

Landscape Change Research. Feolin Study Centre has tried to raise funding for this but regretfully all applications have been turned down. We had intended to work in conjunction with the Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management and others, in implementing a major research project on environmental change on Jura. The project will identify what created the changes over the centuries, how these influenced human use of the land and how that corresponds with the physical records we have. The research will also look at how climate change (in particular rising sea levels) may affect the island in the future. Anyone interested in providing financial assistance for the project, please get in touch. NOW. Contact isleofjura@btinternet.com

Renewable Energy. Research is now underway for the proposed tidal power units in the Sound of Islay. It would appear there are lots of opportunities but we shall need to await the results of the research. The proposed operators, Scottish Power Renewables and Islay Energy Trust hope to have the tidal turbines in operation by 2011. They intend applying for planning shortly but it is unclear if they have managed to get access to the National Grid system to supply the produced power. Two of the islands estates are looking at micro hydroelectric schemes. One has a planning application with Argyll & Bute Council but it appears that the Council has an issue with the public road being used to move materials to the proposed site ! The other estate at the south of the island will be submitting their planning application in a few months. However, despite assurances to the contrary, they still cannot get an agreement to supply to the National Grid system. As we noted before there is little use in governments ‘promoting’ green energy if the producers cannot get it to the actual users.

Port Askaig pier. HRH Princess Anne officially opened the redeveloped pier in September. There are still many on Jura and Islay who are unhappy with the design and overall cost (£13.7 million) of the project. Argyll & Bute Council claims it is a great success.

Passenger Ferry. It is understood that this service, which is in its second year of operation, is struggling financially. Despite receiving a subsidy from Argyll & Bute Council there are still not enough passengers using the service, which takes about an hour from Craighouse to Tayvallich.

Jura Hotel. It is rumoured that the islands only hotel has been sold. The hotel is a focal point in the social fabric of the island. A change of ownership and management will have a wide affect on the island. www.jurahotel.co.uk

Direct Mainland Link. The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate change had indicated that the Scottish Governments Ferry Review is to consider a direct link for the Island of Jura. It is still unclear if this will actually be undertaken and if so how.

Islay & Jura Ferry Co Ltd. This locally based group has raised a Public Petition (PE1192) asking for a review of how the Scottish Government treats independent ferry operators. The Petition is to be reviewed in early November.

Campbell Mausoleum. For over 200 years members of the Clan Campbell held sway over Jura with many being buried in the family area in Kilearnadil Cemetery. Now fears are been expressed about the safety of the Mausoleum as parts of the roof have started to fall of. The Jura Campbells left in the early 1900’s so Jura Community Council are trying to establish who is going to take responsibility for repairing the building which is part of the islands heritage. Is there anyone out there who can help financially ? What does Historic Scotland do?

Nature

The Red Deer rut or mating season is now coming to an end. Large mature stags, which held hinds, defending them against other suitors, are now returning to their wintering grounds. At this time Jura becomes a very noisy island as the stags roar their challenges round the hillside. Interestingly sometimes the biggest noise comes from the smallest stag! For the photographer there are some super opportunities to get deer pictures at this time.

Despite the recent good weather many of the summer migrant birds are starting to leave. All members of the rodent family are busy gathering up their food supplies to keep them sustained for the next few months. The oak, birch and rowan trees are in striking autumn colours. There are also very dramatic areas of purple blooming heather in some lower parts of the island whilst around the Paps, this year again a lot of the heather appears to have died or is in poor health. It is assumed that this is due to heather beetle, which destroy the heather shoots. With the great variation in colours and changes in light these are perhaps the best months for photograph taking on Jura. Book your visit now, just a couple of days is all you need.

Farming

Farmers and crofters will soon be taking cattle and sheep in from the hill. The calves and lambs will be weaned from their mothers and sold on at the sales in the neighbouring island of Islay. Financially this is a very important time for all farmers and even more for those on the islands, as ferry cost hit both livestock movement outwards and feed coming in. Soon the cows will be let into the fields to graze the last of the green grass before it dies of. Since the 1960’s the importance of agriculture has fallen dramatically. The area of cropped land has fallen by over a third, the cattle stock by almost a quarter and the sheep numbers by more than three quarters. The present work force, which can be attributed to farming, probably combines to 6 units now. This bears no relation to the supposed 42 in 1960. This sector accounts for a mere 4% of the islands financial output. Just over half the agricultural units are involved in some form of environmental scheme, with over 60% of agricultural income deriving from farm subsidies.

Fishing

Salmon and trout fishing on the island has now come to an end. We await comments as to what kind of season it was.

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