Kilbirnie and Beith councillors Jean Highgate and John Bell have demanded KA Leisure rethink their proposals to reduce opening hours and reception cover at Garnock Pool, in a letter to KA Leisure Chief Executive Frank Keddilty. The councillors raise concerns about the security of pool users, the lack of consultation with users groups. They also point out the installation of a new play facility in front of the pool and the opportunity to expand pool usage which would be lost if hours are cut.

Tom Hart writes: North Ayrshire Council’s plans for a housing development near Kings Road, Beith continues to cause concern to residents. Following a recent meeting of local residents some key points have been raised about the revised development brief issued by the Council and they now form the basis of a letter to North Ayrshire Council from Kings Road residents, hoping that the Planning Brief can be further revised to take account of specific concerns.

Janette Edmonds, President, opened the November meeting of Gateside WRI by welcoming visitors and members. The Rural song was sung after which Catherine McCarter, secretary, announced future events and dealt with Rural business.

Thereafter followed a parade of beautiful hats, delightfully modeled by volunteer helpers from Beith Thrift Shop, namely, Nichol Hutchinson, Margaret Barraett, Mary Gillin and Audrey Williamson. Rae Hutchinson compered the show giving a detailed description of each hat as it was modeled.

Councillor Jean Highgate writes: At long last work will be carried out in Main Street to repair the various trip hazards within the mono blocked area.

Work will be carried out on Sunday November 16 and 23 with temporary road closure orders in place. Thanks must go to Katy Clark MP for lending her support to my fight to have this work carried out.

Beith Scout Group is once again organising the collection of Christmas Cards in Beith for delivery in the area of Beith, Gateside and surrounding farms. The price will remain the same at 15p per card. Pick up points are Garnock Video, Billy’s, Val’s and Gateside Inn. The cards will be delivered by members of the Scout Group over the weekend of 20/21 December. The support of the public is once again greatly appreciated.

The staffing levels have to be cut at Garnock Pool meaning that the small pool will be closed in the mornings and there will be no receptionist. I think that this could be the first step to closure of this important part of the community. Please look for petitions in your local shops and help stop this from happening. THANKS.

Beith boy done good – done bad! Beith’s Tom Harris, 44, brought pride to the town when he was elected as Member of Parliament for Glasgow South on 7th June 2001 with a majority of 10,832, which saw him 143rd out of 631 MPs.

Quickly identified as something of a Labour rising star, he served as a Junior Minister as Under-Secretary at the Department of Transport Tom attended Spirer’s School and Garnock Academy before going on to Study mechanical engineering at Glasgow College (1983 - 1984) and journalism at Napier College, Edinburgh (1984 - 1986) and worked as a journalist prior to entering parliament in 2001.

Beith & District Young Farmers' Club will be holding their Annual Variety Concert 'Old Flowers Go To The Dogs' in the Magnum Theatre, Irvine from Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd November with curtain up at 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced at £5 and concessions £4 for the Wednesday and Thursday and £6 for the Friday and Saturday. Please see any cast member for tickets or contact Scott on 07729 384288. Tickets are non refundable.

PM Bro. Wllie Black and Lodge Office Bearers were installed at Lodge Beith St John’s No 157 last Friday by Installing Masters, Bro. John McKenzie P.M. 314, Stephen McConnachie P.M. 399 and Hugh Gilbert P.M.1408. William Black is an Honarary member of all three Lodges, haence the reason for him selecting these particular three Installing Master to oversee the Beith installation process.

The deputation from Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire was led by SPGM Bro William Steele of Kilmarnock. Some 60 brethren attended what proved to be a very enjoyable evening. This is the second occasion that Bro William Black has been in the chair at Lodge Beith St John’s.

AULD ALLIANCE
Iain Harris, Choir President, writes: Cunninghame Choir with their Musical Director Robin Versteeg and accompanists Walter Blair and Gordon Mabbott present their winter concert in Trinity Church, Beith on Saturday November 29 at 2:30 pm. The Auld Alliance theme is a programme of folksongs and carols celebrating Scottish and French relations. The folksong arrangements are very different from the normal and include Loch Lomond (arr. R Vaughan Williams), My Love is like a Red Red Rose (arr. Donald Cashmore), and The Wee Cooper O' Fife (arr. Ken Johnston). The centrepiece of the French songs is the ever popular Cantique De Jean Racine by Gabriel Faure. Tickets priced £7.50 (£5 concession) will be available at the door.

On Sunday November 2, Beith’s Stephen Smith took part in the 2008 Malympex Martial Arts World Championships, and won gold in the Judo +100kgs weight category, he also went on to win Silver in the Open weight category. This event was an Ultimate Martial Arts event, with over 10 different Martial Arts going on at the same time, however, it was the Judo event that Stephen entered.

The event was held in Stoke Mandeville Olympic Stadium, Aylesbury, just outside London. Stephen’s event was organised by the World Judo Alliance, which is part of Malympex Martial Arts. Congratulations to Stephen on a noteworthy sporting achievement.

Well known and popular local, Robert Jamieson of the town’s Janefield Place has been associated with 1st Beith BBs from his earliest schoolboy days. A keen member of the BB Bugle Band, Robert has been proudly playing the bugle at the Annual Remembrance Services in Beith and Dalry for an incredible unbroken run of 31 years, a first class and very important service to Dalry and Beith in remembering those who fell serving our country in war.

Everyone will join in congratulating Robert on this remarkable service to our community and just hope that his lip holds out for the next 30 years!

The Spier's Old School Grounds public questionnaire will be available from Saturday, November 15th in Beith, Kilbirnie and Dalry libraries as well as Woodside's in Dalry, Radio City in Kilbirnie and the Health Centre in Beith. Questionnaires for Organisations and Groups are being distributed.

All questionnaires should be returned by December 1st to the libraries, Radio City, etc.

The next Barrmill Association meeting, will now be held on Thursday November 27 at 7pm. Committee members are asked to note the change of date. The association is looking for help to organise the Children's Xmas celebration and also the Hogmanay Party. Any assistance gratefully appreciated. Contact Jean on 01505-502521. The next church service in the Barrmill Community Centre will be on Sunday November 23 and this service will be a communion service beginning at 6pm. All very welcome.

Brenda Allan, GVCSF Administrative Officer, writes: Garnock Valley Community Safety Forum (GVCSF) in partnership with North Ayrshire Council Trading Standards Department are holding a Safe Christmas Shopping and Information Day on Friday November 28 at Tesco, Kilbirnie, between 11am and 2pm.

Barrmill Jolly Beggars hold their 64th annual St Andrew’s Dinner on Friday November 28 in Beith Bowling Club. The principal toast to St Andrew and Scotland will be proposed by well known local man, Marshall Carmichael. Tickets are £12 and can be ordered from Donald Reid on 01505-503801 or via any committee member.

Margaret Broster, Trinity Guild Team member, writes: On Tuesday November 11 Trinity Church of Scotland Guild hosted an evening with superb entertainment from Garnock Academy choir, Jazz Band and instumentalists.

Sink or swim! K:A Leisure are again hitting the Garnock Valley headlines for all the wrong reasons, upsetting groups and individuals who regularly use the excellent facilities at Garnock Pool.

Established on April 1, 2000, as North Ayrshire Leisure this flagship company was tasked with running leisure and recreational facilities in North Ayrshire for local people and visitors to the area.

The Spier's Trust, Beith Cultural and Heritage Society and North Ayrshire Council are about to issue a questionnaire which all interested groups and individuals can complete and return. It is aimed at encouraging the use of the Speir's Old School Grounds and will seek views on desired improvements, possible uses, developments, etc.