Looking on the bright side

TEMPTING as it may be to start this column with some tongue in cheek comment about the summer weather and the record amount of rain, it is no laughing matter for those folks living elsewhere in Moray and near Inverness who have been faced with rising water levels.

However, looking on the bright side, as the schools prepare for the start of the new term next week, this must surely be a sign that things will improve. After all everyone knows that when the kids go back to school, the weather always gets better!

On the subject of schools, congratulations must go out to Forres Academy after students recorded excellent exam results, with percentage passes up on last year, lots of As were reported and the school held it’s own with the rest of Moray and made several new records. Head teacher, Laurence Findlay said hard work by staff and parents, not to mention students had obviously paid off.

Elsewhere, people living around Kinloss and Findhorn and residents of Burghead got a nasty shock last week after learning that their water supply was contaminated with small traces of e-coli and they were advised to boil any they were using. Complaints have been made that the information took some time to get around to everyone with Scottish Water using social media for the most part, with only a small number receiving leaflets through their doors. No bottled water was made available and people reported significant inconvenience, and stores reported increasing sales of bottled water. However, an all clear was issued late on Thursday evening and although some people have been left concerned and worried it might happen again, others didn’t even know there wa a warning and report that they continued using their water as normal.

Forres in Bloom put on a good show last week as judges for the Britain in Bloom contest arrived in Forres to make their assesment.

Although the sun didn’t shine, the rain stayed away and judges enjoyed visits to various locations around the town to enjoy the floral displays and find out about community and sustainable projects happening at various locations.

There is little to do but wait until the end of September when results will be made public.

A visit by Army top brass to RAF Kinloss on Monday to assess the base’s suitability as an army facility was a bit of a talking point. A statement was released shortly afterwards to say that no decision about when, who, and how many personnel would be coming to Kinloss had been made. One thing is sure we cannot afford to wait. The area needs help to press ahead with sustainable projects that will bring a bright future to Forres now, whether the troops come or not.