Transcript

Hello, its Thursday the 11th of August, Im Jo De Sylva.
A councilor has accused the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park of threatening the economic future of local communities. George Freeman, Councilor for Lomond North, has raised serious concerns over how the Park operates, after local residents from Luss and Tarbert rebelled against a series of decisions they perceive to have been unfair and responsible for harming local businesses. Residents are particularly concerned about the park authority’s leasing of four Visitor Facilities at Luss, Tarbet, Inveruglas and Lomond Shores to commercial operators whose activities threaten to put local firms out of business and risk up to 20 much needed jobs. A newly formed association of small businesses claims the park authority is more concerned with generating income for its own coffers rather than working constructively and in partnership with local communities.
A spokesperson for the national Park said they are still considering their response to the points raised.
Detectives investigating the triple murders of Thomas Sharkey senior and his children Bridget, aged 8, and 21-year-old Thomas junior have issued a new appeal for two potential witnesses to come forward. Examination of CCTV footage taken around the time of the blaze which swept through the family home in James Street on July 24th, has identified two passers-by who may have seen something which holds a clue to finding the killers. The first person is described as a male wearing a grey hooded top, walking along West Princess Street, and a second figure seen on James Street shortly before the fire between 4am and 5am on the Sunday morning.
Anyone with information on the fire attack, is urged to contact the incident room at Dumbarton Police office on 0 1 3 8 9 8 2 2 0 5 9, or call Crimestoppers in confidence, on 0 8 0 0 5 5 5 1 1 1.
The Waverley, the last ocean going paddle steamer in the world, is to get a prestigious award.
The ship, which celebrates its sixty fifth birthday this year, is the first Scottish winner of the Engineering Heritage Award, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The honour is due to be presented to the ship’s Chief Engineer Ken Henderson, on Sunday the fourteenth of August.
Voluntary groups and local charities are being urged to apply for up to six thousand pounds in funding from The Community Force project, operated by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The fund is aiming to make three individual awards of six thousand pounds to community groups that encourage greater community involvement and volunteering. More information of the scheme can be obtained by calling 0207 672 0060.
And finally the weather today, rain throughout the day and a high of 16. And tomorrow, rain again with a high of 18. Thats all fro today, thanks for watching.