We were on the edge of our seats last week when the route map out of lockdown was being announced. We are excited to be able to start planning the reopening of the centre and welcoming back local residents and visitors.
This latest newsletter hopefully provides you all with an update on what has been happening whilst we have been closed, along with information about plans for Spring 2021 & beyond.
The centre will reopen on Monday 26th April. The Gallery and Wee Whistle Stop Café will reopen from this date. Other areas such as the Gym and activities at the hall will remain closed until Scottish Government guidelines allow them to reopen/resume. We will keep a close eye on the guidance from Sports Scotland regarding gyms reopening, and will confirm the date as soon as possible.
We trust that you felt safe when visiting the centre after restrictions were eased in 2020 and hopefully the hard work the team put into risk assessments and adjustments will make things easier for everyone this time around.
Please visit the Torridon Community Centre website (www.lochtorridoncentre.co.uk/wee-whistlestop-cafe) and The Wee Whistle Stop FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/WeeWhistleStop/) for the up-to-date opening times and latest menu’s.
New at the Centre
Movie nights are coming to the new cinema at the Centre. We hope to have you on the edge of your seats once again with our exciting new addition. We have installed a 4m wide electrically operated cinema screen, new projector and surround sound speakers in the main hall. As well as movies and presentations we are looking into the possibility of screening live performances from the National Theatres and concerts. We urgently require volunteers to test the popcorn and ice creams, please form an orderly socially distanced queue which we expect to stretch all the way to Kinlochewe!
Outside Spring clean and signage spruce up. Look out for our new exterior signage which gives the centre a fresh new feel for 2021. We have made improvements to the top car park and works are underway to tidy the front patio. There is a new pathway towards the old village walk information board. More on the improved old village walk and viewpoint in the next newsletter….
Supporting the Centre
We are a membership organisation. If you are not already a member please consider joining for only £3 a year. A very quick and easy application form is available from Wilma via manager@lochtorridoncentre.co.uk or pick up at the desk.
Sessions with podiatrist Ruth Ross and appointments with hairdresser Jane Stevenson will be available soon. Dates will be circulated via the Visit Torridon mailing list and on our website. Please support these services as much as possible to encourage them to continue visiting the Centre. We often hear the phrase ‘shop local’, at the Centre you can ‘de-bunion local’ and ‘trim local’.
The Community Car Scheme have been busy in the last year, delivering prescriptions on behalf of the Medical Practice and helping with essential hospital journeys. The scheme rent an office at the Community Centre. We have further flexible office space available, in the form of our upstairs conference room – available on a short, long or ad hoc basis. Many office workers are now able to work more flexibly, without the need for long commutes, but perhaps working from a busy family home isn’t always ideal. Or perhaps you just prefer having great coffee and a café on site!
Craft markets: We are just finalising the 2021 schedule for our popular craft markets. Hopefully these will run every fortnight. More info coming soon. Please support our local crafty people who have lost a lot of business due to the pandemic, but hope to get back on track with a bumper summer season.
Beyond the Centre
Thanks to Jo Harris and the team at Torridon Stores for keeping the community supplied with essentials (plus the even more essential sweet & savoury treats) during the national lockdown. Also to Aart & Amanda of Gille Brighde restaurant for their delicious take away food.
Special thanks to all at Torridon Medical Practice for well organised Covid vaccine clinics. A lot of work goes into these clinics, with often up to 100 appointments needing to be booked at fairly short notice. We are delighted to be able to offer the main hall to facilitate these. Round two starting soon!
TDCA are working with the community council and Highlife Highland to try to ensure that Torridon has public toilets available in time for the tourist season. It was disappointing that the village didn’t have these facilities in 2020. This is proving more complicated than just opening the door but the work being done on this is a great example of organisations collaborating for the benefit of the community and our visitors.
Supporting you: Our website is able to help promote your local business. If you would like us to feature your B&B / letting accommodation or eatery please get in touch with Wilma via manager@lochtorridoncentre.co.uk
We hope you are all keeping well and are enjoying the longer days (clocks go forward on Sunday 28th). Looking forward to seeing you at the Community Centre or ‘oot and aboot’ this Spring.
Mat Webster
On behalf of the Directors & Centre Team
