Community spirit is vital to help overcome apathy

CONON Bridge found itself making the headlines a couple of weeks ago as plans to get the village back on the railway line were given a major cash boost.

The reopening almost exactly a decade ago of a railway station at Beauly hasn’t done that village any harm, with thousands of users flocking to make use of the link on the Far North line. It has also served as an impetus for local housebuilding and boosted the village’s appeal to commuters with jobs in Inverness.

Another Ross-shire community which is also already on the line is now looking to build a head of steam around plans to re-energise itself, as we report this week. A close neighbour of Beauly, Muir of Ord is now the subject of an attempt by activists to build community spirit.

It’s a noble aspiration for a village which has witnessed steady growth down the years. As local representatives have been at pains to point out, that growth in population has not always been mirrored by increased amenities.

The “bottom-up” approach in Muir of Ord has the best chance of success. Time and again, communities in Ross-shire have shown just what’s possible when there’s a real sense of purpose with people getting behind projects.

In modern jargon, it’s all about people feeling they are stakeholders in what’s being planned. Good old-fashioned community spirit really can overcome apathy when folk feel they’re part of the bigger picture. It’ll be interesting to see how locals respond to this open invitation for a say about where they live.