19 November 2009
Firhill Residents Association, in the west end of Alness, was formed in 1994. Right to Buy had come in some time before and it was agreed that although there were very few home owners among the 220 houses it would be good to have input from all residents, rather than the majority tenant membership.
The first main issue was doors and windows. On a hill in the north of Scotland the metal windows, single glazed doors, lack of any insulation and many gaps meant that the shivering tenants were paying out a small fortune on the inadequate heating systems to warm up the air on the estate! With the help of Bill Anderson, the neighbourhood development officer, we campaigned for new doors and windows and new heating systems. We got the doors and windows the following year, then insulation and later gas central heating. We also worked on our green environment, planting trees, shrubs and wild flowers on Badgers Hill and the Wee Woods over the ensuing years.
We worked to have the play park refurbished and were happy to be consulted on the plans and felt we were really getting somewhere. Once these achievements had been made, the membership fell away quite a bit in spite of door to door surveys and open days.
The group continues however albeit with smaller numbers.
A few of our members have gone on to take an interest in the Tenant Consultative Group, Ross-shire Area Forum and various groups and meetings involving other aspects of Tenant Participation.
