News Naidheachdan

[Iain MacIlleathain - Preseantair] Nise, dh’fhosgail garaids ùr ann an Steòrnabhagh nach fhacas a samhail a-riamh ann am Breatainn. ‘S e iomairt shòisealta a th’ anns a’ gharaids a nì sgrùdaidhean MOT. Chaidh an goireas ann an seann mhuileann a’ Chlò Mhòir air Rathad Shanndabhaig fhosgladh gu h-oifigeil an-dè leis an fhear gnothachais Sir Tom Farmer. Tha dòchas ann gun lìon seo beàrn a chaidh fhàgail nuair a dhùin garaids eile anns a’ bhaile. Le tuilleadh seo Ruaraidh Rothach.

[Ruaraidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] A’ chiad ionad-deuchainn MOT ann am Breatainn a tha ann an làmhan na coimhearsnachd ga fhosgladh an-dè ann an Steòrnabhagh. ‘S ann leis a’ bhuidhinn saor-thoileach, Third Sector Hebrides, a tha e. Ghabh an Ridire Tom Farmer cuireadh a thighinn gu Steòrnabhagh airson an fhosglaidh oifigeil.

[An Ridire Tom Farmer] The community enterprise can play a very, very important role. It’s all about people working together, working with the local authorities, etcetera to create employment, to train people and to look to see how and what they can do to make a difference. It was good to speak to the young lad here who’s an MOT inspector and we were talking about various things and he said to me, he said “Well I don’t know how long I can stay in the community here. I might have to go to the mainland, I might have to look for a job” and what I said to him is that you will be well-prepared if you do have to go, which I hope he doesn’t. I hope he can stay here and help, but if he does have to go, then he’s got a ticket. He’s got something which is of great value and he’ll be able to pick up a job anywhere in the country.

[Ruaraidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] Cheannaich Third Sector Hebrides an uidheamachd bho gharaids eile sa bhaile a dhùin bho chionn ghoirid. Thathas an dòchas seirbheis MOT a tabhainn a bharrachd air a bhith a’ sealltainn às dèidh nan carbadan aca fhèin. Choinnich Sir Tom leis an luchd-obrach agus thug e seachad beagan comhairle air gnìomhachas air a bheil e fhèin mion-eòlach.

[Coinneach Dòmhnallach] Bha e math coinneachadh ris agus duine snog dhà-rìribh agus mar a chuirinn-sa e, “a very homely person”.

[Ruaraidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] Ciamar a tha buidheann saor-thoileach a’ dol an-sàs ann an gnìomhachas an leithid seo?

[Alasdair MacNeacail] Faodaidh sinn dèanamh a h-uile rud mar na gnothaichean eile. Faodaidh sinn faighinn surplus bhon obair a tha sinn a’ dèanamh, ach tha diofar ann, ach tha sinne a’ dèanamh social benefit cuideachd, bho na daoine a tha ag obair an seo, on surpluses a tha a’ dol air ais gu na charity againne agus chan ann gu na pòcaidean prìobhaiteach.

[Ruaraidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] Thug na briathran aig Sir Tom togail dha na bha an làthair agus tha dòchas ann gum bi an luchd-obrach cho luath ri Kwik-fit fitters iad fhèin a dh’aithghearr.

[Coinneach Niall MacIllinnein] Uill, tha aon gharaids air dùnadh mar-thà ann an Steòrnabhagh, so tha garaids eile a-nise an seo son dèanamh MOTs agus bu chòir dhuinn a bhith a’ fàs trang.

[Ruaraidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] Ruaraidh Rothach, BBC An Là, ann an Steòrnabhagh.

[Iain Maclean - Presenter] Now, a new garage opened in Stornoway, the like of which has never been seen before in Britain. The garage is a social enterprise which will do MOT tests. The resource, in an old Harris Tweed mill in Sandwick Road, opened officially yesterday by the businessman, Sir Tom Farmer. There is hope that this will fill the gap that was left when another garage closed in the town. With more, here’s Ruaraidh Munro.

[Ruaraidh Munro – Reporter] The first MOT test centre in Britain in the hands of the community opened yesterday in Stornoway. It belongs to a voluntary group, Third Sector Hebrides. Sir Tom Farmer accepted the invitation to come to Stornoway for the official opening.

[Sir Tom Farmer] The community enterprise can play a very, very important role. It’s all about people working together, working with the local authorities, etcetera to create employment, to train people and to look to see how and what they can do to make a difference. It was good to speak to the young lad here who’s an MOT inspector and we were talking about various things and he said to me , he said “Well I don’t know how long I can stay in the community here. I might have to go to the mainland, I might have to look for a job” and what I said to him is that you will be well-prepared if you do have to go, which I hope he doesn’t. I hope he can stay here and help, but if he does have to go, then he’s got a ticket. He’s got something which is of great value and he’ll be able to pick up a job anywhere in the country.

[Ruaraidh Munro – Reporter] Third Sector Hebrides bought machinery from another garage in the town that closed a wee while ago. They hope to offer an MOT service as well as looking after after their own vehicles. Sir Tom met with the workers and he gave them a little advice on business on which he is an expert.

[Kenneth Macdonald] It was nice to meet him and he’s really a nice man and as they say “a very homely person”.

[Ruaraidh Munro – Reporter] How does a voluntary group become involved in a business like this?

[Alasdair Nicolson] We can do this in the same way we conduct other businesses. We can get surpluses from the work that we are doing, but there is a difference, but we are creating a social benefit too, from the men who are working here and the surpluses are going back to our charity and not into private pockets.

[Ruaraidh Munro – Reporter] Sir Tom’s words gave those that were there a lift and there is hope that the workers will be as quick as the Kwik-fit fitters soon.

[Kenneth Neil MacLennan] Well one garage has shut already in Stornoway, so the other garage is now here doing MOTs and should be busy.

[Ruaraidh Munro – Reporter] Ruaraidh Munro, BBC An Là, in Stornoway.