The Garrison played its part in helping residents during a recent power cut on the island which lasted for around three hours.

As reported last week, the majority of the island's population - 1313 people - were affected as SSE had to send engineers to the island to resolve a cable fault which knocked out Cumbrae.

Cumbrae Community Development Company director Bob Campbell received a call from Garrison office manager Mrs Jan Wilkie that the power had failed.

A spokesman for CCDC said: "We have a set routine in place for such emergencies, and this was activated.

"We also act as the support function for the Cumbrae Support team led by Mr. Bob Campbell and as such we received a generator from SSE; to service the islands needs from the Garrison in the event that these disruptions lasted a significant length of time. In such events, the Garrisons would act as soup kitchen for those needing a hot meal.

"CCDC are therefore grateful that the actions which CCDC Director Mr. Bob Campbell took some 18-months ago, in prior planning for emergencies and disasters, have now come into play."

Three years ago, a long lasting power cut which affected the island for four days resulted in the Garrison being converted into a soup kitchen, which resulted in the development of the emergency plan to support the island at times of such need.

CCDC are an independent charity which seeks to work in partnership with other private, public and third sector organisations, and aim to achieve the sustainable regeneration of our community by addressing a focused range of economic, social, environmental and cultural issues within the community.

The Garrison House had an oil-fired heating system installed around ten years ago to a high standard as part of extensive renovation works. CCDC arranged for the system to be modernised.

As part of a recent Energy Audit through Resource Efficient Scotland, finance for the recommended improvements was arranged through Energy Scotland.

Gibson and Goold won the tender to install a cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative system using Austrian ETA wood pellet boilers.

Minor alterations were made to the existing boilerhouse to allow installation of a 10-tonne fuel store with an automatic filling system, and the new boilers provide 100% of the heating demand. An existing oil boiler has been retained to give an automatic backup system.

CCDC are hosting their A.G.M on Tuesday 17 November at the DA Hall, 5.30pm for 6pm.