WACC Meeting Minutes, Monday 11th March, 2019

WEST ARDNAMURCHAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE KILCHOAN LEARNING CENTRE, KILCHOAN ON MONDAY 11th MARCH 2019 AT 7PM

           

1.         WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

Present:          

May McNicol (Vice Chairperson) (MM)

Pat MacPhail (Treasurer) (PM)

Stewart Connor (Secretary) SC

Gill Calver (GC)

Jessie Colquhoun (JC)

Cllr. Iain Ramon (IR)

Also, present were 4 members of the public.

Apologies were received from, Geoff Campbell (Chair) (GCC) Cllr. Niall MacLean. Kevin Swift and Angie Campbell, Police Scotland.

MM welcomed everyone present to the meeting. MM then offered condolences to Lois and the Livett family following their recent bereavement.

           

2.         MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 11^th FEBRUARY 2019

The minutes of the meeting held 11^th February 2019 were adopted as a true account of the meeting. Proposed by PM and seconded by JC

3.         MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

           There were no matters arising from the previous minutes

4.         ACCESS TO HILLS AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

GC led a discussion on the various items of correspondence received since the last meeting. This included an e-mail from former Cllr. Dr. Michael Foxley on the Rights of Way in West Ardnamurchan. Dr. Foxley is an active member of the Scottish Rights of Way Society and has just re-joined the Lochaber Access Forum.

GC asked that the content of this email be summarised in the minute of the meeting which is included as follows;

 “Rights of Way exist from Glenborrodale via Glen More to Okle present for millennia. There is a Right of Way present for millennia from Glenborrodale past the old outdoor centre to Loch Laga via Alt Beithe to the Dig Bhan then to Arivegaig or Acharacle. Dr. Foxley confirms walking these routes over the past 40 years with family and friends. He also confirms having to overcome the presence of some obstacles in the past but that there were no obstacles the last time he walked them. He states that clearly signposted alternative routes must be provided if the increase of commercial activities by Ardnamurchan Estate prevents access to them with compliance with the 2003 access legislation”

SC confirmed that GCC had helped facilitate a meeting with Ardnamurchan Estate in the presence of Donald Kennedy, Highland Council Access Officer, Skye, Lochalsh and West Lochaber. This meeting took place on the 18^th of February. SC read a brief summary of the meeting as outlined by GCC.

GC read out a letter, previously circulated to all members of the Community Council, from Donald Houston of Ardnamurchan Estate to the Access officer of Highland Council, demanding that he write back stating that no Public Right of Way existed from Glenborrodale to areas north,east and west within 14 days or legal action would be taken against the Access Officer.

GC had e-mailed Ian Collier, Forestry Commission Scotland, for advice regarding the reported lack of provision of self-closing gates on the recent Glenborrodale Woodland Scheme, which would have a detrimental effect on the access to areas north, east and west of Glenborrodale.  In a subsequent telephone discussion Ian Collier had confirmed that all Woodland Schemes had to conform with the Access Code and that fencing paid for with public grant money had to contain the pedestrian gates detailed in the agreed proposal.  This also applies to the further applications by the Estate for Woodland Creation (see Agenda item 5).

Given the issues it was agreed that the community council had assisted in bringing the parties together and it was hoped that a satisfactory outcome that was beneficial to all was achieved. It was therefore agreed to continue the item on the agenda for a further update at the next meeting

5.         ARDNAMURCHAN ESTATE WOODLAND CREATION

SC confirmed receipt of two new woodland proposals by Ardnamurchan Estate issued by Miller Harris of consultants Kirn Limited, Fort William. The proposals involved native woodland planting at Allt Ockle and Creag an Aigrid. The proposals had been circulated to all community council members and GCC had distributed to other interested parties within the community area.

SC confirmed the receipt of feedback to these proposals from two members of the public who had also sent their feedback directly to Miller Harris of Kirn. These welcomed the planting of native woodland but pointed out access concerns in the provision of pedestrian access gates or stiles.

GC confirmed a discussion with Ian Collier, Forestry Commission Scotland on the requirements of fencing allowing public access as per the Access Legislation.

It was agreed that SC will compose a letter to Miller Harris containing the feedback from the community council and members of the public.

ACTION; SC to prepare a written reply with feedback for approval and issue to Miller Harris at Kirn.

6.         FINANCIAL UPDATE

6.1       Payments Received;

No payments were noted as being received

6.2       Payments Made;

No payments were made.

6.3       Balance;

PM confirmed the current balance is; £1776.04

PM confirmed that next month was the final month before the accounts were due and that a payment of £18 would be made for the use of the Learning Centre for three meetings.

It was agreed to bring forward the agenda item under AOB of the Kilchoan Community Hall Donation as put forward by a member of the public present at the meeting. Attention was drawn to Community Council members of recent financial support given by Ardgour Community Council to the Ardgour Community Hall as benefitting all members of the community.

The question was asked if West Ardnamurchan Community Council could offer a donation to the Kilchoan Community Hall board of directors to enable them to complete the works to convert the old games room to a doctor’s surgery/waiting room as benefitting the wider community.

Discussions followed on the works ongoing in the Kilchoan Community Hall which had been carried out mostly by volunteers but had stalled possibly due to lack of funding.

All community council members agreed that a donation of £1,000 be made to the Kilchoan Community Hall board of directors to assist them complete the works.

ACTION; PM to forward a cheque to the Kilchoan Community Hall chairperson.

            7.           NHS SERVICES

                         

GC will attend the next Lochaber Steering Group meeting on behalf of the community council.

GC confirmed that there was still no news of the venue for the Dalmhor public meeting taking place on the 28^th of March.

JC confirmed that an advert was now live for the vacant 1^st responder post.

            8.           ROADS

              8.1 Update from Highland Council

            SC outlined the content of the letter received by GCC from Mark Smith, Highland Council, Senior Roads Engineer in relation to Road Safety Concerns, B8007, Adelphi Distillery Area.

            These concluded that there was no requirement for a speed restriction in that area.

            GC pointed out that Highland Council had been requested to carry out a speed test on the straight past Glenborrodale telephone exchange some time ago and GC asked if this should be followed up.

              It was also agreed that speeding was also an issue in Kilchoan as highlighted at previous meetings.

            Action; SC to follow up with a request to Mark Smith of Highland Council for further speed survey work in these areas.

              8.2 Review of open road maintenance cases

            SC confirmed that there were no live open cases that the community council were aware of.

            A discussion followed on the proposed increased Highland Council budget spending for roads in the Lochaber region. It was pointed out that resurfacing works would take place at Loch Mudle as part of this budget. It was agreed that the current road condition was far from perfect and that the community council would maintain the pressure on Highland Council to ensure its regular maintenance. It was still hopeful of a meeting with Mark Smith to discuss this and other roads issues.

            9.           BT SERVICES/BROADBAND

           PM led a discussion on scamming phone calls which appear to be on the rise in the   area.

            10.         POLICE UPDATE

             An e-mail update had been received prior to the meeting from PC Kevin Swift which   SC read out as follows.

            "Issues/Advice. Please ensure all plant, machinery and materials are secured against theft. Reports in the beat area of vehicles driving about at night and daytime too looking for items to steal. Any suspicious vehicles please take all details you can and phone 101 at the time you see any.

            Drink driving is still not acceptable. Driving to the pub, drinking and driving home is not only dangerous for you it risks your community. Anybody caught drink driving will be reported to the courts and will lose their licences. No warnings will be given. Road Policing in Fort William are aware and will be spending time in the area"

            11.         CORRESPONDENCE

              11.1 Planning Applications;

              19/00805/FUL, Oisger, Portuairk. Erection of garage and extension to house including decking. Per Mr Gary Le Suer, Edinburgh.

              No comments were offered on behalf of the community council

              11.2 Community Council Correspondence

              27/02/19; E-mail sent to Alison MacLeod of Highland Council reference required grit bin locations.

              15/02/19; E-mail sent to Cllr. Niall Maclean reference possible meeting with Mark Smith, Highland Council Roads Engineer.

             13/02/19; Message from Dr. Michael Foxley reference Corran Ferry Fare increase

        18/02/19; 2 E-Mail’s from Miller Harris Kirn Consulting reference proposed  Ardnamurchan Estate Woodland Creation, Allt Ockle and Creag an Aigrid.

            18/02/19; Invitation to Shielbridge hall dinner dance.

          14/02/19; Letter from Mark Smith, Highland Council, Senior Roads Engineer reference Road Safety Concerns, B8007, Adelphi Distillery

              20/02/19; Lochaber Health and Social Care re-design steering group draft clinical profile paper

              21/02/19; E-mail invite to Ardnamurchan High School partnership meeting

             21/02/19; E-Mail from David and Jenny Kime reference the proposed Ardnamurchan Estate Woodland Creation.

             22/02/19; SFRS news

             25/02/19; E-mail correspondence reference public access through Glenborrodale     Farm and reply from Donald Kennedy, Access officer. 26/02/19

             26/02/19; Lochaber Health and Social Care re-design steering group minutes

             27/02/19; FROG system introduction e-mail. A platform that signposts citizens to services, support, events and attractions local to them

             28/02/19; Highland Senior Citizens network news

             28/02/19; Scottish Rural Action newsletter

            01/03/19; E-mail acknowledgement from Alison Macleod, Highland Council reference grit bin locations.

             26/02/19; Email reference feedback to the Community Council Review scheme with reminder e-mail from Dot Ferguson, Ward Manager on the 3^rd of March

             26/02/19; Police Scotland engagement invitation

             04/03/19; E-mail from Dr. Michael Foxley confirming Freedom of Information request sent relating to the proposed Corran Ferry fare increase

          06/03/19; Copy emails from David and Jenny Kime and John Dove reference the proposed Ardnamurchan woodland creation

             07/03/19; E-mail from GCC reference graffiti noticed on the Ormsaigbeag road sign and his cleaning of the graffiti

             08/03/19; SFRS news

             09/03/19; E-mail from GC with copy e-mail from Dr. Michael Foxley reference Rights of Way in West Ardnamurchan

            11/03/19; Copy e-mail from Elaine Stokes refence ongoing issues with the proposed Branault Telecommunications Mast.

            11/03/19; Thank you card from Morag Docherty with thanks from the organisers of the recent event to the community council for their kind donation

             

             12.         Corran Ferry Consultation

              No further updates were available.

             GC asked IR to explain why he voted for the proposed Highland Council fare     increase which may have been against the interests of the wider community. It was agreed that the proposals were rushed through and that IR had not the opportunity to bring this to the community council prior to the vote. IR however confirmed his view that the increase was an acceptable one given the circumstances and the percentage rise.

            13.         AOB

              13.1;    Web based public access to community council minutes and agendas

             

              SC informed the meeting that a blog page was now live and can be viewed by             following the link

              westardcc.blogspot.com

              13.2;    Possible visit to Kilchoan of the Screen Machine

             A member of the public informed SC that there has been interest in a possible visit of the Screen Machine to Kilchoan. It had visited Strontian the night before and it was thought that a visit to Kilchoan might be possible on a regular basis.

              Action; SC to enquire if this would be possible.

              13.3;    Sheep entering the new graveyard

             IR informed the meeting that he had been made aware of this and that Highland Council were taking action to repair fencing at the graveyard

              13.4;    Mingary Pier, Public Toilets

             IR informed the meeting that he had heard that there were proposals being explored to merge this facility with the one at the community hall.

              Action; IR to find out more information about this and advise at the next meeting.

            14.         NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place on 8th April 2019 at 7pm in the Nadura, Nature Centre, Glenmore

              MM duly brought the meeting to a close thanking all for their attendance.