MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE KILCHOAN COMMUNITY CENTRE, ON MONDAY 15th August 2019

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE KILCHOAN COMMUNITY CENTRE, ON 

MONDAY 15^th August 2019 AT 7PM

1.    WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

Present

Geoff Campbell Chair (GCC)

Pat MacPhail Treasurer (PM)

Gill Calver (GC)

Jessie Colquhoun (JC)

Kate Forbes (MSP)

Apologies

Kevin Swift, Police Scotland (KS)

Ian Ramon, Councillor

Also, present were 19 members of the public.

It was agreed that Sandra Campbell would take the minutes of the meeting.

GCC welcomed everyone present to the meeting.

GCC stressed that this is a community council and we are elected to represent the views of the community as a whole and to quote from the Scottish Government website on Good Practice guidance for community councils:

Community Councils are groups of people who give time to, and have a genuine interest in, the well-being of their community. Their chief role is representative; to consult the local community and to make known to the local authority and other public bodies the views of local people on all matters affecting them.

The fact that so many are here this evening shows that you care about the community we live in.  Please consider joining the Community Council and help us to continue to make this a wonderful place to live and work.

2.    MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held July 2019 were adopted as a true account of the meeting. Proposed by JC and seconded by GC.

3.    MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

Access to hills and public rights of way.

GCC made the following comments

The Core Paths consultation process is underway and details are available at http://consult.highland.gov.uk . We are asked to make any comments by Friday 18th October 2019.  Alternatively contact Donald Kennedy at donald.kennedy@highland.gov.uk.

GCC commented that he has heard from many people in the community on this subject.  There is widespread support for responsible access to the hillside and people are opposed to locked gates that prevent walkers from enjoying responsible access to the hillside.  People have also commented that walkers must behave responsibly and control dogs where there are sheep.  Michael Foxley has made his views known in the De tha dol, David Kime has circulated a note regarding access to the hills. 

Gill Calver has prepared a draft submission regarding the Core Paths Consultation.  This references the Action Plan carried out in 2017 by the Community Development Company which highlighted the popularity of walking in Ardnamurchan and how this could and should be further developed through local initiatives.  The creation of fenced woodlands without pedestrian gates has had the effect of curtailing the activity of hill walkers and not promoting it. 

Donald Houston of Ardnamurchan Estates made the following comments.

The Estates restricts access to less than 10 acres of land out 25,000 acres and it is necessary to look at the balance of the benefit from the Estate activities.  The Glenborrodale facility provides wood fuel that is used to heat the school and distillery and it would be an act of gross negligence to allow pedestrian access to an area with heavy machinery and forklift truck movements.  This area has been a working yard with a shed for over 30 years. 

In the forestry areas, the Estate has no choice but to lock gates closed because people have left gates propped open and, as a result, deer have eaten newly planted trees.  Camera traps were installed to see who was doing this and these have been stolen.  There is also evidence that pedestrian gates have been deliberately tied open. 

Ardnamurchan Estate supports and encourages responsible access to the hill and it has a legal responsibility for the maintenance of infrastructure but Highland Council will not accept the increase in liability that will come about as a result of core path and the Estate will formally object to the core path proposal.

The Estate has proposed an alternative route past the Glenborrodale farmyard which goes through the RSPB reserve. 

There was further discussion about self-closing gates that should have been incorporated in the fencing for forestry plantations as part of the grant conditions.  Donald Houston accepted that this was the case and that these gates have been ordered and are ready to be installed.  He was not able to give any time scale for when the gates will be installed. 

Kate Forbes commented that it is far better to keep gates unlocked, especially for older walkers and there must be a way of resolving these issues.  It is not in anyone’s interests to become entrenched and she had not come across an access issue of this extent elsewhere.

Reference was then made to a meeting chaired by GCC in February of this year, with Donald Houston, Sarah Houston, William Kelly, Dave Kime, Jenny Kime and

Donald Kennedy, our Access Officer where an alternative route through the adjacent RSPB reserve was discussed.  Dave and Jenny Kime subsequently scouted the route with difficulty and, in any case, it led to the wrong side of a locked gate for the path to Acharacle. 

GCC concluded the discussion and urged all interested parties to make their views known on the Highland Council consultation page. 

4.    FINANCIAL UPDATE

Two secretary remuneration cheques were paid out and £12 paid to UHI.  Funds stand at £414.04

5.    NHS SERVICES

GCC has spoken with Alan Knox (AK) of Scottish Ambulance Service on the phone.  AK is keen to arrange a visit in Kilchoan and GCC suggested any time before the end of August to discuss Emergency and First Responders and the Near Me programme. 

There were 3 people interested in becoming Emergency Responders.  No one had been appointed and it was reported that two candidates pulled out because of lack of accommodation.  However, there was no approach to the community to see if accommodation could be made available. 

The Near Me programme allows patients to use video technology to connect with a consultant.  This can be done from a home PC or the facilities in the Learning Centre and there are also facilities in Dail Mhor in Strontian. 

GCC to schedule a meeting with AK, JC and Ricky Clarke.

There was also discussion regarding the volunteer driver scheme to take patients to hospital appointments and there was a call for more volunteer drivers for the scheme.

The Community Council joint working group on Dail Mhor met with Ian Stewart, the new Chief Executive of NHS Highland.  Claire Cameron has been appointed area manager and is based at Dail Mhor.  The respite home is planning to add another bed bringing the total to six beds. 

6.    ROAD REPAIRS

6.1  Major repairs have been carried out near Loch Mudle and verges cut in Kilchoan

6.2  Overgrown verges at Ormsaigbeg have been reported on the Highland Council web site and there was a discussion around which areas the council is responsible for looking after and what exactly constitutes a verge.  Kate Forbes agreed to look into this.

7.    POLICE UPDATE

7.1. There was a recent theft of high value plant machinery from a building site in Lochaline. Please ensure all plant, machinery and materials are secured against theft. Also, please report any suspicious vehicles or people to the police as soon as possible.

2. On the subject of reporting things to the police. Due to the new incident recording system used by Police Scotland  Angie and myself cant log incidents. This has to be done via the 101 phone number. Obviously 999 still applies to emergencies. You can still phone Strontian Police Office on 01967 402022 or on 101 if you still wish to speak to us about anything but don`t want an incident raised.  Although messaging on social media can be quick it is not suitable for contacting us regarding most incidents. Obviously if information has to go out to the community, eg a stolen vehicle or suspicious vehicle or people, quickly it is good but for routine incidents and reports its not ideal. If we are off duty we don`t have full access to our resources locally so we can`t always do anything about an issue whereas phoning 101 can.

8.    CORRESPONDENCE

8.1  Planning Applications

19/03113/FUL | Erection of garage | Land 20M NW Of Morven View Kilchoan

Highland Council has raised an issue about the safety of the entrance to the site and the lack of visibility of the road.  Donald Houston of Ardnamurchan Estate commented that this garage had been promised to the community a while ago and held up over ownership of the land.  He has written to the planners pointing out that other access has been granted with more restricted visibility.  There was also discussion about reducing the speed limit from 40 to 30mph on this stretch of road. The Community Council asked for the speed limit on this stretch to be reduced a few years ago when there was a review of speed limits throughout Kilchoan and this was refused.  The Estate has agreed to supply all the material for the garage and will seek volunteers to construct the garage when the time comes.

8.2  Community Council Correspondence

THE HIGHLANDS SMALL COMMUNITIES HOUSING TRUST BOARD OF DIRECTORS – COMMUNITY ELECTED DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS

Access Update, West Ardnamurchan from David Kime,

Thanks from the Screen Machine and it is planning to return on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October.

Lochaber Health & Social Care Redesign Steering Group 15.08.19

Key Worker Housing in Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan.  Response to say that Brian Pearson will be in touch about the possibility of allocating housing for key workers.

Emergency Responder – Kilchoan.  Email from Alan Knox requesting a meeting in Kilchoan to discuss Emergency Responder and Near Me programme.  GCC suggested any time before 26^th August and has not heard back.

Surfacing works.  Gus Maclennan confirming the surfacing works at Loch Mudle. 

Core Path update from Donald Kennedy with details of consultation url and closing date.

9.    CORRAN FERRY CONSULTATION

No update was available for presentation at the meeting.

10.  AOB

10.1               There continues to be camping on the ground close to the new cemetery and members of the public feel that this intimidates people who wish to visit the graves.  Since this is common grazing land, it was agreed that this is a matter for the grazing committee to address and it will be taken up with them. 

10.2               There was a comment from a member of the public that bushes have grown up into the graveyard and could damage the gravestones.  There was also a comment that the grass cutting in the graveyard had been done very carelessly and damaged flowers and ornaments left on the gravestones.  GCC asked for more information so that this can be followed up. 

10.3               There was a comment that there had been gridlock at the ferry pier due to high volumes of traffic using the ferry.  It was suggested that we ask CalMac if they would employ a Pier Master again, for the Summer Season.  GCC was asked to contact CalMac to investigate. 

10.4               General discussion about campervans.  In general, they are not a problem but a minority of users are creating a problem with the illegal disposal of waste which can have a detrimental effect on cattle and sheep.  It was felt that this issue needs to be looked at across the region since the popularity of campervans is likely to increase and therefore this problem will get worse.

11.  NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place on Monday 9^th September at 7pm in the Kilchoan Learning Centre.

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