GLENORCHY AND INNISHAIL

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of Council Meeting

 held in Lochawe Village Hall

 on 30 November 2005

 

 

Present: Alan Thomas, Kate Craig, Pam Whitehead, Cavin Crawford, Karl Pipes, Averil Watson, plus 14 members of the public

 

 

1.                   Welcome

 

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted it was St Andrew’s Day.  He also stated there was a correspondence folder being circulated at the meeting, which included all correspondence since the last CC meeting. 

 

2.                   Apologies for absence

 

Allan Macaskill, PC Greg Bryce

 

3.                   Minutes of CC meeting held on Wednesday, 26 October 2005

 

The minutes were approved.

 

4.                   Matters arising

 

4.1                 30mph speed limit. A letter has been sent by the CC to Trunk Roads Network Division, SE and there have been telephone discussions with them.  No reply has been received, but they will be chased during December (particularly relating to the Dalmally situation).  It was noted that progress had been made in ensuring a 30 mph limit for Lochawe, but A&B Council need to be pressed for a timetable of when the work will be completed.

4.2                 Water supply.  A letter has been sent by the CC to Scottish Water and their reply was noted.  After a discussion, it was agreed that a clarification letter was to be sent asking for details of the timescale and area in Dalmally/Lochawe for the work to be carried out and the implications of the two stages.  Also, the claim that new housing applications were not affected was challenged with specific cases, and this will be raised with SW.

4.3                 Kilchurn Castle access.  It was reported that the area representative for Historic Scotland was not able to attend the CC meeting but would be invited to the April 2006 meeting.  It was also noted that George Lyon MSP is investigating the change of responsibility for Network Rail to the Scottish Executive and whether this will mean a review of the decision regarding the closure of the crossing at Kilchurn Castle.

 

 

5.                   A&C Health Board

 

It was noted that a letter was sent to SE Argyll & Clyde Consultation.  The Chair emphasised the importance of representation on, and input into the new A&B Community Health Partnership.  The decision by SE is awaited.

 

6.                   Planning

 

A letter has been sent by the CC to A&BC Area Team Leader, and the reply was noted. 

 

It was agreed that individuals should write to their MSP regarding views on Third Party Right of Appeal. 

 

The status of Stachain Wind Farm application was noted as A&BC were awaiting further consultation responses and would report to the Area Committee in the New Year.

 

No application for the Brackley/Lochan Shira wind farm has yet been received by A&BC or the SE, but it was expected before Christmas.

 

A&BC representatives have indicated to the Chair and the Secretary that the next draft of the Lorn Local Plan will be prepared by mid 2006, for agreement by the end of 2006 and implementation 2007.  In the meantime the existing plan remains valid, except in areas where there were no objections to the new plan.  It was noted that there were 4000 general and detailed objections to the draft new plan.

 

The CC has received a detailed map of the boundaries for the CC area.

 

The role and importance of the CC in the Planning Process was noted, based on the presentation given by Neil MacKay, A&BC at the joint meeting of A&BC and the Association of Community Councils in September, although the timescales for notification and objection were very tight (7 and 14 days).  It was agreed that the CC would follow up on the Weekly Planning Lists and the Monthly Area Meeting and consult where possible on any potentially contentious applications in the CC area.

 

 

7.                   Model Constitution, Standing Orders and Code of Conduct

 

The Chair briefly described these documents and asked for comments.  It was agreed that 12 clear days for notification of CC Meetings was too long, and should be 10.  It was also agreed that the process for electing two additional Councillors for Dalmally would commence in the New Year, and that the CC would aim to meet 6 times a year.

 

It was generally accepted that the Model documents were acceptable, with the above proviso, and that A&BC would be informed of this.

 

 

8.                   Transport

 

It was reported that bus service 403, which departs from Glenview at 07.55 to Taynuilt Monday to Friday is to be withdrawn from April next year, due to the bus frequently travelling empty.  However, there is a proposal for a new local service leaving Dalmally at 9.00 Monday to Friday to go to Oban (this would allow 21/2 hours in Oban before commuters could return on the Citylink service at 12.45).  This news was received well and further information will be sought from A&BC as to whether the bus will pick up from Glenview, what the other stopping points are and if the service will run all year round.

 

There was a discussion regarding the minibus based at Dalmally School.  It was announced that A&BC would permit the bus to be used by community groups in the evenings and weekends.  More information will be requested from A&BC regarding insurance, the license required by the driver, the area the bus can be driven in and who will control the booking of the bus.

 

It was noted strongly by the Meeting that the current situation in relation to the Oban High School bus arrangements were unacceptable, (including sometimes 3 children in a seat being expected), and the A&BC would be strongly challenged and followed up.  It was felt that the provision of the service was inadequate and should be reserved for school children only. 

This is quite separate from the incident in November of 9 children being abandoned on the roadside at Loch Awe, where the reply from the A&BC was felt to be in adequate.

 

Cavin Crawford outlined the dangerous situation at the Bridge of Orchy where 50,000 people a year cross the road while walking on the West Highland Way in all weather conditions, direct on to a 60 mph speed limit stretch of road.   It was noted that road signs obstructed the views of both drivers and pedestrians, and that many drivers exceed the 60 mph speed limit significantly while driving on this stretch of road.  It was felt that a major accident was just a matter of time.  Both BEAR and Strathclyde Police were aware of the situation but no action was being taken.

It was agreed that letters would be sent to the A&BC and the SE.

 

 

9.                   Environment

 

The Chair noted that any matters relating to possible Tree Preservation Orders should be taken up directly with the A&BC, but the CC would wish to be informed and would assist where it was appropriate.

 

The Chair also noted that any Fly Tipping should be reported to PC Greg Bryce.

 

The Chair reported that the letters that had been sent by the CC to Wind Prospect (re proposed Stacain Wind Farm) and Natural Power (re proposed Lochan Shira wind farm), both above Dalmally, asking what assessment they had made of local support or objection to the proposals, had been replied to. 

Wind Prospect indicated that 48 people had attended their Information Day in Inveraray in November 2004 and 9 people had responded in writing.  56% of the 9 had agreed that the Stacain Wind Farm was a positive development.

Natural Power indicated that 1,600 properties in the area had been contacted by mailshot and 54 replies had been received. Of these, 38 agreed with the proposal, 10 disagreed, and 6 neither approved nor disapproved.  They noted that there were statistical difficulties in deriving definitive conclusions from these responses.

It was agreed that the CC would continue making enquiries of local reactions to the proposals from individuals, hotels, businesses, community groups, etc.

 

The Chair noted that the CC had sent a letter of objection to the SE re the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm amended proposal, in order to meet the 24th November deadline for objections, after consultation with CC members.  The reasons for the objection were noted in the letter circulated at the Meeting, and discussed.

 

 

10.                Forestry

 

The recent preliminary meeting with Forestry Commission Scotland was discussed, including Schools activities; possible Community Woodlands activities; recreational/historical/sporting activities; affordable housing; and the National Timber Network.

 

It was agreed that Forestry would be invited to the next CC meeting to discuss the above items, plus other items raised during discussion, including interaction with private woodland owners; future plans for the recently felled areas at NE end of Loch Awe; state of the signs and walks behind Dalmally station; drainage matters; planning processes; and the status of the old trees by the A85 at Dalmally adjacent to an area planned for imminent clear felling.

 

 

11.                Community Relations

 

It was agreed that CC members would contribute to preparing, and maintaining a list of ‘Community’ groups in the GO&ICC area.

 

 

12.                AOB items

 

12.1         Tree thinning opposite Tight Line.  The proposal for thinning of trees in front of the Tightline Pub in Lochawe was discussed, and agreed that any person requiring further information or had objections should contact Chair or Secretary who would raise it with the owners.

 

12.2         Eredine road. The proposal for the release of the £1,000 of CC monies to assist with the improvement of Eredine road, at the request of P Bowden-Smith, was discussed.  It was agreed to write to Mr Bowden-Smith asking for clarification of the queries raised at the meeting, and that the people of Eredine should be further consulted.  It was agreed that this would be discussed at the next CC meeting.

 

12.3         Roads.  It was noted that there is a blocked culvert at Dunoran Bridge, the road surface at Dalmally Church needs attention and there is a blocked drain causing water to stream across the A85 in Dalmally.  BEAR and A&BC need to be contacted as they have been pruning and cutting roadsides in September when they should be ensuring culverts are cleared instead.  There is a lot of rubbish at the Mart bottle bank.  Also, the police need to be contacted regarding the blue tape being left along the road after accidents.

 

 

12.4              Christmas trees.  Christmas trees have been ordered for Lochawe and Dalmally. 

 

12.5         Telephone Directory.  There was a discussion regarding mistakes in the telephone directory and it was agreed the CC would consider ways of improving the collection of data.

 

It was agreed letters would be sent to the appropriate organisations regarding the above items.

 

 

 

There being no other business the Meeting closed at 21.15 hours.

 

 

 

13.                Date of next meeting

 

The date for the next meeting is Wednesday 8 February 2006 at 7pm in Portsonachan Village Hall.