Draft Minutes of the Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Council meeting

held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 28th June 2023

at Fort Augustus Memorial Hall

Present:

Deirdre MacKinnon – Chair – DM

Helen Clay – Secretary – HC

Mike Anderson – Treasurer - MA

Claire Pegrum – CP

Chris Ballance Cllr - CB

Apologies:

Iain MacKnocher – Vice-chair – IM

Jeff Dymond - JD

Robert MacDonald – RM

David Fraser Cllr - DF

1. Minutes:

Previous AGM - Proposed by MA and seconded by DM.

Previous Minutes - Proposed by DM and seconded by HC.

2. Matters Arising:

Glenmoriston Estates – ongoing

Scottish Canals – HC to email about how often the bridge is closing, sometimes it’s twice in ten minutes.

Abertarff bus shelter – ongoing.

Drop kerbs – ongoing. Tar has been added to the kerb at the crossing which works in the interim.

Oich Road – all bus companies to be contacted about parking on Oich Road. Heather Masterson from Highland Council visited but unfortunately there was light traffic that day. She proposed yellow lines all way round with loading allowed; markings on road have faded so need redone. Traffic orders take a long time, so far, it’s been 2 years and still no parking meters along that road.

Camping on Loch Ness beach – Can Highland Council do anything? There is no one to enforce if No Camping signs were put up.

Canal Toilets – reported to SEPA but the toilets have been opened again.

Village toilets – ongoing

Minute taker – ongoing

3. Police Report:

The CC are still not receiving police reports of any kind. We feel that police reports were beneficial to help people know what was going on in the village – ongoing

4. Treasurer’s Report: The current bank balance is £4677.32.

5. Community Amenity Issues:

Ardachy Road – ongoing

Starlink Broadband – MA explained about Starlink broadband which is available in the area. Start-up costs are £400 for equipment and £75pm

Zero waste food larder – a shed is being put up behind Tarff Trading for everyone in the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston area. Invermoriston are setting up their own “give and take” larder

Inch Bay – ongoing. CC and local police should always be informed of any new moorings.

Fort Augustus Senior Citizens – a day out has been organised and all senior citizens have been invited.

A82 – CB to contact Bear Scotland about the litter along the verges and the amount of time it’s taking for dead deer to be removed.

Invermoriston Car Park – a voluntary payment meter has been installed. Locals are worried that visitors could be put off if they don’t understand that it is voluntary DF to attend next GIG meeting. It was explained that as the meter is voluntary, there was no need for a public consultation.

BT building, Invermoriston – CC to contact OpenReach.

6. Planning and Licensing:

23/03640/MSC Ty Rhedyn. Auchterawe, Fort Augustus. Erection of house.

23/03038/FUL 8 Auchterawe, Fort Augustus. Erection of shed (permitted).

7. Renewables:

Coire Glas- ongoing. Comment sent in from CC (written by CP)

8. Correspondence:

A letter and photos were received from a member of the public complaining about the state of the public toilets

9. A.O.C.B:

Invermoriston playground at the Millennium Hall car park is being installed in August.

Invermoriston community shop is applying for an alcohol licence.

Glenmoriston Millennium Hall Committee are looking at putting a shower in the toilets as many houses in the area aren’t on mains water so in very hot weather, they may have no water.

Next meeting is on 30th August at Fort Augustus Memorial Hall at 7.30pm