Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Council meeting at
Fort Augustus Village Hall Wednesday 30th March 2022
Members present:
Deirdre MacKinnon - Chair (DM)
Helen Clay - Secretary (HC)
Mike Anderson - Treasurer (MA) Jeff Dymond (JD)
Apologies - Robert MacDonald
Due to technical difficulties Iain MacKnocher (Vice chair), Jill Wyatt and Jade Douglass
(minute taker) couldn’t join the meeting
In Attendance:
David Fraser Councillor (DF)
DM started by welcoming everyone to the first face to face meeting since the start of lockdown in March 2020, it was good to see everyone again in person.
Previous minutes after amendment to Glenmoriston Millennium Hall paragraph was
Proposed by HC Seconded by JD
Matters Arising
Invermoriston Cemetery:
Access to the cemetery from the car park. There is no proper pavement so access for disabled/elderly etc is not good. BEAR to be approached about making a path. Lots of windblown branches and debris in the cemetery. FAGCC are employing a new community caretaker for the Glenmoriston area 2 days a week so hopefully it can be kept relatively clear.
The gates into the Grant's lair are in a state of disrepair, it is thought to be a private lair
Grass cutting to be done by GIG
Housing:
All sheltered housing is now allocated and the 3 council properties have been allocated to local families
Roads:
Resurfacing of the pavement and reparation of the drain outside the Hardware Store has now been finished, they have done a thorough job
Police Report:
1 drink driving offence
3 public protection reports
1 report of a vehicle left insecure with belongings inside (wild campers)
1 report of belongings removed from an unattended bag.
Treasurer’s Report:
There is still a problem setting up online banking
Cheque out £40
Balance £4280.49
Community Amenity Issues:
Lynne from GIG had a few issues to raise.
GIG would like meetings with CC, HC, Transport Scotland and other interested parties regarding reducing the speed limit through Invermoriston and also up by Redburn and Dundreggan. Also a new bus shelter at Riverside Park (DF to speak to HiTrans) and traffic safety at Torgoyle Bridge.
The CC have never had a direct meeting with Transport Scotland.
DF said that regarding the traffic on the A82 at Invermoriston there will be a traffic survey. DF has been in contact with Transport Scotland regarding reductions on various speed limits but has always been told no and that the Police wouldn’t support it. He has contacted Transport Scotland to ask them to define whether they class Invermoriston as a village or not as that can affect their stance on speed limits. All points have been raised with Transport Scotland and are ongoing
Broadband upgrade - ongoing
Glenmoriston Estate - HC and Forestry are taking legal action over the closure of the access route but there is a backlog of cases due to Covid.
There is currently a planning application from Glenmoriston Estate to build a new house on the loch at Fassaig (?) It had been commented on by a local resident that the access being denied and the access officer had also commented that the denying of access was illegal.
Medical Centre -
When the medical centre was built, the community was told there could be a dentist, physiotherapist, optician etc visiting. As yet there has been nothing at all. The medical centre was built well before Covid so that cant be the reason. Near-to-me is also very underused. FAGCC to be contacted
Allotment space -
At Abertarff Place there is a small piece of waste ground belonging to HC. It is a public right of way but the council haven’t cut it back for at least ten years. H Clay to speak to FAGCC about maybe getting it for part of the community allotment scheme
Millennium Hall Toilets -
Members of the Millennium Hall Toilets committee felt that their work to date had been reported wrongly in previous CC minutes and in Ness News. It was agreed to have a meeting for the sole purpose of finding out what is happening with the toilets going forward.
The GIG meeting was held on 12th April in the Millennium Hall and was open to the public. Regarding Invermoriston grass cutting, GIG have signed a service agreement with HC to carry out grass cutting at the recreation park, cemetery and picnic area. A ride on mower has been purchased, public liability insurance is in place and volunteers will cut the grass on a regular basis
Renewable Energy Projects:
Fred Olsen Renewables are having an open day in April in Glengarry on 20th April and Fort Augustus on 21st April regarding the windfarm at Culachy.
Correspondence:
A letter was received from a local about the large steel fencing at the pier in Fort Augustus being an eyesore, the slipway there has been crumbling for years. HC to contact Scottish Canals
AOB:
It was agreed that in the future GIG would send a representative to the CC monthly meetings so we could better communicate. If there is a bigger issue, we could have a special meeting between CC and GIG.
Next CC meeting will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday 27th April at the Memorial Hall in Fort Augustus