Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Council

Draft Minutes of meeting held at the Memorial Hall,

Fort Augustus on the 28th May 2024

Present:

Deirdre MacKinnon - Chair (DM)

Helen Clay - Vice Chair (HC)

Mike Anderson - Treasurer (MA)

Claire Pegrum - Secretary (CP)

Clare Levings (CL)

Jenny Findlay (JF)

Daniel Clark (DC)

Leanne Findlay (LF)

Cllr. Emma Knox (EK)

Apologies:

Cllr. David Fraser (DF)

Cllr. Chris Ballance (CB)

Rachel Hayes (RH)

Minute Taker: Barty Jones

Ride Ness Presentation: Representatives from Ride Ness gave a presentation on their plans to build a bike park, explaining how it would benefit Fort Augustus. They also addressed any questions or concerns from the public. It is currently going through the planning application stage.

Statera Presentation (Loch Kemp): Representatives for Statera gave an update on how they are proposing to build and operate a new 600MW Pumped Storage Hydro scheme using the existing Loch Kemp as the upper storage reservoir and Loch Ness as the lower reservoir. Questions from the CC and public followed.

Previous Minutes:

Proposed by JF seconded by HC

Matters Arising:

Redburn Traffic - Ongoing

Janitor’s House - Highland Council are prepared to undertake a community asset transfer with the Community Company if they are interested - Ongoing

Glenmoriston Estates - Ongoing

Oich Road - Ongoing

Fort Augustus Public Toilets - Ongoing

Achnaconeran Road - DM has not heard anything back regarding Achnaconeran. She has asked about a sleeping policeman to reduce water going into nearby buildings.

Roads – The issue was raised about white and yellow lines and signs in need of re-painting around Fort Augustus especially at Tarff bridge. DM to contact HC.

Invermoriston Toilets - Ongoing

Battery Storage - Trying to find suitable contractors - Ongoing

Dog Fouling - If anyone sees somebody dog fouling, they are to get in touch with HC dog warden - Ongoing

A82 - DF notified DM regarding the situation with road closures at Invermoriston due to accidents and buses not going to the car park to pick up passengers. Stagecoach have come back stating that they will instruct their drivers to pick up passengers in the main car park. However, Citylink stated that their buses cannot safely turn in the car park and advised passengers to check live tracking on social media. DM has asked DF on how passengers without WiFi can access this information and on the size difference between Citylink and Stagecoach buses.

School Bus - DM raised a query that there is a school bus from Fort Augustus taking pupils to Glen Urquhart High School, Kilchuimen Academy Parent Council and teachers are wondering why this is happening and how this was initiated and why the same service is not provided for pupils going to Lochaber High School or coming from South Loch Ness to Kilchuimen.

Treasurer’s Report:

The account balance is currently £5,930.15

Police Report:

CC has not received any kind of Police report as of yet.

Renewable Energy Projects:

Melgarve Cluster Project - SSE have submitted an application to Scottish Ministers for consent for the Melgarve Project. The CC are statutory consultees to Melgarve which is outside the area. CC submitted no comment.

Glen Earrach Energy Ltd - Have contacted the CC asking whether we want them to come to the next CC meeting as the vast majority of development is within Glenurquhart CC’s area, CC declined. The HC also asked if the CC wanted to comment, no comments were submitted.

Tomchrasky – Highland Council have had a meeting and have no objection to it.

Bhlaraidh - The connection from Bhlaraidh to Dundreggan substation - The HC has no objection.

The CC has proposed hiring some professional help to negotiate payment amounts with the energy projects happening in the area.

Planning and Licensing Applications:

Planning Applications Validated 24/04/24 – 28/05/24

Ref: 24/01092/FUL

Location: Land 1200M East of Ardachy House, Fort Augustus

Proposal: Construction of mountain bike trail centre, hub building, cafe, retail, bike hire/store building; 40 motorhome pitches, 8 shepherd's huts; play areas; maintenance storage building, parking.

Applicant: Glendoe Limited

Notes: Need to respond to consultation by 06/06/24. Have asked HC for extension to 20/06/24. The CC are not formally objecting but have concerns about the Traffic and Visual Impact.

Ref: 24/01915/PNO

Location: Land 1500M SE of Meall A Cholumain Radio Station, Invergarry

Proposal: Peatland restoration

Applicant: Culachy Footprint Management Limited

Notes: Land on Culachy Estate.

Ref: 24/00754/FUL

Location: Land 250M NW of Netherwood Cottage, Invergarry

Proposal: Formation of temporary construction/site yard; siting of portable offices and accommodation; materials storage

Applicant: Balfour Beatty

Notes: Application is for four years. Development has taken place and is in use.

Ref: 24/01803/PNO

Location: Land 5830M SW Of SE Substation Bhlaraidh,Glenmoriston Estate, North of Levishie Invermoriston

Proposal: Peat restoration works

Applicant: Trees for Life

Notes: Dundreggan Estate.

Ref: 24/02045/SCOP

Location: Northwest Side of Loch Ness, Approximately 9.5 Km to the South of Drumnadrochit & 6.5Km North Of Invermoriston

Proposal: Pumped storage hydro scheme Glen Earrach / Loch nam Breac Dearga

Applicant: Glen Earrach Energy Ltd

Notes: Most of development within Glenurquhart CC’s area. Access track from A82 at Alltsigh within FA & GM CC’s area.

Ref: 24/01071/PAN

Location: Land 3830M SE of Achlain Mhor, Glenmoriston

Proposal: Millennium East Wind Farm - Erection of 8 wind turbines, with a blade tip height of up to 200m; Battery Energy Storage System (BESS); associated infrastructure and ancillary development, site-specific measures to conserve, restore, and enhance biodiversity.

Applicant: Renantis UK Limited.

Ref: 24/01786/FUL

Location: Land 2KM NW of Farm Cottage, Tomchrasky Farm, Dalchreichart, Glenmoriston

Proposal: Erection of 100m high met mast

Applicant: EPower Ltd.

Community Amenity Issues:

Inchnacardoch Bay - DM has got a copy of the deed from 1984 and has sent it to the Community Company. MA went onto the site with David Campbell to look at risk assessments. It was recommended that CC replace signage with two other signs, one to do with the path to Cherry Island, notifying how difficult the path is to traverse, the other sign telling people who own it, who to report issues to, and that the CC will accept no liability for accidents, damages or losses incurred. It was also recommended that the pontoon needs to be removed as it is dangerous. MA will also increase the insurance to £5 million.

AOCB:

· CC discussed the idea of giving Welcome Packs to newcomers to the area, notifying them of what’s going on in the community and what the community council/company does. A member of the public agreed to help out.

· HC has emailed Scottish Canals regarding the state of the canal. She has not heard back but has been notified that the paint is on its way. HC to email regarding the pontoon.

· Concern over the difficulty of turning at the Caledonian Canal Centre junction onto the A82, especially when the village becomes busier – Ongoing.

· Concerns have been raised that the online Housing Application Forms are very difficult to fill in. DM has paper copies of the form for those who need them, who will then have to send to the HC for them to put online. It was mentioned that you can phone HC welfare service and do it over the phone.

· CC discussed getting a Traffic Warden for the village and car park.

· MA informed the CC that the Highland Broadband is not happening in Invermoriston only in Fort Augustus which is different to what they told us at our last meeting.

· A give way sign is down at entrance to Millfield. DM to contact the HC.

· CC discussed whether there was a better system for road closures to notify people at Drumnadrochit if a road was going to be closed for a long time. DM to contact BEAR.

· CC have received correspondence about empty homes and what can be done about them.

· Kyle of Lochalsh Community Trust have produced a local place plan and asked if CC would like to comment, CC declined.

· The Community Company and CC are well underway with the local place plan with forthcoming events, posters and an advert in the Ness News which will have QR codes so you can do your planning, fill in your form there, where to get your forms and where to drop them off.

· Events are being held, one in the Legion on 17th June between 3.30-7pm where tea and coffee will be available and a pool competition. Other events will be held at Dalchreichart and in the Millennium Hall. More details will be in the Ness News.

· Breast Screening Clinic which will be coming around 24^th July will be at the top car park.

· Issues raised over a lot of canoe companies starting up and blocking the pier, and leaving trailers/vans blocking access to pier. CC to contact the HC to repaint the double yellow lines.

· Concerns over the amount of dog walkers using the Green at Abertarff Place, which is a children’s play area. Discussed getting a Children’s Play Area sign and potentially sectioning off an area for dogs on Convent Wood land.

Next meeting is at the Memorial Hall, Fort Augustus

on Wednesday, 26^th June 2024 at 7.30 pm