Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Council

Draft Minutes of meeting held at the Millennium Hall, Invermoriston

on Wednesday 27^th November 2024

Present:

Deirdre MacKinnon - Chair (DM)

Jenny Findlay - Vice-Chair (JF)

Mike Anderson - Treasurer (MA)

Helen Clay - (HC)

Claire Pegrum - (CP)

Clare Levings (CL)

Leanne Findlay (LF)

Cllr. David Fraser (DF)

Apologies:

Daniel Clark (DC)

Cllr. Chris Ballance (CB)

Minute Taker D Crawford

A Glen Earrach presentation was planned but representatives did not arrive as expected.

Local Place Plan (LPP) presentation and discussion with Nick Wright.

Community consultation meetings took place with general public and school children, online submissions and a final meeting with the school pupils council on 27 November. In the interests of being open and transparent, all comments were summarised by Nick Wright (NW) and circulated at the meeting with his feedback suggestions. In summary, of those people who did respond to the consultation, most agree with the LPP vision and the eight actions. Finalisation for submission to Highland Council (HC) although no pressure to agree tonight.

NW talked through his summary, receiving comments and questions from those councillors and members of the public present.

● Too brief; not enough detail or explanation

● For clarity, action points and action matrix to be on the same page

● Environment to be added as a vision ambition following several comments from community

● Additional actions for young people

● Additional actions for managing visitors

● Clearer actions for rebalancing the community

● Affordable homes: for whom? what type? rate of build per year - important for organic growth to avoid detrimental impacts of an influx

● Community facilities to include resilience

● Whilst recognising that a heated swimming pool was proven to be unfeasible, an action for a wild pool is to be added to allow for further discussion and consultation amongst the community.

● Transport actions to be clearer to include walking and cycling

● Clearer actions for elderly care in the community

● Actions for intergenerational care and activities

● Develop a mechanism for accountability to the community for delivery of the LPP actions.

There are a number of options to consider in regard to the final point. Council decided that they would first finalise the plan for submission to HC before issuing to the community at a launch event. The community would be asked for their priorities and a delivery mechanism determined.

The council learned of the recent death of Carol Pritchard who had been FAGC councillor for many years and was Chair for a time, and offered its condolences to her family and friends.

Rachel Hayes has resigned as Councillor. Unanimous agreement for James Prince to be co-opted onto the council.

Previous Minutes:

Proposed by LF seconded by JF

Matters Arising:

Inchnacardoch Bay This matter is not proceeding owing to a multitude of solicitors unwilling to take instructions from the community council. A member of the public offered to supply details of a potential replacement.

Scottish Canals - a meeting with the area manager is warranted in order to progress complaints and promote partnership working.

Aire site - CP reviewed information on the HC website. Scottish Canals permitted five motorhomes on a site by being licenced through an organisation such as Camping & Caravanning. The licence does not allow for any infrastructure. DM reiterated her comments that she felt it was inappropriate to be so close to a school.

Long term complaint (>3 years) of water leaking from lock onto Canalside North. A nuisance in summer but treacherous in wintry weather.

Speeding in Fort Augustus - DF advised that traffic speed analysis is currently being undertaken at various points to determine levels of compliance with the 20mph restriction. A resident pointed out that none was being undertaken at the brow of Market Hill and the 20-30 changeover. Comments were made that there appeared to be an issue with weekend speeding.

Treasurer s Report:

Current balance remains at 7214.78 with 1500 ring-fenced from Community Company towards solicitor costs. Signage for Inch Bay and hosting for the website approved for reimbursement.

The Bank of Scotland is closing Treasurer accounts and proposing to transfer us to a Community account. This has increased transaction fees. MA looked at alternate providers but fees are all similar. Council agreed to transfer to a community account as proposed and remain with the Bank of Scotland.

Planning:

Planning Applications Validated 29/10/24 25/11/24

Ref: 24/04605/FUL

Location: 2 Lovat Terrace Fort Augustus PH32 4DN

Proposal: Single storey extension to create a larger kitchen and new shower room Applicant: Lovatter Ltd

Notes: Replacement of part-width extension and external store with full-width extension on rear. Accompanied by Listing Building Consent application 24/04606/LBC.

Ref: 24/04336/FUL

Location: Land 160M NE of The Old Convent Fort Augustus

Proposal: Construction of paths

Applicant: Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company

Notes: "To provide approximately 780m of appropriately surfaced access paths to encourage broader use of the land by local residents, including those with mobility challenges: the elderly, disabled individuals, and parents with young children. The paths are to be constructed in accordance with the Outdoor Accessibility Guidance and designation of Zone B Informal, moderately managed landscape. With path widths, gradients, and crossfalls according to this and other established accessibility guidelines. "

Ref: 24/04578/PAN

Location: Land 350M North of Newtown Invergarry

Proposal: Temporary workers residential accommodation, including welfare facilities, associated infrastructure and other ancillary development

Applicant: Balfour Beatty

Notes: Temporary accommodation for up to 350 workers for Skye Reinforcement project.

Renewable Energy Projects:

Balfour Beatty planning application to extend the site accommodation for workers. Councillors attended consultations on 13 November at FA village hall to voice reinstatement concerns and issues with lighting. Questions raised about traffic, impact on health services and environment. Follow-up consultation on 11 December.

Blairaidh presentation at next Community Council meeting at Glenmoriston Millennium Hall, Invermoriston on 29th January 2025

Community Amenity Issues:

Achnaconeran Road - still no action

Drains blocked in various places throughout Fort Augustus. Can be reported online at the HC website for those that are not online please contact DM about them or street lighting problems. DM had reported ones that she knew about

Toilets in Fort Augustus were closed for repairs without notice of alternative arrangements, inevitably leading to worsening of the already recorded issues with human fouling experienced in the village.

A suggestion was made for the community council/company to make use of the tourist information board located in front of the toilets. (Originally paid for by the now-defunct FAGGBI)

Kate Forbes and DF had both written to David Summers today regarding the early service bus between Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit.

Street lighting is off in several parts of the village including the Free Church Hall area. Hopefully this will be addressed when the Christmas lights are installed.

Christmas trees have been sourced and will hopefully arrive by the end of the week.

Complaint from a resident that Abertarff was not cleared from snow and ice and they had been unable to leave their home. This appeared to be a timing issue with the weather changing for the worse after the caretakers had finished for the week. Council requests that in these circumstances, able-bodied residents make use of the various grit bins to assist their neighbours.

A resident reported that there are at least 10 newly-padlocked gates in upper Glenmoriston that were not locked last year, making through-routes along tracks inaccessible. The access officer Stewart Easthaugh is to be contacted.

Ness News is in production for distribution by end of the week or early next week. There was the usual influx of articles just before the deadline causing difficulties for the design of the newsletter. A suggestion was made that the submission deadline be brought forward by 5-7 days to ensure the designer had enough time before the print deadline.

Mini-bus was booked for transporting the Fort Augustus seniors to the Christmas event.

LF advised that the ditch adopted at Redburn needs to be drained, and requested that the gritter needed to go up the hill more regularly.

AOCB

The Community Company is talking to HC to install stanchions beside the private fencing at Bunoich Brae to facilitate the necessary handrail.

Next meeting is at the Glenmoriston Millennium Hall, Invermoriston on 29^th January 2025 at 7.30pm.