Glen Urquhart Community Council

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Glen Urquhart Community Council 

Minutes of meeting held on 

Monday 24th February 2025 at 7pm 

Balnain Hall, Balnain

Please note: Minutes will be updated when officially approved at the next meeting.

           1. Present:, Bill Smart, Dominic Thierry, Fiona Urquhart, David Ferguson, Dianne Fraser,  David Fraser (Councillor)
           Also present: 2 members of the public.  
           Apologies: Mary Tiles, Iain Riddle, Stuart Ross Chris Balance, (Councillor)

2. Minutes of last meeting – 27th January 2025

The minute of the meeting held on 27th January 2025  (Dominic Thierry / Bill Smart).   

3. Matters arising from minutes 

- Quiet Roads – Consultation on potentially using Bunloit and Dhivach Falls Road.  Update within 12 months.  Ongoing .  Action – Bill

- Why Not Scotland Screening – 19th March (7pm) - ACTION – Dianne

- Scottish Water response – New nationwide communications and engagement teams created.  Response to Scottish Water consultation provided.

4. Treasurer’s Report

David Ferguson provided the following update in advance of the meeting:

5. Roads / Drainage

Following list of issues noted continue to raise/monitor with Highland Council.

 Blocked soak-away at bottom of Pitkerrald Road.  David Fraser noted already reported and in progress.

 Drains on Culnakirk and branches on Culnakirk.  Sight lines from Culnakirk to A831 – concerns about tour coaches using the junction. Already reported in progress.  

 A831 at Strathnacro – number of concealed entrances - need warning signs and branches removed. To be progressed.

 Large hole appearing at gully in Milton.  Photograph provided by Dominic and submitted to Highland Council.

 Give way signs required outside shop

 Poor condition of Gartally road – to note for HC to assess after completion of Scottish Water works.  

ACTION : David Fraser/Bill Smart to raise with Steven Grant / Alan Johnston (Highland Council)

 Dhivach land slip – engineers looking at repairs / required.  Dhivach residents significantly impacted with restricted access - impacts to waste and emergency service access.  As engineers complete assessment, will look at other flooding issues in area.  Short Term - Concerns over tourists accessing diversion route (without passing places).  
Require communication that Dhivach Falls is closed for cars (open for walkers only).  Add signs on road to confirm Dhivach Falls closed for vehicle access.   Looking to improve short term temporary diversion.  Permanent repair to be completed prior to summer.   Longer term to look at parking place/no parking on passing plans signage and improved parking at Falls.  Contact Hub to ensure correct advice is passed on to tourists.  Add No Parking cones near far end diversion.  ACTION : David Fraser

 Damaged drain concrete at Milton.   To send photos to Highland Council / Steven Grant / Alan Johnston ACTION :David Ferguson to provide photo  / Bill Smart to follow up with Highland Council

 20mph – Traffic orders now progressing.  Temporary orders have reduced mean speed limit.  When orders in place permanently will looking at enforcement monitoring and calming measures.  ACTION – Bill / David Fraser

Following list of issues noted continue to raise/monitor with Bear Scotland (A82):

Note that main contacts at Bear Scotland have now moved on – so need to restablish relationships and working group. ACTION : David / Bill

 Flooding at fire station.  Questions to Scottish Water network and Transport Scotland on improvement to combined network to cope with waste water and public toilets.  Unable to get direct link to river, or to link to Springfield SUDS (Springfield not willing).  
To follow up with Transport Scotland on soakaway sites.  noted following up with Transport Scotland on soakaway sites.  

 East Lewiston flashing signs require repair.  To review safety measures on junction with A82.  

 Speed of traffic between Drum Hotel and Kerrowdown – dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists and people with pram.  Resident from Kerrowdown noted safety concerns as safe route to school.   ACTION – Bill to raise with new Police officers.

 Single lane traffic outside Abriachan nurseries – ACTION – David

 To raise with Springfield at next meeting.  ACTION : Bill / Dianne

 Drumnadrochit Bridge (A82) – trees overgrown at Bear Scotland

 Improvements around Clansman – improvements onsite and parking at Clansman, potential to add solid white line outside Clansman.  Discussion to review speed limit.  

Timber Extraction routes

Bunloit Timber Extraction– timber extraction to commence from 3 sites (Balmac, Highland Rewilding, Clunemore) ACTION – David follow up with Alistair Macleod on co-ordination and maintenance of road.  To confirm window of operation – avoid school bus times.  

- Follow up on traffic flow in shop car park. – ACTION – Bill raised and awaiting response.

6. Planning 

Active Applications 

25/00184/FUL – Upgrade existing dormers, Enrick Cottage, Drumnadrochit, IV63 6TZ.  Noted.

25/00189/FUL Erection of house, land 30M SW of East House, East Lewiston.  Noted.

Springfield Development Update

Noted that upcoming meeting on Thursday March 13th 10am

Glen Earrach Pumped Storage

o Public Consultation ongoing.

Follow up to lobby Scottish Government for funding to assist in assessing applications.  ACTION : Bill / Dianne

Establishment of Social Value Charter for Renewable Investment – working group to be established with community councils from Ward 12.  ACTION – Dianne / Bill

7. Local Place Plan Update

Confirmation from Highland Council that Local Place Plan has been received and currently being reviewed by Planning Team.  No further feedback.

8. Consultations

Public transport and information – Integrated system coming to provide transport information.  Data provided to Hub (not at bus stop).  Will require solar panel on top of bus shelters.  Hitrans resuming responsibility for managing bus timetables.   Expect improvements.   ACTION : Bill continuing to progress

Ness Weir Consultation – invite to March meeting.   ACTION : Dianne .
Questions – concerns over Loch level management, what is the basis for the modelling.  Does it include all potential pumped storage projects.  

Highland Development Plan – open to all to comment  

Community Council Review/Consultation  – request for all to respond.   Noted GUCC response to include support required for legal advice.

Recommend to HC that significant planning applications require support to community council to provide response.   Training and support required for community councillors.  Add wider insurance scheme and banking support.

Meeting closed at 9.15pm

Meeting dates for 2024 / 2025

all meetings commence at 7pm

                                                 Monday March 24th  Blairbeg Hall Meeting Room

                                                 Monday April 28th  Craigmonie Centre

                                                 Monday May 26th  Balnain Hall

                                                 Monday June 23rd (AGM) Blairbeg Hall

                                                July     No meeting

                                                Monday August 25th  Craigmonie Centre

                                                Monday Sept 22nd   Balnain Hall

                                                Monday October 27th  Blairbeg Hall

                                                Monday November 24th  Craigmonie Centre

                                                December   No meeting