Glen Urquhart Community Council



Glen Urquhart Community Council 


Minutes of meeting held on 

Monday 27th May 2024 at 7pm 

Balnain Hall, Balnain




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







1. Present: Dianne Fraser (Chair), Bill Smart, Dominic Thierry, Fiona Urquhart, Iain Riddle

Also present: 6 members of the public.  

Apologies: Val Cooper, Stuart Ross, David Fraser, Chris Balance


Conflicts of Interest 

No conflicts of interest in relation to planning applications declared. 


2. Scottish Water Presentation (Gavin Steel)

- Gavin introduced team who had held open community meeting at Balnain Hall during day on planned renewal of Glen Urquhart water network in Balnain.

- Hugh Macpherson (Scottish Water Project Manager), Ryan Keith (Morrison Construction Contract Manager) Christian Calder (Scottish Water Customer Manager) were introduced to community

- Project is extensive renewal of Glenurquhart Water network covering 25kms of water main spanning Rychraggan, Balnain, Shenval and Buntait.  

- Team making final preparations to commence in late June for 3 phase project, expected to take 2 years with total investment of £10m.

- Localised traffic management will be needed, and team will work with nearby residents to minimise disruption as much as possible.  

- Will involve short duration planned disruption to water supply – customers to be provided with at least 48 hours’ notice of any impacts.

- Project webpage established
https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/in-your-area/investments-in-your-area/240524-glenurquhart

- Further information obtained from Scottish Water by quoting project reference Capital/511594/Morrison Construction

- Community also requested update on plans for discharge pipe from treatment works in Cover.  Noted that short term geomorphology study completed and long term study ongoing.  Scottish Water need to work with SEPA to agree on discharge location and quality.  Noted that location in cover not currently designated as ‘bathing water’ so discharge not set to ‘bathing water’ standard.

- Kilmore Farm flooding – Scottish Water to undertake flooding study to confirm water levels in area and proposals on next steps. Will await outcome of survey results.

- Bill Smart to continue to liaise with Gavin and Scottish Water partners on items noted above.  ACTION – Bill Smart


3. Minutes  of last meeting


The minute of the meeting held on 22nd April 2024 was approved as an accurate record (Bill Smart / Fiona Urquhart).   

 

4. Matters arising from minutes 


- Bunloit Quiet Road – Ongoing Action – Bill

- Balnain Playpark Works – Ongoing Action – David Ferguson

- Why Not Scotland Screening – To follow up/Ongoing ACTION – Dianne Fraser

- Community Broadband – Confirm details on speeds and work remediation / monitoring.  Ongoing ACTION – Dianne Fraser


5. Treasurer’s Report


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













6. Roads / Drainage


 Noted following items to continue to raise/monitor with Highland Council    
 ACTION : David Fraser


 - Flooding at bottom of Lewiston / near junction with A82 on Loch Ness Inn side

 - Blocked soakaway at bottom of Pitkerrald Road.  Noted David Fraser already reported

 - Sight lines from Culnakirk to A831


 A82 Trunk Road Steering Group Meeting


 Bill Smart advised that meetings with Bear Scotland, David Fraser and neighbouring community councils are ongoing.

 Concerns to be added to list and raised at next meeting

  - Borlum Bridge to Borlum Farm – noted as accident blackspot – site of many accidents (including a fatality) - to request no overtaking signs/lines.  

  - Speed restrictions from Drum to Urquhart Castle – request to look at safety of pedestrians from on path to Urquhart Castle.  

  - Debris on path between Drum Hotel and Temple Pier.  Local landowners to be contacted.  

  - Overhanging branches on path from bowling green to old shop site to be trimmed


 Noted frustration at lack of meaningful progress on actions in items to potentially to raise with press.  To follow up and obtain  accident statistics to support community knowledge and support lobbying on road safety  Action – David Fraser / Bill Smart


7. Planning 

Active Applications 

24/009993/FUL – Erection of house (amended design to 22/00780/FUL plot 20), 29 Carrier's Croft, Lewiston – application for Compass.  Amended Design – noted.

24/001167/FUL – Installation of pipe bridge, 105m SW of The Jennings, Polmaily – Scottish Water -– noted.

24/01507/FUL – Erection of extension, Pembroke, Drumnadrochit.  Small extension – noted.



Springfield – Response provided to Scottish Reporter to further support objection to amended plans.  Awaiting response from Scottish Reporter – anticipate mid June.


Compass Development – Positive site meeting with community representatives and Compass.   Agreement on joining paths and tree planting.


Glen Earrach Pumped Storage – Comments on Scoping Document to be provided to Energy Consents Unit and Highland Council by June 17.  ACTION : Dianne Fraser

Noted that Bill and Dianne had meet with representatives from neighbouring community councils on making representation to Scottish Government on overall licencing and management of similar/related projects.  To continue to work with neighbouring community councils on responses.  


8. Local Place Plan Update

Iain provided an overview of the status of Local Place Plan development.  Upcoming community liaison meetings planned for 3rd June (Drumnadrochit) and 4th June (Balnain) – all welcome.  Consultation sessions would be led by external consultants.  Survey open and close June 7th.  


9. Consultations 


10. AOCB 

Etape Grant – all agreed to provide community funds received from eTape to Glen Urquhart Care Centre.  Pam Lucas in attendance from Care Centre and noted thanks from all at Glen Urquhart Care Centre.

Highlands Rewilding update – Community Joint Ventures survey now closed and results will be shared with community in open forum on June 27th


11. Details of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be AGM scheduled for Monday 24th June 2024, 7pm in Blairbeg Hall, Drumnadrochit.  Dianne thanked everyone for their attendance and noted appreciation to members of the community who come along to GUCC meetings to share their voice on local issues.


There was no further business and the meeting closed at 8.30pm.   

Meeting dates for 2024

all meetings commence at 7pm

July    no meeting 

Monday 26th August  Craigmonie Centre 

Monday 23rd September Balnain Hall 

Monday 28th October Blairbeg Hall 

Monday 25th November Craigmonie Centre 

December   no meeting