Glen Urquhart Community Council



Glen Urquhart Community Council 


Minutes of meeting held on 

Monday 25th November at 7pm 

Craigmonie Centre, Drumnadrochit



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







1. Present:, Bill Smart, Iain Riddle Dominic Thierry, Stuart Ross, David Fraser (Councillor)
Also present: 3 members of the public.  
Apologies:  David Ferguson, Mary Tiles, Chris Ballance (Councillor)

Conflicts of Interest 

No conflicts of interest in relation to planning applications declared.

2. Minutes of last meeting – 28th October 2024

The minute of the meeting held on 23rd September 2024 was approved as an accurate record (Dominic Thierry / Iain Riddle).

3. Matters arising from minutes 

            - Quiet Roads – Ongoing .  Bunloit and  Dhivach Falls Road. Bill confirmed spoken to HRC results of trial in Skye will be                  available in November. After that quiet road to be looked at in other areas.  Action – Bill
     - Why Not Scotland Screening – To follow up/Ongoing ACTION – Dianne Fraser.

4. Treasurer’s Report

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









           Noted communication from BOS about changing bank account to Community bank account and monthly charge of £4.75 per            month.    
           ACTION – to raise at Community Council Forum to confirm what other neighbouring community councils. ACTION – Bill

5. Roads / Drainage

           Following list of issues noted continue to raise/monitor with Highland Council    
           ACTION : David Fraser/Bill Smart

            - Flooding at fire station.  Noted assessment had been completed and monitoring ongoing.  Unable to get direct link to river,                 or to link to Springfield SUDS (Springfield not willing).  ACTION – David noted following up with Transport Scotland on                 soakaway sites.  To raise with Springfield at next meeting.
    - Blocked soak-away at bottom of Pitkerrald Road.  Noted David Fraser 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. To be progressed.
             - East Lewiston flashing signs require repair.  To review safety measures on junction with A82.  Noted speed On going
             - Large pothole/divot on Bunloit road – noted that could deteriorate over winter and create safety concern for gritter driver                   and other road uses.  ACTION – Bill note to follow up.
             - Poor condition of Gartally road – to note for HC to assess after completion of Scottish Water works.  
              - Large hole appearing at gully in Milton.  Photograph provided by Dominic and submitted to Highland Council.
              - Give way signs outside shop – ACTION – Bill to follow up.  John Taylor.  
              - 20mph – follow up on enforcement of speed limits and calming measures. ACTION – Bill
               Drumnadrochit Bridge (A82) – trees overgrown at Bear Scotland – ACTION -  follow up Ken Hossack / David Fraser /                   Fiona to raise with Bear Scotland.

               20mph Speed Restrictions – no response received to request submitted by Bill .   ACTION – Bill to forward to David.                   David to follow up

Following list of issues noted continue to raise/monitor with Bear Scotland and A82 Safety Lobbying Group.

            - Flooding at bottom of Lewiston / near junction with A82 on Loch Ness Inn side.  Ongoing discussions with Bear Scotland.  
            - A82/Bunloit junction – overgrown trees impacting sightlines and safety at junction.
            - Deep ruts outside brae heading to Clansman from Drumnadrochit.  
            - Pedestrian safety on Drum Bridge.  
            - 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.
            - David meeting with Transport Scotland safety team next week – reviewing recent accident at Clansman – ACTION – Bill /                  David
            - Follow up on traffic flow in shop car park. – ACTION – Bill raised and awaiting response.

6. Planning 

Active Applications 
24/04110/FUL – Erection of house, garage and siting of 10kw ground mounted solar PV array, Land 60M SE of 125 Balmacaan Road.  Noted.
ACTION – Iain - follow up note to planners on planting plans

24/04274/FUL 10 apartments at Loch Ness Lodge Hotel – Noted separate from earlier approved application for chalets/pods in trees.  Noted.


24/04554/PIP – Erection of house, Land 225M North of Stoneyfield, Balnain.  One neighbour noted concerns.  ACTION – Noted.

Springfield Development Update

Contacted HC about construction of sales cabin without planning permission.  Noted Planning permission on website now changed to retrospective.

Virtual community meeting held with Springfield on November 21st.  Items noted from meeting.

           o Site back in full operation.  10 kits progressing with first ones due for completion in Jan 2025.  Build program now till July                 2026.
           o New marketing suite to open soon
           o Plot 500 (Kilmore Road partially finished house) to be connected to services in new year.  No road closure required – will                 impact footpath.  Will advise timing when confirmed.
           o Feature wall along A82 (same style as around shop) to be completed in Spring 2025.
           o Phase 1 of tree planting to be completed in March 2025.
           o No update on commercial land.  No services yet provided to site.  Site no longer owned by Springfield – Saltire Properties.                 Springfield to provide contact details.
           o Discussed required community consultation on proposed gateway feature, footpaths, safe routes to school – Springfield                 advised that they had sought community input on this via their September update email newsletter.  Newsletter was                 distributed to those that had registered interest in development but not distributed to community council or any community                 groups.  No responses were received.
           o Noted that documents include two park benches with references to ‘Forres’ and size/length of gateway feature wall not clear                on plans.
           o Discussion on potential to provide power to base of trees for future planting to support lighting up trees to match other side                of A82.  Discussions of solar powered lights in other locations.  Springfield to follow up.
           o GUCC to discuss proposals at next meeting and confirm details to Springfield.

           ACTION – Iain - to follow up with David Mudie on procedure for Springfield community consultation process and noting that            Springfield commenced construction without compliance of building procedures.
           ACTION: Dianne – to ask Springfield to connect to put power to bottom of trees to attach seasonal lights.  Request addition of            information/interpretation board archaeological findings during site preparation.   Suggestion to create charcoal rubbing for            children to take rubbings in.  Board to link into existing heritage paths.  

Windfarms

           o Cnoc Farsach Wind Farm – Scoping Report commentary - ACTION – Bill

           o Loch Liath – Action – Bill  

Glen Earrach Pumped Storage

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
Copy of the plan on the CC website and submitted to HC.  Plan has been circulated to neighbouring CC's and Ward 12 councillors. Noted that Fort Augustus had shared their Local Place Plan for note and comment – similar themes /issues to Glen Urquhart.

8. Consultations

Ballach Windfarm – Scoping request noted.   36 turbines of 200m and 230m, 6260m NE of Erchless Forest Cottage, Struy, Beauly.  To note potential impact on access roads.  

Noted that as more windfarms come online, constraint payments for non-operation of windfarms will increase – impacting individuals standing charges.  Question over how can CC note / comment on this.  HC have no comment – can only comment on planning applications.  ACTION – Bill / Iain to follow up with Angus Macdonald and Kate Forbes.  

9. AOB

Visitor Levy Consultation – Details on Highland Council Website.   https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/1457/tourism_and_visitor_attractions/1142/visitor_levy Noted that Loch Ness Hub to collate community responses.  ACTION – Andy Griffin (Loch Ness Hub) to organise community meeting in January to form community census.

Fort Augustus FLS Land Management Plan – ACTION – Shared awaiting comments.

Scottish Government Consultation on Electricity Infrastructure – Response provided by GUCC.  ACTION Additional individual responses welcome by 29th November.

Ness Weir Amendments – Public consultation noted, but unable to attend due to adverse weather. ACTION – Dianne ask developer to attend upcoming GUCC meeting.  

Foyers Substation Works.  Noted open public meeting 28 November 3pm – 7pm.  

Bus timetables – poor information available on bus timetables.  Issues with Citylink buses not stopping as required – ACTION Bill – Report David Summers (HC) and report to Citylink.  Bill

Meeting closed at 8.30pm

                                                                              Meeting dates for 2024 / 2025
                                                                            all meetings commence at 7pm

                                                                   Monday 25th November Craigmonie Centre 
                                                                   December   no meeting 
                                                                   Monday January 27th  Craigmonie Centre
                                                                   Monday February 24th Balnain Hall
                                                                   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

Action List