Glen Urquhart Community Council

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Glen Urquhart Community Council 

Minutes of meeting held on 

Monday 24th January 2025 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 Ferguson, Dianne Fraser,  David Fraser          (Councillor)
         Also present: 9 members of the public.  
         Apologies: Mary Tiles, Fiona Urquhart, Chris Balance, (Councillor)

2. Minutes of last meeting – 25th November 2024

The minute of the meeting held on 25th November 2024 was approved as an accurate record (Dominic Thierry / Stuart Ross).

3. Matters arising from minutes 

               - Quiet Roads – Bunloit and  Dhivach Falls Road. Ongoing .  Action – Bill
     - Why Not Scotland Screening – To follow up/Ongoing ACTION – Dianne
               - Scottish Water response – New nationwide communications and engagement teams created.  Contact details                     provided.
               - New Scottish Water drop in event Feb 3rd - Balnain Hall

4. Treasurer’s Report

5.           Roads / Drainage

              Community noted thanks to local contractor Luke Playle who completed drain clearing along the A831 during bad               flooding in December.  This was done on a voluntary basis, and a post was made on Community Facebook advising               work was being completed and asking community for areas to be addressed.  Community expressed gratitude for               Luke’s community spirit.  
              Noted that drains are not routinely cleared on maintained by Highland Council.   Issues with drains require to reported to               Highland Council to be addressed.  Noted that voluntarily completed drain clearing.    Community noted that Highland               Council should be conducting regular maintenance using local resources / contractors.  Currently number of changes               being made in Roads Department.  

              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. To be progressed.
                East Lewiston flashing signs require repair.  To review safety measures on junction with A82.  Ongoing
                Large pothole/divot on Bunloit road – potential safety concern for gritter driver and other road uses.  ACTION –                   Bill/Iain to confirm location and report
                Large hole appearing at gully in Milton.  Photograph provided by Dominic and submitted to Highland Council.
                Give way signs required outside shop – ACTION – Bill to follow up.  
                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)

                 Divach land slip – engineers looking at repairs / required.  Divach 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.  

                 20mph – No response received from Highland Council on updates of speed limits, 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 re-establish relationships and working group. ACTION : David / Bill

                   Flooding at fire station.  Assessment completed and monitoring ongoing.  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.  
                    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  

Bunloit – timber extraction will start again shortly.  ACTION – Iain Follow up with Alistair Macleod on co-ordination and maintenance of road.   

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

6.        Planning 

Active Applications 
24/04912/FUL –Temporary siting of ticket kiosk, Urquhart Castle.  Usual annual application.  Noted.

24/05037/FUL Formation of box dormer and balcony. 24 Lewiston Drumnadrochit. Noted.

24/0515/FUL Formation of construction compound 250m SW of Criancraig, Bearnock, Glenurquhart.  Scottish Water.  Noted.

24/0527/FUL Food dispensing hub, Fiddlers Bar, Drumnadrochit. Noted.

Mens shed appeal for temporary nature of siting for containers shed – ACTION- Iain to send support your appeal

Springfield Development Update

Noted that upcoming meeting on Thursday 10am

Windfarms

                o Bhlairaidh – not proceeding due to financial constraints.   

                o Loch Liath – potentially impacted as will be sharing road.  To be reviewed before Highland Council.

                o Cnoc Farsach Wind Farm – EIA currently being reviewed.

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

Scottish Water Glenurquhart Water Main Replacement – request to ask to clean road on a Friday and ensure road returned to appropriate condition.  ACTION – Bill to send note to Paul Garside (Scottish Water)

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.  

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

Recommend to HC that planning applications over x size to support community council responses.   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