Glen Urquhart Community Council

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Glen Urquhart Community Council 

Minutes of meeting held on 

Monday 24th March 2025 at 7pm 

Blairbeg Hall, Drumnadrochit

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,  Mary Tiles, David Fraser (Councillor)

Also present: 2 members of the public.  

Apologies: Iain Riddle, Stuart Ross Chris Balance, (Councillor)

2. Minutes of last meeting – 27th February 2025

The minute of the meeting held on 27th February 2025 (David Ferguson / Fiona Urquhart )

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 – To be rescheduled - ACTION – Dianne

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.   David noted had met with Roads Manager (Steven Grant) and will be actioning items on list -

 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.  Engineers completed assessment and awaiting program deails  will progress repairs and link with other repairs in area.  estd £500k).  
Short term – reviewing current temporary road, and signage.  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 continue to investigate 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, closing layby near AA call box.  Discussion to review speed limit.  

Timber Extraction routes

Bunloit Timber Extraction– timber extraction to commence from 3 sites (Balmac, Highland Rewilding, Clunemore).  To confirm window of operation to avoid school bus times.  ACTION – David confirmed closed out.  

6. Planning 

Active Applications 

25/05059/FUL – Conversion of garage to trichology salon and music studio, Enrick House, Drumnadrochit, IV63 6TL.  Noted.

25/00485/FUL - Alternations to house and 2 annexes. 1 Badcaul, Balnain, IV63 6TJ. Noted.

Springfield Development Update

Noted that upcoming meeting with Springfield to be rescheduled.  

Items to add to agenda to include SUDS pond and design of bench (art strategy).

Iain to follow up with Planning to confirm compliant with conditions

Glen Earrach Pumped Storage

o Public Consultation ongoing.

o Survey online for Glen Earrach – open consultation on Thursday 3rd April – 4pm to 8pm

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.

Housing Needs

To confirm how to spend remaining funding from local place plan.  Suggestion to assist in identification of sites for housing / affordable housing.

To ask Soirbheas to note in their newsletter about availability of land for small scale community housing development.  To note will discuss opportunities in confidence – ACTION: Dianne

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 – invited to upcoming meeting (now June meting).   
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 7.45pm

Meeting dates for 2024 / 2025

all meetings commence at 7pm

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