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The minutes of the last meeting were unanimously adopted. |
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Matters Arising |
| a) |
Duncraig Castle |
| | The HC Duncraig Castle Working Group had met last week to update the position re Scotland's Top Hostels, and its recommendations would be put to the full meeting of the HC Education Committee on 3 August 2001. The CC expressed strongly the hope that this would, in fact, be a final decision. |
| b) |
Proposed Plockton Pontoon Facility |
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A letter had been received from Catriona MacLean, Economic Development
Officer for Skye & Lochalsh, re the furthering of this project, with the
following suggestions: |
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The CC should contact W R Ross, Roads & Transport Manager. |
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A Public Meeting should be held to ensure the project has local agreement; the Planning Officer and John Porteous of Wallace Stone to be invited to attend. |
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The LEC should be approached with a request for funding assistance. |
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The CC's response to these points was as follows: |
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The Chairman had spoken to the Harbourmaster, who would be contacting the Roads & Transport Manager on the matter. |
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There had already been two Public Meetings on the subject, the latter of which having been well attended and held in the presence of interested parties, with a presentation by John Porteous of Wallace Stone who carried out the Feasibility Study. These meetings had confirmed with a large majority, there only being two objections, that the project should go ahead. It was felt, therefore, that there was nothing to be gained from a further Public Meeting. With regard to the Planning Officer, the Chairman would discuss the matter with him before a reply was sent to Catriona MacLean. |
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The LEC would be contacted re funding assistance after consultation with the Planning Officer. |
| c) |
Moorings Association |
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There was still a large trailer in need of removal from the car park, but the Moorings Asscn. was unaware of its owner. It was hoped this matter would be dealt with. |
| d) |
Renewal of Plockton Water Mains |
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This project is now in the hands of NOSWA, Inverness, and not Thames Water Board, the earliest start date quoted being November this year. |
| e) |
Plockton Sewage System |
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The official opening of the new sewage system will take place on Monday, 25 June, at 10.45 am, members of the CC having been invited, together with representatives and pupils from both the Primary and High Schools. |
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A request would be made for the contractors' signs at present situated at the entrance to the village, to be removed, and a letter had been received from NOSWA confirming that a stone screen will be constructed around the Ceann an Uib pumping station kiosk. |
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The Chairman was awaiting a reply from SEPA regarding the problem of the outlet of raw sewage at the car park. |
| f) |
Village Seats and Tables |
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Cllr Campbell requested details of the work needed to refurbish these facilities, with a view to acquiring some funding towards the work. |
| g) |
Village Litter Bins |
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Following a request by the Chairman, a further litter bin had been provided for the car park area. |
| i) |
NTS |
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It was agreed to write to Mr I Turnbull with regard to the following: |
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The ongoing problem of condensation on the advertising space in the interpretative panel on the car park, also expressing disappointment at the make-up of this particular panel. |
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The following-up of the work needed on the Brae Road. |
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The NTS involvement in the proposed project to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the village of Plockton this year. |
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The project to erect fencing in Frithard Road. |
| i) |
Ard a'Mhorair Children's Swing |
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Cllr Campbell informed the meeting that this could be a suitable project for a Protective Services Grant. It was understood that the HC was at present carrying out a safety audit on children's outdoor play equipment. |
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Geoff Webster reported on a recent meeting that had been held to discuss common grazing in the village. The meeting was attended by himself, I Turnbull (NTS), Mr Smith (Grazings-Crofters Commission), D Ross, I MacLennan and A Townend (all representing the crofters, Lynn Bruce and Dorothy Pearson representing local residents), the meeting being chaired by I Turnbull. |
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Detailed discussion on the situation took place, the crofters accepting that there was a problem. |
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In answer to a question from Iain Turnbull the crofters agreed that there was sufficient grazing for the cattle without them having to come into the village. The following options were discussed: |
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A total ban on cattle coming into the village. |
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An agreed scheme whereby a limited number of cattle were allowed down into the village for a limited period, the cattle to be herded out in the evening. |
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Both schemes would require extensive fencing and for a cattle grid to be installed. A crofting grant of 55% of the cost could be obtained, the balance needing to be found from other sources. |
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Any scheme would require the agreement of all 19 Plockton crofters. |
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The CC expressed its concern at the Inverkip E-Coli problems and the recent ruling that children should not be allowed on an area where cattle had been within the previous 3 weeks. It was agreed that a letter would be written to the Environmental Protection Dept., Inverness, for guidance lines on this area (to include the whole CC district). |
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A meeting of the crofters would take place to organise the way forward. |
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| a) |
Letters had been received from Mr Geoff Salt conveying his interest in compiling a record of various images of Plockton in the year 2001 to provide an historic record of the life and people of the village. The CC felt that as there is no archive facility available in the village, Mr Salt should contact the Museums Dept. in Portree. |
| b) |
D K Cotton, HC Head of Network Management, re a proposed subsidised taxi service in the area, and looking for suggestions as to possible usage, i.e. where to and when, and how regularly? Copies of the letter would be placed on local notice boards to ascertain interest. |
| c) |
Dr Colin Clark, Head of Waste Strategy, HC Protective Services — a leaflet to be placed on notice boards outlining a free service providing an operator-facilitated small shredder for any suitable village projects. Available June 2001 to March 2002. |
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| a) |
It was agreed to accept the quote for the fallen gravestone in the churchyard, and for the work to be carried out. |
| b) |
A suggestion had been received that future Minutes be entered on the Web. This would be looked into, but the present method of distribution would remain. |
| c) |
Roads Dept — W R Ross, HC Roads & Transport Manager, would be asked to make good the potholes in Station Road, Plockton, as the road surface is deteriorating rapidly. Notwithstanding the ongoing budgetary restraints, it was agreed that strong representation should be made concerning the extreme lack of attention to the outstanding road and bridge maintenance. |
| d) |
There was no longer a seat at the rear of the Old Schoolhouse. It was agreed this should be replaced. Chairman to action. |
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The next meeting will be held in Plockton Village Hall on Monday, 18 September 2001, at 7.30 pm. |
| Community
Council Contact |
| Marie Finlayson |
Tel: 544 |
380 |
| Geoffrey Webster |
283 |
| Charles M MacRae |
359 |
| John W Nicholson |
234 |
| John Matheson |
737 |
| John D F MacDonald |
282 |
| Thomas A MacLennan |
389 |
| Isabelle J MacKenna |
280 |
| Annan Dryburgh |
707 |
|
