Present:
Alex Mackenzie, Helen Grainge, Uisdean Menzies, Marion Taylor, Jean Hollingdale, Sue Tarr, Sheree Grant, Jimmy Ruggles Brise, John Urquhart, Lady Eliza Melville
In attendance: Cllr Urquhart, 7 members of the public
Apologies: Ruari Matheson, Donald Northwood
Chairperson opened meeting
Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting:
Proposed -Uisdean Menzies. Seconded - Alex Mackenzie
Matters Arising: Cllr Urquhart reported that she has invited Highland Council, TEC Services to attend our next meeting to discuss issues with roads and transport. She had also contacted TEC services with regards to the 20’s plenty speed limit and is awaiting a reply.
Bus Stops: no further contact from Transerv or Highland Council on this matter. Sheree to follow up.
Christmas Tree power points: Sheree to e-mail Robbie Bain regards this matter.
Wind Farm Proposal: EON has decided not to attend Community Council meeting as they have held public exhibitions. EON has requested the information from the ballots that were held previously with regards to windfarms by emailing the News and Views.
A discussion followed regards the issue of the Corriemollie Windfarm with various opinions being put forward, including sending a letter to Highland Council stating the Community Councils position, it was felt by some that this was a waste of time as Highland Council had not listened to opinion the previous time a windfarm application was before planning, also it was felt that the last time an application was made for a windfarm there was a lot of ill feeling in the community and this should be avoided.
It was suggested that members of the community should voice their opinion on the current development to the Highland Council planning department personally. The members of the Community Council took a vote on sending a letter to Highland Council planning department stating that the Community Council opinion remanded the same on the windfarm issue. (9 votes for sending and 1 abstained).
Issue was also raised regarding the proposed meeting to discuss structure for Community Benefit. Cllr Urquhart to ask Bob Cameron from Highland Council to chair.
Treasurers Report: Main Account £1848.07, Senior Citizens £760.45, War Memorial £ 656.84.
Invoices to be paid are AA Mackenzie for auditing and Highland Office Equipment.
Full Accounts will be available at AGM in October.
A member of the public asked if there was any progress with the seats for the War Memorial. Marion to find out about this.
Correspondence: Planning Application Lists. New constitution model – Sue to look at and send to members. Highland Council – Annual Grant. Highland Council – quality awards – John to put forward nominations. Highland Archaeology Festival information. SNH – Peter Duncan would like to set up a Ben Wyvis NNR liaison committee – Sheree to write and confirm that the Community Council would like representation on this group. NHS – various correspondences. SEPA Magazine.
Any Other Business: Rural Watch Scheme – it was proposed that this scheme was adopted by the Community. Community Council will look at inviting Local Police Officer to next meeting.
Railway fencing: discussion re lack of fencing along Loch Garve between railway and road. Community Council will try and invite representative from Network Rail to meeting.
It was reported that the bridge at Longart Forest between Garbat and Inchbae has been removed by the Forestry Commission. This is a popular walking and cycling route and people are disappointed by its removal. Sheree to write to FC to ask if a replacement is going to be put in this location.
Helen reminded meeting that nominations for Community Council must be in by 15th August 2009.
Wester Ross Alliance has set up a web portal for community use.
Next Meeting (AGM): 6th October 2009 @ 7.30pm in Garve Hall. All welcome!
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Draft Minutes
Newsletter Sub Committee 4th August 2009
Present:
Helen Grainge, Harry Grainge, Uisdean Menzies Sheree Grant, Jackie West, Marion Taylor, John Urquhart.
No progress made with new copier, Sheree has been in touch with HOE and if anyone would like to see demonstration of different copiers this could be arranged. Meeting felt that we should aim to purchase the Konica Machine. Harry informed the meeting that he had problems with printing the last newsletter.
Discussion followed regarding funding for machine – agreed that letters would be written to local business/estates seeking sponsorship, also Jackie suggested that we could have a friends of the News and Views to help raise funds. Sheree will look at other funding after she has completed War Memorial applications.
Date of Next Meeting: after C C Meeting on 6th October 2009. All welcome!
Press Release: Otter evening supported by local businesses
On the 9 September, at the Ledgowan Lodge Hotel, Achnasheen, Paul and Grace Yoxon of the world famous, Skye based, International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF), will be giving a talk about otters and the work the charity undertakes (the latter includes reintroducing young abandoned, or injured, otters to the wild).
The IOSF was inspired by observing otters in their natural habitat. Because the otter lives on land and in the water and is at the peak of the food chain it is an ambassador species to a first class environment. IOSF was set up to protect and help the 13 species of otter worldwide through a combination of compassion and science. It supports projects to protect otters, which will also ensure that we have a healthy environment for all species, including our own. There are now believed to be around 8,000 otters spread across virtually every part of Scotland.
Otters live mainly on a diet of fish including eels, salmon and trout, but also often eat crabs, frogs and occasionally small mammals and birds. They live beside the sea or by fresh waters such as rivers, lochs and marshes - coastal otters must wash their fur regularly in fresh water to maintain its waterproofing quality. It was made illegal to kill otters in 1981. They are now fully protected by European legislation. They had previously been hunted for sport, their fur, and because they eat fish.
The evening in Achnasheen commences at 7.30pm, admission is by donation (all funds raised during the evening will go towards the upkeep of the baby otters at the IOSF), and during the evening there will also be a raffle of otter related items to further boost funds.
Paul Yoxon makes no charge for his talks - and the evening is being supported by the hotel by offering their function room free of any charge, local artist and author Bryan Islip (of Mellon Charles) has donated a signed print for the raffle, Jackie West Marketing, Achnasheen, has donated framed illustrations of otters (by Duncan Currie), and artist Duncan Currie of Broadford, Skye, has donated a set of illustrated otter cards, various other items have been promised from other members of the local business community.
Funds are urgently needed at the moment, since the beginning of the year IOSF have received 6 cubs which means they currently have 12 otters in care at the sanctuary and only 1 is close to release.
Normally they treat about 10-12 otters per year and would have about 6 in at any one time, so this sudden increase is totally unexpected. As a result the food bills have almost doubled - it costs about £1000 to rear an otter cub and therefore the costs for the current year are running at over £12,000 already. Otter cubs stay with their mothers for 12-15 months so the IOSF have to release the cubs at about the same age - if they are released too early they will not survive. This is why the food bills are so high.
It is hoped that the evening is well supported, and that everyone will be generous either by donations or by purchasing a raffle ticket (or both!) - no amount is too small to buy a fish for an otter.
- ends -
Contact information:
Jackie West
Jackie West Marketing
Achnasheen
01445 720212
mailto:jackie@jackiewest.co.uk
Paul and Grace Yoxon
International Otter Survival Fund
Broadford, Isle of Skye
Tel/Fax: 01471 822 487
mailto:iosf2@aol.com
www.otter.org
Craig Duffield, Manager
Ledgowan Lodge Hotel
Achnasheen
01445 720252
mailto:info@ledgowanlodge.co.uk
www.ledgowanlodge.co.uk
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