KILMALLIE

Kilmallie Community Council (KCC) met on Monday November 26 at Kilmallie Community Centre.

Police: There have been complaints regarding speeding and a request for an advisory 20mph sign. There had also been reports of parked cars blocking the pavement. It was noted the police had requested such parking to be reported while the vehicle was still there to allow officers to investigate. It was also agreed to ask Sergeant McCartney for an article for the newsletter describing the law about parking on the pavement.

Proposal for footpath linking Banavie school to canal:

KCC had been contacted regarding proposals for pedestrian access between Banavie Primary School and the canal towpath. This would provide a safer and more pleasant walking route to the school than the current road. It could be accessed from both Corpach and Banavie. This would allow parents to park safely and to complete the last part of the journey on foot. The landowner, Scottish Canals, and Highland Council have been contacted and support the idea in principle. One concern raised is the lack of a safe crossing of the A830 at Banavie Swing Bridge. This is an issue KCC continues to try and persuade Transport Scotland to address.

Update from planning on Blar ‘masterplan’ PIP permission (18/03647/PIP):

The report of the South Planning Applications Committee on the discussions on granting permission for 18/03647/ PIP noted some of the concerns of Kilmallie Community Council but did not consider CO2 emissions associated with the disturbance of peat. Highland Council is obliged to address greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act. These requirements were all ignored by the committee. KCC will continue to urge a proper assessment of likely greenhouse gas emissions is conducted to allow for an informed debate on each detailed planning application. Concerns were also raised that each development on the Blar would be subject to an individual planning application but there was no mechanism to ensure any developments were properly integrated with each other. BT noted housing in other areas, such as Glasgow, was required to meet a gold standard for sustainability but the proposals for housing on the Blar would not meet such standards.

Update from Transport Forum on train services:

West Highland Community Rail Partnership (WHCRP) has been asked to submit evidence of the demand for an improved overall train timetable to be introduced in 2020. It was agreed to make a submission from KCC highlighting the services which had been identified as most important for the Kilmallie community. Improved services could also help to reduce vehicle numbers and congestion on the A82 and A830. The need to co-ordinate the train timetable with any new ferry services from Mallaig was stressed. The WHCRP is also following up on future use of the station buildings in Corpach which belong to Network Rail.

Corpach deepwater port feasibility study:

An action from a previous meeting had been to follow up with HIE whether there had been any progress on the feasibility study for a deep water port in Corpach. RL was told verbally by Alastair Nicolson there was no progress to report.

Lorry traffic through Corpach:

Further concerns were raised about the amount of lorry traffic through Corpach, in particular, that the Coire Glas development could increase this traffic. However, BT noted nothing was likely to happen with this development in the next five years. BT also commented he had experienced delays on the A830 due to the Banavie Swing bridge operating before 9am. He will follow up on this with Scottish Canals.

Banavie War Memorial:

Chairwoman Christine Hutchison reported there had been 60 to 70 people at the Remembrance Service at Banavie War Memorial. The lettering had been done in time for the service but the monument had not been cleaned. She has contacted Alf Leslie to follow up on this.

Christmas lights: KCC welcomed the display of Christmas lights and thanked the team responsible for putting them up.

The next meeting of KCC will be at 7.15pm on Monday January 28 in Kilmallie Community Centre.