New Glenfinnan office bearers

Glenfinnan Community Council has appointed new officer bearers.

At the council’s recent monthly meeting for March, secretary Pat Grieve thanked Simon Matthews, who is standing down from the council, for his role as vice chairperson and for standing in as chairperson following the retiral of Duncan Gibson shortly before Christmas. Sandy Hughes also stood down as treasurer after two years.

Catriona Hunter, Allyson Entwistle and Amy Byrne were all appointed as co-opted members without objections, while Hege Hernes was appointed as an associate member.

Willina Colman takes over as chairperson, with Catriona Hunter appointed as vice chairperson and Julia Foster taking over as treasurer.

Among the various agenda items discussed was an update on the planned new pedestrian crossing over the A830 trunk road in front of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) visitor centre.

Those attending the meeting heard an SSE wayleave had now been signed by Glenfinnan Estate and BEAR Scotland was progressing other elements of the construction project.

Alongside the civil engineering works to verges and across the NTS carpark for electrics, work will need to be done to resurface the A830 from corner to river bridge.

Road closure

This is quite a big stretch and will involve a night-time road closure and is the most complicated bit to organise.

BEAR Scotland does not think it is likely all this work will be completed by Easter, as had previously been planned, with May/June more likely for completion.

In an update on the planned takeover of the lease of the former MOWI shorebase building, the meeting heard the first draft of the lease with Loch Shiel Jetties Trust had been prepared, checked and returned to the lawyer for a second draft.

Brian Ireland reported that the building warrant application for the sewage treatment plant had been submitted.

In an update from the NTS, the meeting heard work was being carried out at the view point behind the NTS and bags of stone would be helicoptered in when required.

Villagers were asked not to walk in the area when the work was being carried out.

In other business, the meeting was told the operators of the Jacobite steam train hoped to re-start the service from April 26.

The next meeting of the council will be on Wednesday April 7 at 7pm on Zoom.