April meeting

Issues discussed at the April meeting of Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council held in Kilmonivaig Church Hall last week included the following:

▎ Inverroy Safety Report – Replies from Kate Forbes MSP and Transport Scotland have been received and circulated. No reply yet from Police Scotland. Matter closed until the council sees if speed measurements work.

▎ Bear Scotland – Resurfacing of the A82 south of Aonachan Crossroads, and south of the Great Glen Cattle Ranch Building is scheduled for 2022/23 financial year. No plans for creating a bellmouth on the Leanachan Road at the A82 junction. Chairman John Fotheringham has responded by asking that urgency be introduced into the last two requests.

The works scheduled for Tullochroam have been successfully completed; however, due to the poor weather forecast anticipated in the area, the works at West of Lochaber boundary on the A86 have been postponed until Sunday May 1. This work is anticipated to run for three nights.

▎ Tigh Aran – Highland councillor Allan Henderson provided an update on the drainage issues holding up occupancy at Tigh Aran. The developer had provided the evidence required by the Flood Prevention Team and it was hoped the development could now be signed off.

▎ Pharmacy – The chairman has written to NHS Highland in support of Mhor Health Pharmacy’s application. Local views are being canvassed by NHS Highland. Questionnaires can be found on the NHS Highland website or paper copies obtained by phoning 01463 706886. The consultation closes at 5pm today (April 21).

▎ CJ Lang – A very positive response about an upgrade for Spean Bridge Spar Shop, and an assurance about the future of the Post Office facility had been received from Brian Straiton, stores operations director at CJ Lang.

▎ Air Pollution – Rik Eppens of Killiechonate Woodlands has suggested that in advance of new legislation on noise and air pollution that the community council purchases and installs some measuring equipment adjacent to the A82 and A86 to determine the current levels of emissions from traffic using local trunk roads. The community council will purchase monitors when its bank account is operational.

▎ Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme – There has been two meetings with representatives of the Coire Glas Hydro Pumped Storage Project Team as well as a Coire Glas Liaison Group meeting in the past month.

Preparatory works to excavate a tunnel four metres by five metres, 1,000 metres into the mountain will commence in July, and take about 18 months to complete. Only then will the community council receive confirmation that the project will proceed. SSE Renewables is having a face-to-face consultation about using Mucomir Farm, at Spean Bridge Community Centre on Thursday April 21, between 2pm and 7pm, when a community councillor will be in attendance.

They will also be hosting a virtual exhibition on the Coire Glas project website between April 19 and May 13.

▎ Stronelairg Windfarm Community Fund – Although this is the final year of the fund, SSE Renewables is mindful to hand any remaining monies at the end of the year to Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO to administer in a similar way as presently undertaken by them.

However both the Micro and Major Funds have cash available for deserving local causes, so people are asked to consult the Stronelairg Windfarm Community Fund Website for details of eligibility.

The chairman has been in protracted discussion with the chairpersons of Laggan, and Stratherrick and Foyers Community Councils, and SSE Renewables about the eligibility of Ali Energy, a sustainable energy use charity based in Oban, having access to Stronelairg Funds to support those suffering from fuel poverty in the local areas. Both of the area’s Highland councillors were aware there had been a dialogue between this charity and Lochaber Housing Association.

▎ Planning – The chairman will write to Malcolm MacLeod, executive chief officer for infrastructure and environment at Highland Council, to request someone from the planning and development service attends the May community council meeting to explain the procedure about responding to planning applications by both statutory bodies and the public. The community council as a statutory consultee has 14 days to respond to planning applications, but has noted that others often take many months to respond but still their submissions seem to be considered.

Any Other Business:

▎ Jubilee Beacon – Tony Perriam raised the issue of having a beacon near to the Commando Memorial to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee on June 2.

The community council had no objection in principle, but Mr Perriam would need to liaise with a number of authorities.

Councillor Denis Rixson explained that Highland Council intended to plant 70 trees in every ward to mark the occasion, and Caol and Mallaig councillor Allan Henderson suggested that Mr Perriam should contact Dot Ferguson (Lochaber ward manager for Highland Council) as Highland Council was responsible for the Commando Memorial site.

Ian Langley said the local Royal British Legion Scotland branch may have gas beacon equipment.

▎ Councillors – The chairman thanked both Councillors Henderson and Rixson for their service as Highland councillors and, in particular, for their tremendous support to the community council. Councillor Henderson had been a regular attender at community council meetings for 15 years and during that time led the fight against the closure of Roy Bridge School, championed the cause for affordable homes and has always been there with advice and help when the community council struggled with Highland Council’s policies.

Councillor Rixson, too, has offered sage advice and support, and the chairman added that the council should not forget Ben Thompson who resigned before the community council reformed. All three supported the community council through good and bad times and will be missed.

Mr Fotheringham added that it has indeed been unfortunate that Caol and Mallaig is the only Highland Council ward that is uncontested in the forthcoming elections, but said the community council will expect the councillors that will be representing the ward to step up to the mark and support the community council unconditionally.