Minutes of the Nether Lochaber Community Council Meeting

Monday 12th May 2025 – Nether Lochaber Church Hall 7.50pm

__________________________________

PRESENT:

Marylin MacDonald (MMD) Chair – NLCC / NLVH

Marie MacLachlan (MML) Treasurer & Secretary NLCC / NLVH

Kathleen Cameron (KC) – NLCC / NLVH

Elizabeth MacLellan (EM) Minute Secretary -  NLCC

 IN ATTENDANCE:

PC Stephen Cooper

PC Roddy Sandeman

PUBLIC ATTENDANCE:

Linda MacLachlan

Kate Ward

Gordon MacIntyre

 Apologies

 None.

  • Minutes of Meeting held 1st April 2025

 The Minutes of 1st April 2025 having been circulated and there being no amendments were approved.

Proposed:  Marie MacLachlan            Seconded:  Kathleen Cameron

 Matters Arising from Minutes

 None.

  • Police Report 
  • PC Cooper reported that the new speed gun had yet to be calibrated but this was in hand and their traffic colleagues from Fort William had been in the area recently checking for an area where this could be carried out as it required a straight stretch of road 20 – 60 metres in order to be done correctly.
  • It was noted that concerns had been raised about proposed clay pigeon shooting in Glen Righ, Onich. The Police had visited the area of land and were of the opinion that it was not suitable for such an activity. Concern had been expressed for the cattle and sheep in the area and also the fact that all the lead shot would be left lying around and could possibly even end up contaminating the water in the river. It was noted that Environmental Health were involved and the applicant would require the full support of neighbouring proprietors and the Estate which was very doubtful.
  • PC Cooper will check and give an update on what is happening re the recent theft at Innis Na Birlinn Cemetery.
  • Noted there had been hill fires in Glencoe and Lochailort but so far nothing in this area.

 Action Points

 Defibrillators – The meeting noted from MMD that she had met with Alan Knox of the Scottish Ambulance Service and that the cost of purchasing and installing a defibrillator was in the region of £2,000. It was agreed that the Community Council would apply to the BHF Community Defibrillator Funding Programme when this opened in June and also start fund raising in order to purchase a defibrillator for either end of the Village. To that end MMD reported that she had spoken with Roam West and they were still agreeable to having one installed outside their premises and also that the Acting Head Teacher of St Brides School had confirmed that one could be installed outside the school.

 MMD then advised that new pads had been purchased for the Defibrillator at the Old Post Office and members were surprised to learn that VAT was payable on these. It was noted that MMD had contacted Highland Council to ascertain whether they could cover the VAT but unfortunately they were unable to help. The meeting also noted that the BT phone box situated at the Old Post Office which housed the public notice advising on the location of the Defibrillator was soon to be removed. MMD agreed to contact BT to find out when this was happening and to enquire whether it would be possible for them to remove the phone equipment but leave the phone box. If not a new location for the Defibrillator sign would have to be found.

MMD then gave special thanks to Lawson Taylor for his continued checks on the defibrillator at the Old Post Office, ensuring everything was working and updated on the National Defibrillator Network and the circuit.

 NLCC Bank Account Signatories – The Committee noted that the bank account signatories had not yet been updated as the NLCC Bank Account details had only been received from the previous Treasurer the day prior to the meeting. The Chair and the Treasurer agreed to get together and deal with this.

 Treasurer’s Report

             The Committee noted from the Treasurer that the balance of funds in the NLCC Bank Account was £5112.08 but the following had yet to be paid once the signatories had been changed on the Bank Account:

  • Kate Ward’s Afternoon Club - £100
  • Children’s Christmas Party - £100
  • Innis Na Birlinn Cemetery - £50
  • SP Services (for Defibrillator Pads) - £92.63
  • Hire of NL Church Hall (2 Meetings) - £24
  • Planning Matters

 Planning Application 25/00960/FUL (Renewal)

Alterations and Extension (Renewal of 22/01083/FUL)

Tigh Bun Ruighe, Bunree, Onich, PH33 6SE

 No objections.

 Planning Application 25/01052/PIP (Renewal)

Erection of House (Renewal of 21/03157/PIP)

Land 75M NE of Marine House, Onich

 No objections.

 Planning Application 25/01130/FUL

Erection of House, Siting of Short Term Let Pod

Site 80M North of Marine House, Onich

 No objections.

 Planning Application 25/01263/PNO

Formation of ATV Forest Tracks (restocking/management;

2.5m wide; 1860m long)

Land 1.7km NE of Glenshellach, Inchree, Onich

No objections.

 Planning Application 25/01573/PNO

Replacement of existing South Group 4 x 24m 2 pens with 4 x 36m2 pens;

Splitting and relocation of North West group of 4 x 24m2 cages to create

2 groups of 6 x 24m2 cages in the North East and Mid groups; resultant

1 group of 4 x 36m2 pens and 2 groups of 6 x 24m 2 pens

Site 310M South of Manager’s House, North Ballachulish

 The Committee noted details of the application and plans submitted and after hearing concerns from members of the public present and following lengthy discussion the Committee agreed to object on the grounds of (1) environmental impact on the area and also environmental impact on the herons, otters and seals in the area, (2) the scenic impact on the area due to the proposed increase in the already large area of cages etc in Loch Leven and the unsightliness of the Fish Farm itself; and the amount of debris on the surrounding shores washed up from the Fish Farm.

 Village Hall Committee

 The Committee noted the following update from MMD:

 The total raised from the recent Soup & Sandwiches and Coffee Morning Events was £657.

  • The Chair of NL Village Hall Committee was waiting to hear back about funding he had applied for from the National Lottery for the feasibility study and if successful a feasibility study and business plan would be undertaken by Kearney Donald & Northern Lights Partnership.
  • The Village Hall Committee had agreed to hold their annual raffle in November this year with the draw taking place on 17th November at the Soup & Sandwich Lunch.
  • Noted the next meeting of the Nether Lochaber Village Hall Committee would be held on Thursday 5th June at 7.30pm in the Nether Lochaber Church Hall.
  • Nether Lochaber Community Association

 The Committee noted from Gordon MacIntyre, NLCA Member:-

  • That the NLCA had recently undertaken a tidy up of the Picnic Site;
  • The only income the NLCA had was from the money raised from the 500 Club he ran which brought in £50 per month.
  • The NLCA was managing to get some sponsorship money from local businesses who wished to advertise their names on the flower tubs in the area and that this would allow them to replace some tubs which were falling apart.

 AOCB

 KC requested the Community Council contact BEAR Scotland requesting them to repair the collapsed manhole on the main A82 between Highland Croft and Oak Cottage. This had been reported numerous times by locals in the area and traffic lights had eventually been erected on Friday 9th May but to date no repair had been undertaken. The traffic lights caused large tailbacks of traffic and residents of properties affected had great difficulty getting in and out of their properties due to vehicles blocking their home entrances and were also affected by the noise and fumes from the large lorries and other vehicles queuing outside their properties. The Committee agreed that the Secretary would contact BEAR Scotland regarding this matter.

  • Linda MacLachlan and Kate Ward, residents of North Ballachulish requested that the Community Council contact Transport Scotland requesting that they fix the signage for North Ballachulish just after Ballachulish Bridge heading north. They advised that this sign had taken years to get and was no sooner installed than the sign had slipped down and was not clearly visible to traffic.

Date of Next Meeting

 The Committee agreed that the next meeting of the Nether Lochaber Community Council would be held on Tuesday 17th June 2025 at 7.30pm in the Nether Lochaber Church Hall.

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