Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 8th May 2025 at Kilmorack Community Hall starting at 7.30pm.

Meeting Commenced at 19.37hrs(7.37pm)

Apologies: Roy Templeton, Chris Balance, Helen Crawford

Present: Andy Fraser, Mary Graham, Mark Hedderwick, Graham Mackay, Iain Stewart, John Graham(secretary) Cllr Emma Knox, Cllr David Fraser

Minutes of Meeting 3^rd April 2025: Proposed: Mary Graham, Seconded: Andy Fraser

Police Report: Written report circulated and noted that the only reference to Beauly was speeding checks. It was mentioned that the occasional visit from a Policeman might have benefits from our knowledge of what is going on in the area.

Matters Arising:

• Aigas Community Forest is having issues with SSEN stalling on the BNG due to the perceived negative publicity on the access front. Ongoing meetings with SSEN are to take place on Tuesday with options to be considered. The consensus of opinion is a voluntary arrangement in the ACF’s control would be the best option. The suggestion of a one way system supporting all 23 towers is off the cards at the moment. Mark Hedderwick addressed the issue of present work on assessment of land for the towers. A detailed discussion took place. There was concern expressed that the access road to the towers was to be left in situ for maintenance unlike Beauly Denny and would be left as a scar across Farley Hills for all time.
• Fanellan now it is in planning has become even more contentions with some 2500 letters of objection. There was a meeting with the Beauly Business Group at the Phips Hall in Beauly which raised a number of issues. Best left to Beauly to sort. KCC has lodged an objection but awaits the planning application for Black Bridge replacement before we call a public meeting. Should SSE choose an alternative route bypassing Kiltarlity Village and Black Bridge it would nullify any adverse comments. We are keeping our powder dry for that one.  It should not be forgot that the issues we have in Kilmorack are very much cumulative but should Black Bridge become the main access to Fanellan the situation would become almost intolerable.
• Verges – Since the contractor went into liquidation we await some news from highland Council and/or Highland Broadband. No change but Emma and Andy to chase it up with THC..
• CLG. Graham Mackay has volunteered to sit on that.
• Wester Balblair Substation – Andry Fraser drew the CCs attention to the level of litter blowing around there. They tell us they have a system for clearing it up but the system is obviously not working. AF suggested an arrangement where SSE paid us £1000 pa to keep the area tidy and will contact SSEN.
• Lovat Bridge to Railway Bridge path widening. This exploded rather from a comment made by the representative of Beauly Community Council at the Phipps Hall meeting suggesting that she had contacted SSEN with a view to that path. JG reminded all that the area from the Rail Bridge to the Toll was in Kilmorack Community Council area and was a subject that quite regularly had been addressed. With the increased traffic it was felt time to re-look at the options. The consensus view was that Planning should make that a condition should the planning application for Fanellan be approved. It was further considered that a route beside the river taking all pedestrians away from the main road would be preferable. This is an option discussed in the past but lack of funding was the issue then Mark Hedderwick and Iain Stewart to work up options for a cycle track/walking route from Lovat Bridge to Beauly and also the previously discussed walking route from Black Bridge to the Balblair.

Chairman’s Business – No business not already addressed

Secretary – Chasing Toll/Altryre Management grant and annual operations grant.

Planning – No new applications

Treasurer: – No transactions this month. Balance stands at £1988.90.

ANOB: There has been some work on the Cemetery paths with weed killer but improvements still expected. Emma Knox to chase. 

Meeting Closed: at 20.48hrs (8.48pm)

Next Meeting: Thursday 5^th June 2025, 8.00pm   

Signed:

Andy Fraser, Chairman