Month: November 2016 (Page 2 of 2)

Development Officer's report November 2016

11th November 2016 /

Paths Project:
As reported at the last meeting, difficulties were being experienced in obtaining an open roads permit to complete the last section of the paths project. The senior roads department manager Mark Clough has over ruled the decision for the installation of a 1 in 200 years flood system, and reduced this to the submitted design for a 1:30 year flood scheme. This is welcome news and the contractor McGowan outdoor has been instructed to carry out a cost revision on Section 8 Juniper drive to review the feasibility of the project. This revised costing will determine whether the project is completed. There is still detail to submit to comply with planning which is being carried out now. A report will hopefully be available for the next C.C meeting  

Big Lottery Visit:
Funding managers from the big lottery are due to visit the development company tomorrow November 9th. The SCD board will meet the Big Lottery team at the millennium hall to discuss the community hall project and assess our application for funding. Preparation for this meeting has been on- going for the last few weeks with the admin team of SCD compiling all the relevant data for the meeting.  A summary on the visit will be in next month’s report.

Broadband:
Lead director James Macpherson has carried out a comprehensive dialogue with various broadband bodies in an effort to improve the broadband service in the remoter parts of the Strathdearn area. Various options and schemes have been discussed and are currently under consideration. The two areas currently under discussion and previously reported, are the village of Moy and surrounding area as well as the upper reaches of the Glen. The board are still in analysis of the data and options and this is very much a work in progress. Several meetings and board minutes reflect the on -going nature of this project and progress has been made The board are grateful for the continuing hard work, and expertise, James has done on broadband. It has been much appreciated.

Tomatin Village shop:
The shop continues to progress and settle into Community ownership. Please note the shop signs have been changed to show the SCD logo and the name change to Tomatin Village Shop. New part time jobs have been created at local level. If anyone would like to work, or volunteer in the shop please contact Lee Anne or the SCD Website.
Christmas is coming and Lee-Anne’s expertise will ensure the shelves will have plenty of attraction for everyone. The first quarters trading has now completed and we have submitted our first VAT return. A net return of £60 to White river trading! SCD has now obtained Quick-books and it is the boards’ decision to take the wage roll in house saving overhead cost with accountants.

Development Company Website:
Lead director Steve Cormack in association with Yellow Cherry marketing has now posted a new website. It is well worth a look as several new features have been added. The website now features an on line booking system for the hall and the sports centre. It is now possible to book and pay for Hall and sports centre bookings through the website. Anyone still wishing to pay by cheque or cash, can do so by paying at the village shop. The changes are to reflect the anticipated New Hall build so we are prepared well in advance.

Old Village hall/ Millenium hall:
The old village hall has been boarded up due to vandalism. Lead director Jimmy Duncan is removing the bar and a new lock is being installed. This is to allow access to the old hall by user groups that require access to the old hall for stored materials. The key for the lock will be with Steve Culeen and anyone requiring access please ask Steve for the key.
The warning notice to the public should now be in place. Danger Keep Out!
The planning permission for the New Hall complex that was submitted at the end of July has now cleared all but one obstacle. Planners were on site with the architects last Monday. A trail pit is being dug to ascertain certain measurements at the bridge. Once these measurements have been calculated it is hoped that the project will receive planning in the very near future.

New Admin team member:
Thanks to an underspend with the Scottish Government grant SCD received this year we have received permission to add to the admin team. A part time post 10 hrs per week has been recruited and Mrs Patricia Norton has started with SCD. Tricia is responsible for social media postings, marketing of the village shop, and facebook blogs for the community. The position is for the next 6 months and we are delighted to welcome Tricia on board.  

The next SCD Board meeting is DECEMBER 8th 2016 7.30pm at the Millenium hall.

Shop Customers – We want to hear your views!

7th November 2016 /

Survey PictureThe shop is such an important part of the village it’s hugely important that we listen to our customers views.  Its your shop and we want to hear what you think!

Please take a few minutes to complete this online Survey by clicking on

Tomatin Shop Customer Survey

For those who would prefer to complete a paper version there are copies in the shop which can then be posted at the village hall postbox or handed back to the Lee-Anne or any of the staff.

Thanks for your time.

MEETING – A9 duelling will have huge impact on our lives

4th November 2016 /

No A9 South aheadTHESE DECISIONS WILL DEEPLY INFLUENCE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IN STRATHDEARN FOR DECADES TO COME.

Tomatin to Moy Project – Public Exhibition – Strathdearn Hall: Nov 14, 3pm – 8pm; Nov 15, 11am – 8pm

Transport Scotland will present their preferred option. They say the meeting is to consult with representatives of the community, implying that officially the junction options are not yet decided. Many Strathdearn residents expressed concern about a proposed partial or full closure of the Sloch junction onto the A9. The Community Council suggested reopening a section of the old A9 giving us a route south via Carrbridge. We do not yet know whether Transport Scotland have accepted this suggestion. Please attend and demonstrate to Transport Scotland that Strathdearn residents are very aware of the importance of these decisions and will fight for the best solution.

I have requested more information in advance of the meeting. Watch this space.

Iconic Wildlife

3rd November 2016 /

Perhaps the best loved species is the red squirrel, which is common anywhere near conifers and a frequent garden visitor.

Roe deer are common from Moy to Tomatin and beyond, red deer abound higher up Strathdearn and Sikka deer may be seen along the road from Kyllachy to Glenmazeran.

Rabbits are everywhere and a garden pest, brown hare are quite common in lower meadows and the beautiful mountain hare on heathery hill slopes.

 

Birdlife is abundant: key species include crested tits, crossbills, greatspotted woodpecker, sandmartin, dippers and  tree creepers. Golden eagles are fairly often seen far up the strath at Coignafearn together with peregrine falcon. Spring sees an influx of ground nesting birds: lapwing, oyster catchers, curlew and common sandpiper, together with common and blackheaded gulls and common tern.

The heather moors are prime red grouse territory, and extensive game maagement keeps mammalian predators tightly uunder control. In the R Findhorn and tributary burns the salmon spawn in November can be spectacular.

….. WORK IN PROGRESS ….TO BE CONTINUED ……

 

 Image 18

Community Council Meeting – 8th November 2016

3rd November 2016 /

AGENDA :

  1. Apologies for Absence.

  1. Declarations of Interest.

  1. Minutes of the Meeting of 11th October 2016.

  1. Matters Arising.

  1. Law and Order.

  1. Distillery Wood Felling and Planting Concerns. Mr Richard Wallace, Regulations and Development Manager with Forestry Commission Scotland will attend for this item.

  1. Applications to the Strathdear Community Charitable Trust.

  1. Update from Strathdearn Community Developments.

 

  1. Windfarms

    1. Planning (Garb ole Substation)

    2. Moy CADISPA Survey Presentation to Moy Residents – 16 November.

  1. Planning Matters.

    1. Local Planning Applications

    2. Community Planning

    3. Planning Advice Scotland Services for CCs

  1. Road Safety

  1. Financial Report.

  1. A9 Dualling Exhibition to be held in the Strathdearn Hall on Monday 14th November from 3pm – 8pm; and on Tuesday 15th November from 11am – 8pm.

  1. Update – Possible Highland Games,

  1. Correspondence

    1. GSX Education Governance Review.

  1. Any Other Competent Business.

 

  1. Date of Next Meeting (13th December 2016).

 

The AGENDA for November meeting and MINUTES for October meeting are available in the document library.

Envelope

Post Office

1st November 2016 /

Envelope

 
 
 
 
Roger from the Post Office comes along to the shop on a Thursday between 11:30am and 1:30pm.  Could save you a trip to town and you can have a browse in the shop at the same time.
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