I would like to address the comments on Facebook from yesterday regarding the highland dancing event at the Strathdearn. Whilst I recognise the current problems with parking, it is encouraging to see the facilities are in demand and being used. This is all as a result of Paula and Tiffani’s enthusiastic work in marketing and promoting the hall. However, as was highlighted at the Community Council meeting parking is a problem.
Unfortunately there has not been an SCD meeting since the Community Council, consequently the matter has not been fully discussed. The next SCD meeting is this Thursday (28th October 21, 7pm in The Strathdearn) to which all are welcome. The parking issue is not new and was, I believe, discussed prior to receiving planning permission. At that time there was a plan for overflow parking, however it should be said that the Highland Council did not see it as a problem as road side parking is common place throughout the Highland area. The SCD did consider that the matter had potential safety concerns and therefore embarked on a project to develop a network of paths within the village. We all know that this project stalled as a consequence of Highland Council imposing a number of conditions which increased the cost significantly. This situation has now been overcome and agreement reached with Highland Council on the standard of construction to be used. The tender(s) for the paths project are about to be issued.
SCD is also considering several other potential solutions that will solve the parking situation, but these cannot be implemented immediately. A temporary solution has been identified that will enable overflow parking on the site of the old shop and at the bottom of shop brae. This will require traffic management during events in the near future. Work is being undertaken to see how this can be best done and implemented before the Highland Dancing event next month. SCD hope to post proposals on the web page / Facebook in the next couple of weeks.
Stan Falconer (SCD chairman)
