Month: January 2026

[from Strathdearn Community Council]

Lynemore Windfarm (Galileo) have now submitted an “additional information” submission to the Energy Consents Unit on which the community is entitled to make additional comments.

This information can be found on the https://lynemorewindfarm.co.uk/ website and details all the changes they are proposing.

The community can make representations directly to the ECU (detailed AI-generated instructions at the end of this article), and if you wish to make comments that we as a community council can revert on please send those comments to georgemacleod@strathdearn.org, and we will make sure these are included in our response

You can find detailed information here: Lynemore Additional Information – Addendum to Planning Statement. Here is a brief summary (copied from a pdf so please excuse incorrect line-breaks):

Description of the Revised Proposed Development

• Turbines have decreased from 14 to 12, removing turbines T04 and T05.
• Turbines T02, T06, T07, T11, T12 and T13 have been relocated.
• Track location and length have changed according to the new location of the turbines.
• The route of access from the A9 has been moved to the southeast. The distance from the track to the nearest properties has increased from approximately 35 m (including verge) to approximately 80 m, which in return has allowed for the length of track to be reduced and other environmental constraints such as forestry to be better avoided.
• The number of proposed construction compounds has been reduced from two to one.
• Of the 7 watercourse crossings proposed in the EIA Layout, 5 are removed and 2 different ones are proposed as part of the Revised Proposed Development, reducing the total number of water-crossings from 7 to 4.
  

You may find it useful to browse this page of AI generated images showing the visual impact of the turbines : https://lynemorewindfarm.co.uk/#accordion-item-volume-3d-ai-figures-thc-visualisations

Here, for example, are predicted views from General Wade’s road if the development proceeds:

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AI instructions to submit your comments to Scottish Government about proposed Lynemore wind farm

1. Use the Online Portal (Preferred)

The Scottish Government prefers that you use the Energy Consents Unit portal to ensure your comments are processed correctly. 

• Find the Application: Go to the portal and use the “Search” tab. Enter the reference ECU00005105.
• Submit Representation: Click on the “Submit Representations” button at the top of the application page.
• Registration: You do not need to register an account to submit a representation. 

2. Email Your Comments

You can also submit your representation via email to representations@gov.scot. 

• Important Change: For cases where public consultation opened after 16 January 2026, the portal is now the mandatory route. However, since Lynemore’s application was submitted in May 2025 and a formal update was filed in January 2026, both routes are likely available for current feedback.
• Required Info: You must include:
  • The project name: Lynemore Wind Farm.
  • The reference number: ECU00005105.
  • Your full name (in block capitals).
  • Your full postal address. 

3. Submission by Post

If you prefer physical mail, send your letter to:

Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU. 

Critical Tips for Your Comment

• Be Specific: Focus on “material considerations” such as visual impact, noise, effect on local wildlife (like peatland or birds of prey), and traffic.
• State Your Interest: Clearly explain how the proposal affects you personally (e.g., as a local resident or business owner).
• Deadlines: While a formal updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was submitted in January 2026, it is best to submit your comments as soon as possible to ensure they are considered by Ministers.
• Public Record: Be aware that your name and address will be published on the public portal alongside your comments. 

Strathdearn Community Developments (SCD) AGM — Monday 9th Feb, 2026 | 7.30pm | The Strathdearn 

Come along and hear SCD’s plans for Hazelbank Woods and Community Housing, then tell them your better plans! What other community projects would you like to see in the future? It’s your development board, tell them what you want.

Better still, if you wish to be considered to join the SCD or WRT Board please contact us at least 7 days in advance of the AGM by emailing info@strathdearn.org for details.

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Click on the links below to access the agenda, annual return and the draft minutes of 2025 AGM.

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If you have any queries, please contact elainemacleod@strathdearn.org

… from Strathdearn Community Developments Co.

The Community Housing Trust, our appointed letting agent for the upcoming housing project, is now welcoming expressions of interest!

To register your interest, please visit: https://www.chtrust.co.uk/tomatin-scd.html

See posters below for further details:

This appeal is being re-posted because of a poor response.

Let’s be clear about the purpose of the survey:
Strathdearn Community Council’s job is to represent the views of the community, whatever they may be. A similar survey last year about six proposed wind farms provoked a huge response – 180 replies, mostly negative. SCC then compiled your views into a report which was presented to the Scottish Government’s planning department, reflecting our community’s deep concern about the cumulative effects of so many wind farms. The sheer number of survey replies leaves no doubt that the report fairly represents the community’s views, and surely gives it more weight with the decion makers.

Since then SCC has received two more wind farm applications so they again seek our views. The pressure from the developers is relentless and so must our response be. Our unpaid councillors put a lot of time and effort into doing their best for us. The least we can do is help them to help us. Please fill in the survey, it only takes a couple of minutes.

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In 2025 Strathdearn Community Council gathered the residents’ views on the six proposed wind farms in Strathdearn at that time —Balnespick, Clune, Lynemore, Highland, Kyllachy, and Carn na Saobhaidh—which are at various stages of planning. Local support in completing that survey was fantastic and was very useful in allowing us to compile the feelings of the community on many of the aspects. These have been submitted to the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in Scottish Government and we await feedback on those detailed submissions made on your behalf.

We now have had two further applications namely Glenkirk and Glen Markie to consider and we as a community council felt it was essential that we gather the community feedback on these new proposals so that we can continue to feedback to the ECU the community comments

We appreciate this is another survey but feel this is justified at this time as time is very short to comment on these on your behalf. We would point out that you are fully entitled to comment directly to the ECU on these and any applications on a personal basis

Full information on all wind farm proposals can be found on this website’s Wind Farms Information Page (click on links to individual developers’ own websites). A summary prepared by our own Wind Farm advisory group can be downloaded in PDF format HERE.

Click the link below to complete the survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZHSQVQQ

🌿 Hazelbank Community Wood Meet‑Up 🌿

Everyone is warmly invited to come along and hear what’s been happening in Hazelbank Community Wood, what’s coming up next, and how you can get involved. We’d also love to hear any ideas you’d like to share.

31st January

7:00pm

Findhorn Room, Strathdearn Hub

It’s a friendly, open gathering – all welcome.

For more information, contact Louise: louiseramsay@strathdearn.org

Louise Ramsay

Community Woodland Coordinator

Our new menu is here, with the return of a few favourites

The mac is back, served with homemade garlic bread and the option to add a Scottish twist with either haggis or black pudding

By popular demand, sandwiches and toasties are also back on the menu and keep your eye out for our daily specials board for home-made curries, lighter options and much more!

Also a reminder that we will be serving Fish and Chips this Wednesday from 5-6.45pm to sit in or take away. Booking advised to secure your table.

The following letter has been received from Simon and Hilda West

Many will know that the Church of Scotland placed Dalarossie on the open market last year, inviting bids and statements of intent for the building. We were successful in that process and are now the custodians of the church.

Dalarossie is an ancient site of Christian worship. Conservative estimates place its origins in the 8th century, associated with the Celtic ministry of St Fergus, and it is named as a feature of the medieval Diocese of Moray when that structure emerged in the early 1200s. For more than twelve centuries, Christian worship has continued here, ministering to the community and weaving a rich cultural heritage. It is to preserve both that ministry and that heritage that we have taken responsibility for the building.

Our intention is to work towards four traditional Christian services each year, aligned with the seasonal calendar. The first of these, a service of nine lessons and carols for Christmas, was held on the 21st of December. The afternoon was dark and cold, but the church was full! The singing was hearty, wonderfully accompanied by Lucy Cameron-Mackintosh on the piano and Doris Fischler on the French horn. We were delighted to welcome the Rev. Fergus Robertson, formerly of Inshes East Church of Scotland, who preached on the significance of Bethlehem, speaking of God’s sovereignty, provision and care. Mince pies and drinks were served afterwards in the vestry, where the newly recommissioned fireplace worked well to add warmth and good cheer.

Plans are already underway for an Easter service on Sunday, April 5th, at 4pm. Further details will be published online nearer the time. For any other enquiries about the church, please email Simon at dalarossie@outlook.com.

We are humbled to have this opportunity to support Dalarossie and to see some 1,200 years of Christian worship continue at the site, bearing a message as vibrant and as vital today as it has ever been.

Simon and Hilda West

[This letter, received by SCC from the Scottish government’s Director of Infrastructure Projects, lays out the plan to complete dualling of the A9 from Perth to Inverness by 2035]

14 January 2026

A9 Dualling Programme

As you may be aware, on the 14 January the Cabinet Secretary for Transport set out to Parliament an update regarding our delivery plan for completing dualling works between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035.

As announced, a capital-funded approach will be used for the completion of the A9 Dualling Programme, with all projects being procured by means of a Design and Build or similar contract.

To reflect that decision, we have updated our Delivery Plan. You can view the 2026 Delivery Plan on Transport Scotland’s website and the dedicated A9 Dualling website.

Regular engagement will continue as A9 Dualling progresses, including with local communities on individual projects.

In the meantime, you may wish to note that additional information on the programme has now been published on Transport Scotland’s website and the dedicated A9 Dualling website.

With 11 miles currently under construction and a further section expected to be awarded later this year, work is quickly ramping up along the route which continues to support this Government’s firm commitment to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2035.

Thank you for your continued interest in A9 Dualling.

Yours sincerely,

Lawrence Shackman
Director of Infrastructure Projects
www.transportscotland.gov.uk

Overnight temporary traffic signals and a short 300m lane closure will be initiated the A9 from tonight until Thursday 15 January (between the hours of 19:00 to 06:00). From 19:00 on 15 January till 06:00 on the 16 January, these temporary traffic signals will be on the B9154 Moy south junction.

These are required to allow BT to carry out works which are in close proximity to the carriageway.

Gemma Corbett

Community Liaison Officer | Balfour Beatty | UK Construction Services – Scotland

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Here’s a slightly more detailed version from the A9 Dualling website:

Start date 13 Jan 2026 — End date 15 Jan 2026

Road users are advised that overnight temporary traffic signals and a 300m lane closure will be in place on the A9 and B9154 from Tuesday 13 January to Friday 16 January 2026 to allow BT to carry out works close to the A9 carriageway.

• On Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 January, overnight traffic signals will be in place on the A9 between Invereen Roundabout and the B9154 Moy South junction.
• On Thursday 15 January, similar measures will be in place on the B9154 between Moy South junction and Moy village.

All works will take place between 7:00pm and 6:00am, with completion by 6:00am each morning. A temporary 30mph speed limit will apply, and drivers may be stopped briefly at traffic signals before continuing their journey. These measures are essential for the safety of both the workforce and road users.

To minimise disruption, traffic signals will be manned at all times.

Dates may change depending on weather conditions. For the latest updates, visit the A9 Dualling website.

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Start date13 Jan 2026End date15 Jan 2026Mode of transport

• Road