Strathdearn Community Council is preparing a Local Place Plan for Strathdearn. In early-2026, we’ll be holding in-person events at the Hub so the community can share their ideas and give their opinion on local services, and the development and use of buildings and land in Strathdearn.
To make sure we hold community consultation events on days/times that suit as much of the community as possible, please complete our survey to tell us your preferred days/times.
You’ll find a paper survey inside your November community newsletter. Or you can respond online, using the MS Forms link: https://forms.office.com/e/T02tFhCcj9 or the QR code below.
A Local Place Plan is a type of community-led plan that a community can prepare to tell their Local Authority about their aims and aspirations for the development and use of buildings and land in their local area.
Strathdearn Community Council is combining its Local Place Plan preparation with refreshing the Strathdearn Community Action Plan, so the new, single community-led plan for Strathdearn can include any topic that’s important to the community for the future of Strathdearn.
The Council’s webpage: www.highland.gov.uk/localplaceplans describes the process that we’ll be following for our Local Place Plan preparation.
Local Place Plan questions
Helen Bailey will be at The Strathdearn between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday 25 and Thursday 27 November, to answer any questions you may have about Local Place Plans.
The information that Helen will have on display will include printed copies of registered Local Place Plans, so you can see examples of what other communities across Scotland have included in their Local Place Plans.
Thursday 13th November: Farr Community Hall, Inverarnie Park, IV2 6AX : 10am – 2pm The Strathdearn Hub, Tomatin, IV13 7YN : 4pm – 7pm
Vattenfall is holding a series of public exhibitions as part of its pre-application consultation to engage with the community and gather views on its Glenmarkie Wind Farm Proposal.
The site is located approximately 16 km east of Fort Augustus and 8 km south-east of Whitebridge. The design is at an early stage and currently comprises up to 65 turbines with tip heights of up to 250 m.
The exhibition information will be available to view online from Tuesday 11th November on the project website at www.vattenfall.co.uk/our-projects/glenmarkie where further project information can also be found.
Feedback to Vattenfall at this early stage in the proposal could help shape the design and delivery of the project. Comments should be submitted in writing by filling in a ‘feedback form’ at the exhibitions or online (from the project website), emailing glenmarkie.windfarm@vattenfall.com or by writing to Glenmarkie Wind Farm Project Team, Vattenfall Wind Power Limited, St Andrew’s House, Haugh Lane, Hexham, NE46 3QQ.
The closing date for submitting comments to Vattenfall at this stage in the design process is Friday 12th December 2025. There will be another opportunity to comment once the design has developed further.
Notification of traffic management changes at Tomatin including relocation of bus stops for commencement of a new access junction for Tomatin from A9.
As part of our ongoing commitment to engage with the local community impacted by the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project, we are writing to notify you of upcoming works which may affect you.
To facilitate the construction of the planned Tomatin underpass and ongoing culvert installation works in the area, both lanes of the A9 will be temporarily realigned at Tomatin. As part of this change, a new temporary access junction for Tomatin residents and visitors will be constructed, with the existing Tomatin junction being closed. Additionally, both the northbound and southbound bus stops on the A9 at Tomatin will be permanently relocated to a bus turning circle near the Tomatin Distillery.
The realignment will come into effect from Friday 21 November 2025 and will remain in place until the new Tomatin underpass becomes operational in Autumn 2026.
Separately, the new access junction and relocation of the A9 bus stops will come into effect from 28 November and be part of the wider permanent works.
Overnight Temporary Traffic lights and convoy system from 17 November for 5 nights
To enable our workforce to safely carry out the final stages of constructing the realignment works, temporary overnight traffic signals and a convoy system will be required on the A9 south of the Tomatin north junction from 17 November 2025 for 5 nights from 1900 to 0600 each evening. The existing pedestrian and cycle route will remain unchanged.
During these times, road users will be stopped at temporary traffic signals and a convoy system will guide them through the works.
Road users are reminded to approach the area with care and allow extra time for your journey. Access for pedestrians and emergency services will be maintained at all times.
The map below outlines the realignment:
Realigned A9 and new access junction into Tomatin
From 21 November, both lanes of the A9 will be temporarily realigned at Tomatin. The realignment will remain in place until approximately Autumn 2026.
From 28 November, the existing access junction for residents of Tomatin will close with a new access junction, approximately 400m south of the existing junction, in place and operational from this date.
Please note, residents of Tomatin should continue to utilise the existing junction until 28 November when the new temporary junction will be ready for use.
Access to Tomatin Distillery, Strathy Snacks and homes in the area will be maintained at all times.
The new junction to access Tomatin on the temporary A9 realignment will be appropriately signed.
The map below outlines its location.
Bus stop relocation to bus turning circle near Tomatin Distillery
From 28 November, both northbound and southbound bus stops will be relocated from the A9 at Tomatin to the bus turning circle near Tomatin Distillery. This is a permanent relocation which will affect all bus services utilising the existing bus stop including the 37. This relocation will also affect the school bus which travels to Millburn Academy.
The X37 will bypass the bus turning circle in Tomatin and will proceed its journey to Carrbridge and Aviemore.
Please note, residents and pupils who reside in Tomatin should continue to utilise the existing bus stops until they are closed on 28 November.
The picture below outlines the bus turning circle location.
To minimise disruption while we undertake these works, we will implement best practice methods of working, such as equipping machinery with low noise reversing alarms and briefing staff on the importance of maintaining reduced noise levels.
All works have been subject to consultation with The Highland Council and their Environmental Services Team before commencement.
For further information regarding traffic management and live traffic up-dates, please refer to the Traffic Scotland website www.trafficscotland.org and for further project updates, the A9 Dualling website at www.a9dualling.scot
If you have any enquiries regarding these works, you can contact the project’s Community Liaison Officer. You can reach the Community Liaison team by email at A9T2M@balfourbeatty.com or by telephone on 0800 998 7573.
[The following letter has been received by Strathdearn Community Council from Laurie Leith, Assistant Project Manager of North EnergieKontor UK Ltd]
Good afternoon,
I am writing to you regarding a proposed wind farm development opportunity that Energiekontor UK Ltd are currently exploring in the nearby area.
Energiekontor UK Ltd was founded in 1999 and is a subsidiary of the German based Energiekontor AG; the parent company of the Energiekontor group which develops and manages wind farms and solar parks in a number of European countries. The Energiekontor group was founded in 1990 as a private and independent company to plan and develop wind farms.
Based in our Glasgow Office, our remit is to develop and obtain consent for sensitively sited and designed wind farm sites in Scotland. More information on our company and our projects can be found here: https://energiekontor.co.uk/
Energiekontor have been working on a site which lies within your community area which I would like to bring to your attention and hopefully open a working relationship as we progress with the proposal.
Shortly, we intend to be requesting a formal EIA Scoping Opinion from the Energy Consents Unit for the proposed “Glenkirk Wind Farm” which is currently being scoped for up to 13 turbines and associated infrastructure on land situated approx. 5km north-east of Tomatin. (VIEW MAP HERE)
Although the scheme is in its preliminary stages, survey work and early design has been undertaken to shape the proposal. We will be submitting associated figures and associated appendices with the Scoping report. The site still has further to go through the design and assessment process, and I am therefore keen to engage and interact with the community over the coming months.
If you have any comments, please let me know.
Look forward to hearing from you and hopefully meeting in due course.
“Temporary traffic signals and a short 200m lane closure will be implemented on the A9 near Moy Rail Bridge and the current realignment in place at Lynebeg. for approximately two weeks from Monday 3 November 2025 between the hours of 07:30 and 21:30.
There will be no work carried out on Saturday or Sundays. This is to facilitate culvert installations and sheet piling.
Strathdearn Community Council is looking for individuals or contractors to undertake snow clearing locally during the winter months. This would be on an as required basis and would cover community areas and access to some properties. Some equipment is available.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), in partnership with Kevin Murray Associates and Re-orient Places, invites you to take part in an engaging, in-person workshop as part of a national conversation about Scotland’s heritage. We want to hear your views and experiences to help shape how heritage is recognised, celebrated, and looked after in the future.
Scotland’s historic environment belongs to all of us — from stone circles and high streets to tenements, schools, local parks, and even the venues that hold your most cherished memories. Heritage is what makes our communities unique, and your voice matters in deciding how it is understood and protected.
In-person events are being held around Scotland throughout October and November, with bookings now live. Events are open to everyone – young people, older people, business owners, volunteers, parents, New Scots, those who love heritage, and those with no strong feelings about heritage but who care about their surroundings. If you want to talk to us about heritage, we want to hear from you.
Why take part?
Have your say: Help us to understand the things that matter to you and your community
Celebrate your area: Share and spotlight the heritage that makes your area special
Participants will have the chance to tell us about the places they value, and their views on how they should be recognised and looked after in the future. Events are being held at the following locations, to confirm your attendance and reserve your space, please complete your registration using the links below for each event:
With in-person events happening across Scotland, a Youth Heritage Challenge on the horizon, and opportunities to share your views online, there are many ways to get involved in Talking About Heritage.
To learn more, register for a workshop, or complete the survey, please visit:
Visit Document Library if you are looking for any of the following: Newsletters; Minutes of meetings; Application forms; Accounts, projects and other info on SCD and SCCT.
We are excited to screen our 2-minute film showcasing our local attractions and The Strathdearn Complex. Journey from the wild high glens and their wonderful nature, along the River Findhorn, to the Tomatin Distillery on to Loch Moy and the excitement of the Moy Games.
Walk-through and aerial footage of The Strathdearn Hub
