Author: Strathdearn (Page 2 of 94)

The Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust is inviting all residents and local community members to participate in a new community survey created by William Gilfillan.

This survey will take just 5 – 10 minutes and offers an opportunity to share your views, priorities, and experiences regarding the Trust. Your feedback is vital in helping shape the Trust’s future activities, projects, and community support to ensure they align with what matters most locally.

How to get involved:

• Online: At surveymonkey.com/r/strathdearn2026, or scan the QR code.
• In Person: Paper copies are available for print and circulation from the Hub.
• Coffee Morning & Interviews: Keep an eye out for upcoming community interviews and a local coffee morning throughout the month where you can share your thoughts directly.

The survey and consultation period will remain open until the end of October. All collected responses will inform a summary report due in November.

Make your voice heard and help guide the future of our community!

Strathdearn Community Council
Tuesday 13th October 2026 @ 7.00pm in The Strathdearn

This meeting will also be available on MS Teams
Meeting ID: 386 421 099 735 732
Passcode: FF2jX3Hi
Link to join meeting

Following Community Council elections last month, some formalities must be performed before regular council business commences. Representatives from Highland Council will initially chair the meeting until new Councillors and office bearers have been appointed. There are therefore two agendas for this meeting.

(NB: These meetings will be recorded to ensure the minutes are true and accurate)

Agenda 1

The inaugural meeting of the Strathdearn Community Council will be held on Tuesday 13th October at 7pm at The Strathdearn. This will be a hybrid meeting with attendance online through the Teams meeting (link below).

The meeting will initially be chaired by a representative from Highland Council until such time as a Chair for the Community Council has been appointed.

1) Overview of Scheme of Establishment
2) Adoption of the Constitution and Standing Orders

3) Appointment of Office Bearers
Appointment of:
a) Chairman
b) Secretary
c) Treasurer

4) Associate Membership
5) Future Meeting Dates
6) Any Other Competent Business

Agenda 2

1. Apologies
2. Declarations of interest
3. Balfour Beatty presentation
4. Minutes of the last meeting (View them here)
5. Financial report
6. Law and Order
7. Road Safety
8. Applications to the SCCT
   •Senior festive lunch
   •Sound bath
9. Planning Matters
   •Tree felling proposal- Tomatin Estate
   •Windfarms and Community Benefit – SWIAG Update
   •Spending vouchers for senior households
10. Update from SCD
11. Correspondence
12. AOCB
    Date of next meeting- Tuesday 10th November at 7pm

The Strathdearn Community is still looking for someone to take on a contract for local snow clearing over the winter months.

The work includes:

• Clearing the car park and paths around the Strathdearn Hub
• Clearing pavements throughout the village
• Providing access for households where carers need to get in

A specification is available detailing the work required, and some equipment is available if needed.

The job is still available — so if you, or someone you know, might be interested, please get in touch with Susan Falconer at Strathdearncc@gmail.com.

Please share this post with anyone who might be interested.

The Community Council has received an email from Highland Councillor Ken Gowans regarding the future of Highland Council’s in-house Bus Service 300.

Councillor Gowans has advised that there is an intention to cease the 14:06 service from Tomatin and the 14:43 service from Inverness on Fridays. The proposed change is being considered because of very low usage of these services and would also assist with driver breaks.

Usage recorded since 10 July 2026 is as follows:

10/07/26 – 0 passengers
17/07/26 – 0 passengers
24/07/26 – 0 passengers
31/07/26 – 0 passengers
07/08/26 – 0 passengers
14/08/26 – 0 passengers
21/08/26 – 2 cash-paying passengers
28/08/26 – 0 passengers

Councillor Gowans stated that the usage is exceptionally low and that, given the cost of operating the service and current budget restraints, Highland Council needs to consider more effective uses for the bus.

However, no final decision has been made. Councillor Gowans has asked the Community Council for its feedback before a decision is taken, saying that the input of the Community Council is invaluable. He has requested that the matter be discussed informally and that feedback be provided as soon as possible, as he needs to respond to the relevant manager this week.

Councillor Gowans also stated that, personally, he is reluctantly supportive of the proposed change, as he considers that limited resources need to be used where they are effective.

In response, Susan Rosemary, chair of Strathdearn Community Council reluctantly acknowledges that the service is not being used and can therefore be withdrawn. However, she will monitor comments on this and if necessary feedback to the Council. 

[From Louise Ramsay, Community Woodland Coordinator]

We’ve popped up the new bat and bird boxes around Hazelbank Wood!

The after-school club did a fantastic job making and decorating the boxes, and we hope the kids enjoy spotting which one they made when they’re out enjoying the wood.

Fingers crossed the boxes get plenty of use from our local wildlife over the years to come🦇

Do you know a Highland Council employee, team or project that deserves recognition for making a difference in our communities?

The Highland Council is inviting nominations from members of the public, community groups and partners for its 2026 Staff Recognition Awards. (Highland Council)

There are four award categories:

• Working in partnership – recognising outstanding collaboration to achieve better outcomes for people and communities.

• Tackling inequalities and strengthening communities – recognising work that reduces inequalities, addresses local challenges or strengthens communities.

• Going the extra mile – recognising exceptional commitment, outstanding service or extraordinary effort.

• Unlocking potential – recognising those who help others grow, develop, overcome barriers and achieve positive change. (Highland Council)

Nominations must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 2 October 2026.

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 3 December 2026.

If you know someone who deserves recognition, you can make a nomination here:

Submit a nomination for the Staff Recognition Awards 2026

Following the application for Highland Wind Farm, Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) has now been submitted.

The project team is holding public drop-in sessions to give local people the opportunity to find out more about the additional development work covered by the SEI and to ask questions of the project team.

Wednesday 7 October 2026
The Strathdearn, Tomatin
2.00pm–5.00pm

All of the application documents, including the SEI, can be found at:
www.highlandwindfarm.co.uk

This is a chance for local residents to find out more and speak directly with the project team.

The Highland Council are launching a public consultation on draft guidance aimed at reducing light pollution across Highland thereby supporting environmental protection, public wellbeing and the tourism economy potential of internationally recognised dark skies.  

The document contains draft planning guidance aimed at limiting the use of outdoor artificial lighting only to that necessary for its intended purpose by encouraging a choice of lighting type, design and location that minimises harmful effects. A future policy that will be included in the Council’s new statutory local development plan is also outlined.

This consultation aims to engage with a range of individuals and groups within Highland to understand your views and desired amendments to the draft document. Submitted responses will be reviewed and considered by a Council committee before the guidance is approved and applied to relevant planning applications.

Take Part Here

Please submit your comments anytime until the deadline of 30th October 2026.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email us at: hldp@highland.gov.uk

Representatives from Fred Olsen Renewables attended our recent Community Council meeting to talk us through the latest changes to their proposals for Balnespick Wind Farm. Their redesign, along with changes to their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), shows that the representations made by the community to the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) have had an influence, which is encouraging to see.

You can view the presentation slides here for more detail. The presentation includes a useful ‘slider’ feature which makes it easy to compare the view before and after erection of the turbines.

The Strathdearn Wind Farm Interim Advisory Group (SWIAG) will continue to work with the developers to scrutinise their proposed mitigation measures and ensure that appropriate measures are put in place. SWIAG will also keep the community informed as the proposals develop.

There are a number of wind farm developments currently at the scoping or planning stage in our area, so it is particularly encouraging to see a positive feedback loop with Balnespick, where community representations have resulted in changes to the proposals.

You can find out more about SWIAG’s work by attending Community Council meetings and/or visiting the community website.

‘ The Strathdearn Community is looking to award a contract for local snow clearing over the winter months. This is for the car park & paths around the Strathdearn Hub, pavements throughout the village and also for households requiring access for carers.  A specification is available detailing the work required and some equipment is available if needed.  

Please get in touch with Susan Falconer at Strathdearncc@gmail.com if you are interested in undertaking this work.