Author: Strathdearn (Page 3 of 93)

Children’s outdoor education is starting back up again in Hazelbank Wood.

The outdoor learning sessions take place on Tuesdays, as well as on an ad hoc basis throughout the year. There are signs within the woodland to help keep everyone aware when the children are using the area.

Sadly, their first day back started with a lot of dog mess in the outdoor learning area.

This is really disappointing, especially when the children are coming into the woodland to learn, explore and enjoy the outdoors. It is also disappointing for the wider community who use and care about Hazelbank Wood.

We are really hoping that, with dog waste bins now provided at both entrances to the wood, we will see a real difference. Please remember to pick up after your dog and use the bins provided.

We want Hazelbank to be a clean, safe and welcoming place for everyone to enjoy, and we really appreciate everyone doing their bit to help keep it that way.

Louise Ramsay

Community Woodland Coordinator

[message from Strathdearn Community Council]

We’re delighted to announce that the Strathdearn Local Place Plan 2026–2031 has now passed Highland Council’s validation check and has been added to the Council’s Local Place Plan Register.

This is an important milestone for our community — and the culmination of many months of work, consultation and community engagement.

A Local Place Plan is a community-led plan that sets out our priorities and aspirations for the future of Strathdearn, particularly in relation to local services, facilities, and the development and use of land and buildings. Our plan will help guide community action and spending over the next five years. (strathdearn.org/local-place-plan)

A huge thank you to Helen

Profuse thanks are due to Helen Bailey, who has led the preparation of the Local Place Plan and has put an enormous amount of time and effort into bringing it together. Our community is very fortunate to have someone with Helen’s experience and skills, which she has put to excellent use at a time when they were very much needed.

The process involved extensive engagement with people across Strathdearn, including surveys, drop-in sessions, focus groups and discussions with local community groups, businesses and landowners. (strathdearn.org)

The finished Plan reflects the views and aspirations that emerged from that process and provides a clear picture of what matters to our community and what we would like to see for Strathdearn over the coming years.

Read the Plan

The Strathdearn Local Place Plan 2026–2031, together with information about how it was developed, can now be found on the Highland Council register.

You can also find all the information about our Local Place Plan on the Strathdearn Local Place Plan page.

Highland Council Local Place Plan Register:
Strathdearn Local Place Plan 2026–2031

The Local Place Plan document:
Download the Strathdearn Local Place Plan 2026–2031

Supporting Statement:
Download the Supporting Statement

Highland Council Local Place Plan map:
View the Local Place Plan on Highland Council’s map

This is a plan for Strathdearn, by Strathdearn — and getting it officially registered is something the whole community can be proud of.

Well done, Helen, and thank you to everyone who contributed their time, ideas and views along the way.

Strathdearn Community Council is currently being kept going by the Chair, Treasurer and three recently co-opted members. The three co-opted members will be standing for proper election — but at least three more people are needed to help bring the Community Council towards full strength.

New blood, new ideas and new enthusiasm are very welcome! You don’t need to be an expert, and it only takes a few hours a month to make a difference and help your community.

If you’ve ever thought “someone should do something about that…”, why not consider standing? 🙂

Nominations close on Monday 7 September 2026.

If there are more candidates than the Community Council’s maximum membership of eight, there will be a vote on Thursday 8 October 2026.

See the notice below for details of how to stand.

[from: Gemma Corbett, Community Liaison Officer | Balfour Beatty | Scotland | Civil Engineering]

Construction of the new Dalmagarry bridge has been progressing well, and the next stage of the work involves the installation of beams on the new structures that will eventually carry the bridge deck.

We are planning bridge beam deliveries and installations at the Dalmagarry structure in September 2026. Exact dates are currently being finalised and will be shared before the works take place.

Due to the beams sizes, this will be done under the guidance of the Police.  

What you need to know

We anticipate that we will carry out these deliveries during day time hours.

Road users travelling on the A9 may encounter temporary traffic signals to allow these beams to travel to the Dalmagarry structure in three locations simultaneously.

• Tomatin North Junction (A9 northbound): northbound traffic will be temporarily stopped to allow large construction vehicles to transport beams safely to the Dalmagarry structure.
• Moy South Junction (B9154/A9): southbound traffic will be temporarily stopped to allow large construction vehicles to reverse safely into position at the Dalmagarry structure.
• Ruthven Road Junction with the A9: traffic will be temporarily controlled to allow large construction vehicles to transport beams safely between the junction and the Dalmagarry structure.

Signals in all locations will operate on an “all red” phase for up to fifteen minutes at a time, with a maximum of two activations per week. We anticipate that it will be in daytime hours between 08:00 – 20:00. Police and staff will be on site to help minimise disruption.

Once the delivery is complete, road users travelling southbound may encounter temporary traffic signals on the A9 at the B9154 Moy South junction for a maximum 3-minute period to allow the large construction vehicle to safely leave the structure to travel northbound.

Additionally, road users may experience overnight temporary traffic signals on the Dalmagarry realignment, stopping northbound and southbound traffic to allow for the first beam to be installed safely as it is in close proximity to the existing A9 carriageway. We anticipate that this will take place around midnight with an “all red” phase initiated for a maximum of 10-minutes on one occasion only. We will provide a further update with confirmed dates and timings before the works take place. 

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the works, and emergency vehicles will continue to have access through the site at all times.

We will provide a further update with confirmed dates and timings before the works take place

For the most up‑to‑date information, visit: https://www.a9dualling.scot/a9-dualling/roadworks/

Any questions, contact: A9T2M@balfourbeatty.com

We’re pleased to have new dog waste bins at both entrances to Hazelbank Wood. 

A volunteer will kindly empty the bins, and we’re hopeful that having somewhere convenient to dispose of dog waste will help reduce the amount being left within the community woodland.

Hopefully this will make Hazelbank Wood a cleaner and more pleasant place for everyone in our community to enjoy. Thank you to everyone who helps us keep the woodland looking at its best.

Louise Ramsay

Community Woodland Coordinator

[update to SCC from Gemma Corbett, Community Liaison Officer, Balfour Beatty]

Road users are advised of upcoming traffic management layout changes on the A9 from 28 August 2026 just north of the current A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy roadworks, south of Daviot. The works are expected to last around four weeks, with a revised traffic management layout in place at this location for up to 25 days. The works include road resurfacing, improvements to accesses on/off the A9 and safety barrier replacements.

During this time, the existing Tomatin to Moy site traffic management will be extended around 2.5km north towards Inverness. A 40mph temporary speed limit will be in operation, with one lane of traffic maintained in each direction at all times, except during a small number of overnight works that will be managed under two-way temporary traffic signals affecting a short length of the northbound carriageway only.

Lane layouts may change slightly as works progress to facilitate the works, but delays are expected to be kept to a minimum.

For more information, please see the attached: A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy – Ucoming traffic management changes in Lynebeg and Tomatin

Queries should be directed to A9t2m@balfourbeatty.com.

A9 traffic restrictions at Tomatin – Monday 17 August

Drivers travelling through Tomatin on Monday should be aware of temporary traffic signals associated with the A9 Dualling works.

Large bridge beams are due to be transported from a storage area near Tomatin to the new Dalmagarry side road bridge. Temporary signals will be used at three locations during the operation, which is scheduled to take place between 8am and 8pm.

Traffic may be stopped for up to 10 minutes at a time, with up to three separate beam movements planned during the day. The restrictions will only be put in place while the large construction vehicles are moving and positioning the beams.

The A9 will be stopped in both directions at the Tomatin North junction. At the Ruthven Road junction, southbound A9 traffic will also be stopped while the vehicles turn, with separate controls for traffic joining the A9 from Ruthven Road.

Drivers should be prepared for short queues and allow a little extra time if travelling through the area. Traffic management staff will be on site, and pedestrian and emergency access will be maintained.

The work is weather-dependent and arrangements may change at short notice.

The second episode of the Balnespick Wind Farm podcast is now available, providing an update on the project and an opportunity to hear the latest information.

Scan the QR code below to listen on Spotify, or visit this link:
https://open.spotify.com/show/033d1lfWUqhETqMQ4acT1r

The project team is also inviting local residents to submit voice notes for consideration in the third and final episode — see the attached poster for details.

At this week’s Community Council meeting, held on Tuesday 12th August, attendees received an update from Councillor Duncan MacPherson following the appointment of Inverness’s new Chief Inspector, Craig Still.

While the Community Council awaits further information to share, a new community policing email contact has been introduced:

InvernessCommunityPolice@scotland.police.uk

You can also find the contact details on the Police Scotland website: https://www.scotland.police.uk/your-community-team/highland-and-islands/inverness/

Duncan highlighted the value of community intelligence and encouraged residents to report suspicious activity, concerns about drug misuse, unusual vehicles, environmental crime, or any other matters of concern — even where there is no immediate evidence of criminal activity.

The full discussion will be included in the Community Council website minutes once they have been finalised.

Why not come along to a future meeting? We often have extra guests in attendance. Recently we had we had a Station Commander from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Station Commander to address our concerns in the wake of the Cairngorm wildfire, and representatives of Balfour Beaty often attend to give us face-to-face updates on the A9 Dualling.

Strathdearn Community Council

Tuesday 11^th August 2026 @ 7.00pm in The Strathdearn

This meeting will also be available on MS Teams
Meeting ID: 331 509 796 977 776
Passcode: Vs9q7pi9
Link to join meeting

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

1. Apologies
2. Declarations of interest
3. Visit from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Station Commander
4. Balnespick Wind Farm presentation
5. Minutes of the last meeting (View them here)
6. Financial report
7. Law and Order
8. Road Safety

9. Applications to the SCCT

1. Donation to Nethybridge Community Council
2. Update on fund allocation

10. Planning Matters

1. Local Place Plan Update
2. Windfarms and Community Benefit – SWIAG Update

11. Update from SCD

11. Correspondence

13. AOCB

• Interim Elections

Date of next meeting Tuesday 8^th September 2026