The National Cycle Network Route 7 temporary diversion from Invereen to Moy has reopened and will remain opened until Spring 2028 following the successful completion of maintenance work.
The image below outlines the route for cyclists
Author: Strathdearn (Page 8 of 90)
[letter sent to SCC. B.B. will also speak at tonight’s Council meeting]
As agreed at the Strathdearn Community Council meeting on 9 December, we have carried out further reviews in relation to the concerns raised regarding the provision of temporary lighting for the new temporary Tomatin junction.
We can advise that all temporary diversions – including the Tomatin realignment and Tomatin temporary access junction – adhere to the assessment process as set out in the relevant standards within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB). As part of this assessment process, an independent road safety auditor carries out a Stage 2 Road Safety Audit, which as audit of the design. This is a thorough review of the agreed design of the diversion undertaken by a team of independent Road Safety Auditors. This Stage 2 Road Safety Audit was carried out on the Tomatin realignment and access junction. It can be confirmed that the Stage 2 Road Safety Audit did not identify the need for provision of temporary lighting at this junction.
The assessment process set out in the DMRB standards requires a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit to be undertaken post opening of a road section or junction. We can confirm that the Stage 3 Road Safety Audit was carried out on 16 December, which was soon after the opening to traffic of the temporary realignment at Tomatin. It can be confirmed that the Stage 3 Road Safety Audit did not identify the need for provision of temporary lighting at this junction.
In order to ensure that the concerns raised by the Community are further considered, we have arranged for a supplementary Stage 3 Road Safety Audit which will be carried out on site by a qualified independent road safety auditor shortly after opening of the temporary junction at Tomatin. This audit will be carried out in both daylight hours and nighttime hours to ensure that all light conditions are considered. Once that audit is complete, we will review the comments made by the assessing auditor and provide the Community Council with a further update.
Additionally, as part of this temporary diversion, signage will be improved in the area – including signage for Tomatin. The road benefits from new surfacing and reflective road studs to increase visibility during nighttime. It is also noted that the road users are currently limited to a 40mph speed limit while traveling through the project site. Road users are on the whole abiding by this speed limit which results in safer conditions for the community, our workforce and non-motorised users while we undertake this project.
[from SCC]
Strathdearn Community Council is pleased to announce the start of its 1st stage preparations for the Strathdearn Local Place Plan.
During this stage, the Community Council is gathering information for preparing the Plan, including importantly, seeking the Strathdearn community’s aims and wishes for its local area.
The surveys for our 1st stage preparations went live on 04/02/2026. The target audience for the surveys is: Community (Strathdearn residents aged 12 years and over); Businesses (anyone operating a business in Strathdearn), and Landowners (anyone owning land in Strathdearn). The three surveys are open for responses until 4.00pm on 27/02/2026.
Want to find out more before responding to the survey? There are lots of ways:
- Our four-page Local Place Plan Information Leaflet was kindly hand-delivered to every household in Strathdearn this week, tucked inside the community newsletter. Our leaflet contains lots of information about the Local Place Plan process, together with key facts about the Strathdearn area, and an overview of some possible Needs, Opportunities, and Challenges for the Strathdearn area. The Information Leaflet is also available on our Local Place Plan webpage.
- Six Local Place Plan drop-in sessions are being held at The Strathdearn during February, where you can view Local Place Plan and Strathdearn information, ask questions, and make comments. The drop-in dates and times: 10 Feb 10.30am-12.30pm; 12 Feb 11.30am-1.30pm; 21 Feb 10am-midday; 22 Feb 3-5pm; 23 Feb midday-2.30pm; and 25 Feb 1.30-3.30pm.
- Our Background and Additional Information Report aims to support our 1st stage preparations by providing helpful further reading, particularly for those unable to attend the drop-in sessions.
- We have updated our Local Place Plan webpage, including the addition of quick links at the top of the homepage. We will be adding to these pages as we progress through the plan preparation.
There are also lots of ways to respond to the surveys!
You can complete the surveys online using the MS Forms weblinks provided above or by scanning the QR codes. Paper copies of the surveys will be available from The Strathdearn foyer from 06/02/2026 (submit your completed paper survey to The Strathdearn office) and a Word version for filling out on a computer is available by emailing us at: localplaceplan@strathdearn.org
Have your say! What do you think about the needs, opportunities, and challenges we have identified for Strathdearn? Do you agree? Are there others you would like to tell us about?
As the completed Strathdearn Local Place Plan will be used to guide community action relating to services, facilities, and the development or use of land and buildings in Strathdearn for the next five-years, it is important that as many people as possible from Strathdearn have their say!
Thank you, from Strathdearn Community Council
Strathdearn Community Council, Tuesday 10th February @ 7.00pm in The Strathdearn
This meeting will also be available on MS Teams
LINK: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/34241642663621?p=OpW1jX7ZFjiQZFe9Ze
MEETING ID: 342 416 426 636 21
PASSCODE: C9Xz2dZe
PLEASE NOTE these additions to the agenda below:
- Balfour Beatty will be attending the Community Council meeting to update the community on progress and plans and the outstanding issues brought to their attention.
- We will also have Dave Simpson , Service Delivery Director ,Stagecoach North Scotland attending to explain the bus plans for Tomatin and address any questions and the future outlook once the new junction is opened
Agenda
- Apologies
- Declarations of interest
- Balfour Beatty update
- Minutes of the last meeting (view them here)
- Matters arising
- Financial report
- Law and Order
- Road Safety
- Applications to the SCCT
- P7’s of Strathdearn Primary School
- Planning Matters
- Local Place Plan
- Windfarms – Update from SWIAG
- Update from SCD
- Correspondence
- AOCB
Date of next meeting Tuesday 10th March 2026
[from SCC’s Strathdearn Windfarm Interim Advisory Group]
“Oh dear,” you say, “not another survey!” Yes, it’s another survey and here’s why it’s important you fill it in:
In 2025 Strathdearn Community Council (SCC) gathered residents’ views on 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. That survey received a huge response, 180 replies, many expressing concern about the cumulative effects of so many wind farms. We compiled those views into a report which was presented to the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in Scottish Government. ECU helps Scottish Ministers decide on planning matters so surveys like these are our best route to influencing those decisions.
SCC has recently received two further applications for wind farms, at Glenkirk and Glen Markie. Government ministers will make decisions on each individual application but we believe it is important that they also consider the overall effect of many wind farm in the same locality. Therefore we need another survey so that we can add your views on these latest two applications to those of the previous six. The more responses to the survey, the more authority our report has.
Strathdearn Community Council’s job is to represent the views of the community, whatever they may be. We can only do that if you tell us what you think. Please fill in this survey. It will only take a few minutes.
Detailed information on all eight wind farm proposals can be found on the Community Website. Go to www.strathdearn.org and look in the menu for “Windfarms” The information there includes detailed maps and links to the developer’s site for each wind farm. There is also a link to the survey we want you to complete.
Alternatively, you can go directly to the the survey web page at : https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZHSQVQQ
IMPORTANT NOTE: The survey closes on February 8th so please do it now or ASAP.
Thank you for your support.
Strathdearn Community Council
[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:
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.
Click on the links below to access the agenda, annual return and the draft minutes of 2025 AGM.
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.
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
🌿 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
