Glenlyon & Loch Tay Community Council
DRAFT Minutes for Thursday 13th.January 2022 at 7 pm.
Via Zoom
Meeting was informed that it was being recorded for CC purposes only.
Present S. Dolan-Betney(SDB), E. Melrose(EM), J. Polakowska(JP), S. Dorey(SD), J. Riddell(JR), W. Graham(WG), Cllr. J. Duff, plus 18 members of the public.
Apologies: None
Minutes of last meeting held 11th.November 2021:Proposed EM, seconded SD. Approved.
Finance: A grant for £428.55 had been received from PKC. Current overall balance is £570.30 Purchase of replacement defibrillator pads had incurred VAT 20%. SDB suggested CC complain. CC agreed. Action: CC to raise with appropriate body.
Police report :1. CC had useful exchange of e.mails with Sgt. James Longden. CC informed that: For security reasons Police cannot attend Zoom meetings; PCs Jamie Elder and Steve Band complete the local Police team based in Pitlochry; the team covers a very wide area and do the best they can with the resources available; no major issues are expected in our area at this time of year; PKC Ranger Service has helped reduce Police work load; CC can report and local issues directly to the team.
2.Reminder – Commander’s Bulletin issued weekly contains details on issues throughout Perthshire and is available via Neighbourhood Alert alert@neighbourhoodalert.co.uk. The current issue focuses on Wildlife Crime – there is a dedicated Wildlife Crime Officer. Anyone who thinks they have witnessed a Wildlife Crime is asked not to approach the suspects but to report it on 101 providing as much detail as possible. e.g date, time, location, vehicle registration numbers.
3.J.P raised the possibility of having a mobile radar unit in Fortingall due to large number of speeding cars through village.
J. Penfold asked that Fearnan also be included as they also had problems. Action: CC to raise with local police.
Roads:
Closure A827 Wester Logierait February 7th, 3 weeks approx.. 9.15am – 3p.m Alternative route A826
Cllr. Duff informed meeting of a related closure February 14th. 2 weeks,9.15am – 3p.m, A827/B898 Pitnacree Bridge. These roadworks would only commence following completion of the Wester Logierait resurfacing. Traffic lights may be in use some of the time*
Garth: Following site visit list of Project Officer’s recommendations requested – D. McKeown away Jan 17th. To be carried forwards.
Glenlyon: Pop-up Policemen for Primary School still to be organised/ Flashing lights – no progress. SDB suggested CC follow up Cllrs. action by going direct to D.McK. Cllr.Duff agreed. Action: SDB
Fearnan : The tourist sign pointing to Fortingall at junction of C449 and A827 was damaged by storm Arwen. CC reported to Willie Mahoney. Sign removed by Tayside contracts. No date for replacement.
Highland Action Partnership: Road Safety Group – Nothing to report.
Lyon Bridge: C.Brook had reported serious damage to bridge as a result of a vehicle collision on ungritted, icy road. CB reported to PKC Bridge Engineer. Cllr.Duff to keep CC informed if he gets more information.
Lighting:
1.Fortingall Lights: Trial period for the three new lights has ended. Postal surveys to elicit views of residents have been sent. Electronic copies to be sent to non-resident participants week commencing January17th.
ALL returns required by 31st January.
Analysis and evaluation meeting to be arranged by CC with Cllrs. SDB asked if Cllr. Duff could attend a meeting in February. He agreed. Date to be fixed by e.mail. Venue – Molteno Hall. Report will be prepared and sent to Lighting Engineer.
2.Fearnan: EM reported Light Survey complete.111 letters issued 47 returns. The majority were unaffected and of those affected few favoured change. The Evaluation Meeting concluded that the survey did not establish any significant reason to re-install the light. Report sent to Lighting Engineer. For full report please see Addendum.
3.Warm-white LEDs: The proposal to switch from sodium to LED lighting had been put on hold awaiting action by SSE.
Planning: SD read current Planning List. SDB informed meeting that PKC Planning Dept. had begun the review of the Local Development Plan. New Plan due c.2024. Preparation includes Local Housing Strategy Consultation- CC circulated by e.mail. Link: https://bit.ly/3lKp5zL As many opinions as possible are welcome. Closes January 31st.
PKC’s website is a useful source of information and provides details of the appropriate points of contact for most issues.
Boreland Farm:
Noise nuisance- No further complaints.
Premises Licence Application – approved.
Highland Action Partnership: EM reported that the last meeting was on 16th November. A draft action plan for the coming year had been produced but this was dependent on funding from PKC and hence central government. This should be known by end of February. Our current representative’s term has now ended. SDB proposed CC remain a member of HAP. CC agreed. SDB proposed that EM be re-elected as representative if she agreed. EM consented. CC agreed unanimously. The CC to write to HAP to confirm this.
Tourism: Cllr. Williamson had arranged a meeting with the Minister for Tourism to discuss visitor issues in Highland Perthshire. SDB invited to attend. Meeting had to be postponed due to Minister’s illness. To be carried forward.
Bus Shelter: No further information. Cllr. Duff requested information about exact location and will pursue with Traffic Unit. Action:SDB
Correspondence:
Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund – ends March 31st.2022
Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan – end Dec 31CC sent response. PKC Community Transport Fund – closes Feb 11th. – sent to Upper Tay Transport. Community Investment Fund – www.pkc.gov.uk/cif – projects tackling inequality in Perthshire – closes Feb 18th.
Arnold Clerk Community Fund – food banks/toy banks/housing charities to relieve poverty in local communities – no end date. https://www.arnoldclark.com/community-fund
PKC Community Learning – Funding Workshop on how to apply for grants – Jan 19th. Due to imminent closing date anyone interested was asked to e.mail CC for link.
PKC Digital Inclusion Fund – Meeting informed by Cllr. Duff. Fund available for community groups, including village halls for IT training and equipment. https://forms.office.com/r/8Q6MvG1mht PKC’s website is a useful source of information for current funding. www.pkc.gov.uk/pkgrantsdirect
AOCB:
1.Lawers representative: At the last CC election the sub-area of Lawers lost its representative and Fearnan gained one although in practise WG is the Lawers representative. CC asked for this to be reversed. The matter was delayed for want of a map showing the sub-area boundaries. A map has now been found – screen shared. CC agreed to now follow up original request.
2.Etape: the next event will be May 15th.
3.Storm Arwen: WG raised the matter of resilience. Useful discussion followed as to how local residents could better cope with similar events in future.
Points raised included:
A.Places of refuge e.g a village hall have limited value – a)SSEN no longer provide generators; b) generally people are safer in their own homes; c) Covid restrictions added to limitations. Community/hall committee would need to provide a generator. S. Brain and J. Rees offered useful information on Power Packs.
B. It was agreed that self-preparedness was key as was the willingness of residents to help neighbours, clear roads etc.
C. The value of Feldy Roo was noted in providing folk with a contact with the outside world as well as hot meals and water direct to homes. SDB asked S. Brain to pass on thanks to organisers. D. Communication was noted as a key problem with new phones requiring electricity and many areas without mobile coverage especially as the mast was down. J. Rees drew the attention of the meeting to the phone box in Fortingall. An elderly resident had tried to use it to reach Scottish Water & SSEN but it would only take 999 & 0800 calls. It appears to take cash but doesn’t, no card reader for credit cards. She agreed to check this and inform the CC of the number.
Action: CC to follow up on Fortingall phone and agreed to review and update the resilience advice leaflet issued in 2016 for distribution in the early Autumn.
Recycling: J. Penfold asked if anyone could assist in her recycling of items that PKC don’t separate. e.g blister packs/dental floss containers. The idea would be to form a “daisy chain”. This involves local collection points feeding into a central point, namely herself, whence it would be forwarded to the appropriate charity. If you are interested in becoming a local collector or want more information please contact CC to be put in touch with J. Penfold.
Yoga sessions: Information requested regarding the yoga sessions to be run in the village hall in Fearnan. These run on Friday mornings from 10.15a.m – 12.00 noon. For further information to contact organiser please contact CC.
Pitlochry Hospital: Cllr. Duff informed meeting that the In-Patient Ward has had to close temporarily due to staff shortages.
Date of next meeting: March 10th. 2022 at 7pm via Zoom
*Advice: Facebook Aberfeldy Road Conditions page may be good source of up-dates.
ADDENDUM
Glenlyon & Loch Tay Community Council
Fearnan Light Survey
Purpose:
To hear, on behalf of the Perth & Kinross Council Lighting Partnership, from those directly affected by the removal of a street light at the northern end of Fearnan in May 2018 following a request in July 2021 for its re-installation.
Methodology:
A survey form for each resident with an accompanying letter of explanation per household and a postage-paid envelope for returns were distributed to all Fearnan residents.
A closing date was set.
Returns were by post to the Community Council’s address.
A meeting was arranged between the Community Council and two Elected Members for the opening, analysis and evaluation of returns.
The meeting agreed to accept replies that arrived after the closing date but in time for the meeting.
Results:
Total no. surveys sent = 111
No. of returns = 47
No. of returns as % of total = 42
No. of surveys disqualified = 1
No. of surveys with two responses on same survey form = 1
Total no. of responses evaluated = 47
1)Would it directly affect you personally? YES NO
No. YES = 16
No. YES as % of Total = 14%
No. YES as % of Responses = 34%
No. NO = 31
No. NO as % of Total = 28%
No. NO as % of Responses = 66%
2) Would it directly affect children living with you?
YES = 0
3)If YES, in what way would re-instatement make a difference to you or children living with you?
Summary of reasons:
2 gave no reason.
Of the remainder all gave multiple reasons some of which applied to street lights generally e.g safer for motorists, indicating a built-up/residential area, making the village safer.
Specific reasons:
2 dog-walkers said it would be safer.
2 (from the same household) said it would light the back of the house and make them feel safer.
2 use the built-up/lit area for walking/exercise especially in Winter. 1 complained about lack of services including street lights on an unadopted road. 1 person criticised the residents who asked for help with obtrusive light. 2 criticised the survey.
3 people would be directly adversely affected by re-installation causing obtrusive light citing its permanent effect on themselves would affect well-being/ mental health due to its detrimental effect on their extensive wildlife/ bio-diversity projects; loss of enjoyment of dark skies and associated mental wellbeing/observation of nocturnal wildlife and provided a ‘snap-shot’ survey:
‘Snap-shot’ Fearnan ‘Traffic’ Survey Results
This survey was taken once on each day of the week, during good weather, between September 1st – 16th 2021, from the time that the street lights were fully on (approx. 7.15pm-7.30pm) until 10.30pm.
| Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
| No. of vehicles | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| No. of cyclists | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. of pedestrians | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
If NO, please give your reasons.
Summary of reasons:
5 people gave no reason .
8 people gave a single reason – either lived too far way or light would have no effect directly.
The remainder gave multiple reasons for example:
5 were opposed to excessive street light/light pollution/waste of money and electricity/ use of lights when not absolutely necessary;
5 people took a torch or recommended taking one;
3 expressed sympathy with the residents who would have to live permanently with obtrusive light;
3 approved of re-installation as a compromise.
Conclusion
The Evaluation Meeting concluded that the survey does not establish any significant reason to re-install the light.
Susan Dolan-Betney 6/12/21