Kilmelford and Kilninver Community Council
Ordinary General Meeting 13th August 2002

The community council held an ordinary general meeting on 13th August 2002 at Kilmelford Village Hall.

The main issues discussed were:

• PC Moffat was introduced to the meeting, as replacement community police officer for Raymond Law. Inspector Shearer of Oban Police then discussed the role of community policing. PC Moffat stated that he was looking forward to meeting members of the community.
• Dog fouling is increasingly identified as a problem in public areas, and the chairman agreed to discuss this at the next meeting.
• It was reported that there was just a small amount of timber still to be extracted from Scammadale Glen, and that the road had been maintained in good order, with further road repairs to take place shortly.
• The main item on the agenda was the proposed wind farm at Loch Avich, and to facilitate discussion and community decision making, the secretary had invited speakers for and against the proposal. Firstly, Steve Macken (Project Manager) and Neil Reid (Environmental Planning Manager) of Scottish Power presented the arguments in support of wind farming, and the Loch Avich proposal in particular. Secondly, Marilyn Henderson (secretary, Dalavich Community Council) countered the argument by highlighting the disadvantages associated with wind farms. Questions were invited from the floor, and a long discussion ensued. The chairman thanked all speakers, and advised that further meetings would be held once a formal planning application was lodged.
• Three planning applications were discussed.
  • Outline consent for the erection of a dwelling house west of the boatyard shed. No objections were raised.
  • Melfort Pier had applied for a new laundry and store. It was agreed that since this involved the removal of trees, and represented further creeping development, an objection should be lodged.
  • Retrospective planning permission by Mr and Mrs Jackson-Stark for a septic tank on land west of Ardowan. It was explained that because the original planning permission placed the septic tank in an impossible location, it had been relocated on installation.
• Georgina Dalton advised everyone present that the Summer Festival would be held on 25th August, and that the organiser, Steve Ewing, would be grateful for any assistance.
• Peter Menzies advised that the road at Blaran had recently been tarred, which raised the road level by some 4 inches thus exacerbating the problem of access from the glen. It was further noted that the removal of the telegraph poles on that section of the road had been held up by a dispute over liability.
• Various other roads issues were discussed, which would be pursued prior to the next meeting.
• The next meeting of the Community Council will be held at 8.00pm on Tuesday 8th October 2002 at Kilmelford Village Hall

  Neil Manchester