Strachur and District Community Council

meeting held on 

Wednesday 11th March 2026

Strathlachlan Community Centre

 
Present: Archie Reid Convener, Kirstie Reid Secretary, William McGladdery
6 members of the public
 
Apologies: Lizzie MacDonald and Isabel McGladdery
 
Matters Arising from previous minutes (14/01/26)
a. School Crossing will be reinstated when work finished, 
b. Speed limit reduction at Clachan Brae and A815 meeting for Cowal to be held tomorrow 12/03/26 Kirstie will update as soon as she hears anything
c. VMS Signs fixed the next day
D. Kirstie is still looking into who the appropriate person is to raise the sighting of a mobile phone mast in Strathlachlan is.
Councillor update: no update received
 
Police Report: between 13/01/26 and 06/03/26 there were 10 Incidents and 11 crime reports possession of class A,B or C drugs 1 detected 1 Undetected live, fraud 2 undetected live, careless driving 1 undetected live, illegal number plate 1 detected, speeding 5 detected,  Kirstie also hade Cyber security leaflets and No Cold Caller door Stickers
 
Health Report; At the last meeting a member of the public asked when the return to full Dispensing will return to SMP will happen this cant happen until there is a member of staff able to fulfil this role as the training takes quite a few months Please note as Inveraray Pharmacy is part time so if going there to pick up  prescription please phone ahead. As some of you may have seen in the Strachur news letter that the surgery has managed to secure funding from the HSPC to have a Nurse 2 hours per week and most will go to Cowal Community Hospital(CCH) CTAC unit for things previously carried out by the Practice Nurse, i was asked to check if this came under the Highlands and Islands Travel Scheme(HITS) for those who may have to use community or public transport to attend CTAC at CCH I was told as this comes under primary care the HITS does not apply. 
HSPC Budget consultation this ran from the 30th Jan 2026 and stops on the 12/03/26 for those present tonight there is still time to fill in the questionnaire online I know that a good number of residents attend the face to face consultation meeting in the Queens Hall Dunoon and had there feeling on the cuts were heard. The cuts to the budget will be heard at the next HSPC IJB meeting on the 25th March 2026.
 
Secretaries Report: Kirstie received letters from the following
  1. LLTNP- weekly planning lists
  2. Nathan Barrie- Cowal Deer management Group minutes 3.
  3. Forestry Land Scotland - monthly update
  4. BT-payphone at Clachan Brae
  5. Consultation on Forest management.
  6. Resignation- CC members resignation due to work commitments
The next round of Community Council Elections cross Argyll and Bute  is in August 2026 so if you wish to join please let one of the CC members know in the meantime we can co-opt you on the Community Council at the next meeting
 
Treasures Report: we have a balance of £2519.22
 
Transport Update: Cowal Transport was supposed to meet on the 24/02/2026 this was cancelled due to the Chairman Resigning prior to this ABC withdrew committee support and the chairperson was to organise and send out meeting invites with no chairperson this couldn't happen. Councillor Gordon Blair was nominated to be the councillor rep at future meetings. When asked when the next meeting would be arranged we were told up to the chairperson to organise. When asked why the committee support was withdrawn it was stated that the Cowal Transport Forum is not and official ABC Committee yet it appears on the ABC website list of council meetings and the minutes and agendas are also there and from it being Strachur Transport Forum to incorporating the whole of Cowal and becoming the Cowal Transport Forum in 2008 it has always had a sitting councillor as chairman and being on the council website. 
Kirstie Put online the current train times from Gourock to Paisley due to no trains going into Glasgow Central she will update as soon as things return to normal. A one boat an hour timetable is running between the 10/03/26 to 26/03/26 incidentally due to the fire near Glasgow Central and trains reduced to one an hour between Gourock and Paisley the train leaves Gourock a 56 minutes past the hour and the boat gets in at 10 past the hour leaving a 45 minute wait

 

National Park Update: none received

 
Argyll Rally 2026: Rally packs for those in the closed area have been delivered to those households concerned William would ensure that the quiet and slow sign where put up from Inver Cottage to Leanach Cottage and mention about a better sing at Leanach Crossing to announce the Rally is on and along the A886 at the bay
 
AOCB: 
  1. a member of the public raised concerns about some drivers speeding along the B800 Kirstie will raise this with Police Scotland
  2. in light of the previous item member of the public asked if  we were aware that the Evanachan Fish farm was being extended creating more vehicles on the road  so asked if we could approach the council about having the speed reduced from 60 mph
  3. Roads sign it was pointed out that the new road signs on the B8000 are very reflective and blind you when car light hits them and asked  if there anything that can be done 
Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday 15th April 2026 Strachur Memorial Hall this will be the AGM followed by an Ordinary meeting.