Strachur & District Community Council
Minutes of Ordinary Meeting
Held 19:30 on Wednesday 12th March 2025
Strathlachlan Community Centre
Members present: Archie Reid (Convener), Ian Lowe, Catherine MacDiarmid, Isabel McGladdery, Steve Mclaughlin, Kirstie Reid and Iain Wilkie (Secretary).
Also in attendance: two members of the public.
1. Convener’s opening remarks.
Archie welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies and declarations of interest.
Cllr Sinclair, Lizzie MacDonald and William McGladdery apologised for non-attendance. There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes.
Minutes for the Ordinary Meeting held on 15th January 2025 were agreed as accurate.
4. Matters arising.
a. Reconfiguration of A815 school crossing.
There had been some progress, in that the necessary TRO had been put out for consultation on 28.2.25 and some preparatory road marking had started at the crossing. An article in the Dunoon Observer of 7.3.25 had mentioned the time taken to reconfigure the crossing, and the Argyllshire Advertiser had asked Iain for background information [which was included in an article published on 14.3.25].
Cllr Sinclair had sent Iain the following by e-mail:
“I have now raised the School crossing speed limit changes and the association engineering works at the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, it is now also on my members services.
Further I have written to Stephen Hall new head of Roads stating that I intend to raise this as a substantial issue at the forthcoming Roads and Infrastructure Councils meeting on the 20th of March, as a related matter the Balliemore Bridge on the B836 will also be raised.
Once I get answers you will be the first to know.
One other point I have also raised the poor state of the A815 at St. Catherine's.”
ACTION: Cllr Sinclair
Iain pointed out that the TRO was confusing, because one part of it referred to the A886 and was not clear about what change was being proposed. He had asked Argyll & Bute Council for clarification and would follow this up.
ACTION: Iain
b. Damage to railings at school crossing.
Catherine had reported this to Cllr Sinclair who had taken photographs and would pursue this issue.
ACTION: Cllr Sinclair
c. Action to deter antisocial behaviour at the bus shelter.
Steve had installed signage.
d. New flashing lights on C57 near school.
Catherine said that these were still working only intermittently. Iain would report this to Argyll & Bute Council.
ACTION: Iain
e. Fly-tipping at recycling site.
In response to his FOI request, Steve had been informed that Argyll & Bute Council had issued 21 warning letters and six fines for fly-tipping since 2020.
f. Surface water on A815 at Loch Eck.
As requested by Cllr Sinclair, on 13.12.24 Iain had sent him a letter of complaint about this issue. No response had been received from Cllr Sinclair. A member of the public pointed out that the surface water resulted from forestry damage and ditches not being maintained.
ACTION: Cllr Sinclair
g. Poor bus service on A886.
See item 9a below.
5. Police Report (received from PC Alison Simpson by e-mail on 12.3.25).
Between 15/01/25 and 12/03/2025, the number of Incidents and Crime Reports respectively are 26 and 1.
Many incidents raised for road traffic matters and planned shoots.
The one crime report refers to Theft by Opening Lockfast Place – enquiry ongoing.
6. Health Report (from Kirstie).
a. Advice on benefits.
With the cost-of-living crisis still affecting people, we have all been advised to check what benefits we may be entitled to. Even if someone is on benefits, they should check they are getting the level they are due. People are advised to use either the Citizens Advice phone number 01546 605550 or Bute Advice Centre 01700 502784.
b. Budgets.
Argyll & Bute Council’s budget was decided last month and the Heath & Social Care Partnership have to have their budget approved at the March meeting of the IJB (Integrated Joint Board). Kirstie will inform next month’s meeting of any major decisions.
Articles for Newsletter and/or Facebook.
Since the last meeting six articles had been submitted. These were on: Consultation on Visitor Levy, R100 Broadband Evaluation, Argyll & Bute Volunteer of the Year, Argyll & Bute Resilience and Transformation Fund, Argyll Rally Update, and Consultation on Letters Forest Felling Proposal.
The main correspondence (in addition to any mentioned elsewhere) had been with:
a. Residents re: i/ Bus timetable.
ii/ Dunoon Library.
iii/ Fishing at pontoon.
iv/ Emergency Plan.
v/ CC response to Motorsport UK Consultation on Argyll Rally 2025.
vi/ TRO for A886.
b. Argyllshire Advertiser re: Delay in reconfiguration of A815 school crossing.
Surveys and consultations.
A response had been submitted to the following consultation:
a. Letters Forest Felling Proposal.
Other activities.
a. Attended Argyll Rally Community Council Liaison ‘Zoom’ meetings on 22.1.25 and 5.3.25.
b. Delivered Argyll Rally 2025 letters to properties beside B8000 (Barnacarry to Otter Ferry Sea Fish, Largiemore) on 19.2.25.
8. Treasurer’s report.
The bank balance stood at £2,338.50.
9. Transport update (from Kirstie).
a. Bus service.
The 486 leaving the bus-stop at top of the Clachan at 8.14 a.m. will leave at 8.05 a.m. from Saturday 29th March. This will allow the passengers to catch the 8.45 a.m. ferry from Dunoon. From Friday 28th March the 486 leaving Dunoon at 5.50 p.m. will become the 478 leaving at 5.45 p.m. It should be noted that this bus will return to Dunoon via Glendaruel. The Strachur- Dunoon bus fare will also increase on this date to £8.25
b. Concession fares.
Concession fares operated by the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Scheme (SPT) give the over-60s and disabled cheaper fares on trains and boats. This scheme is run by the Local Authorities that make up Strathclyde Region and, due to financial constraints, they have had to raise the fares. A single journey will be capped at £2.50 and a return at £4.00. With this in mind, the Calmac concession fare will be £2.50 single and £4.00 return; the adult passenger fare will rise to £12.30. Western Ferries ticket prices will also rise in April: the 1st advance tickets will be car/driver £25.10, book of 10 £112.70; passenger £7.10, book of 10 £30.90; concession car/driver ££103.90, concession passenger £3.50, book of 10 £15.00.
10. AOB.
a. Police presentation on scams.
A police officer had contacted Archie regarding a 50-minute presentation on scams which he offered to deliver for the benefit of the community. It was agreed that we should try to organise this in collaboration with the Hub, preferably for a Thursday afternoon. Iain agreed to liaise with Hub organisers about this.
ACTION: Iain
b. Dunoon recycling centre.
Ian recounted his experience trying to dispose of materials cleared from the Hall at the Dunoon recycling centre. He had been informed that these were “commercial” and that he would need to open an account in order to pay. There was unanimous agreement at the meeting that charities should be exempted from the need to pay to dispose of waste responsibly and that the CC should pursue this suggestion with Biffa and/or Argyll & Bute Council.
ACTION: Iain
c. Fishing from the pontoon.
A member of the public reported an incident regarding a child fishing from the pontoon. Steve explained that there was no charge for children fishing from the pontoon, but that they had to be supervised by an adult and that the SBMA secretary should be informed beforehand by phone, as per the information posted at the pontoon. Likewise, teenagers would not be charged, but should also phone.
d. Emergency Plan.
A member of the public made a number of suggestions regarding improvements to the Emergency Plan. The most substantive suggestion was that the plan should include a more formal system for ensuring that vulnerable individuals were safeguarded during emergencies. This idea was accepted and it was proposed that interested residents should meet to discuss proposals for such a system, which would be brought to the CC for further discussion with a view to its eventual incorporation into the Emergency Plan.
e. Commemoration of the end of World War 2.
A member of the public outlined the Historical Society’s plans for an exhibition to commemorate the end of World War 2 and asked if the CC had any plans to commemorate this event. It was stated that the CC had no such plans.
11. Date and location of next meetings.
The Annual General Meeting will commence 19:30, Wednesday 16th April 2025 in Strachur Heron Hall (New Hall) and will be followed by an Ordinary Meeting.
Iain Wilkie, Secretary, Strachur & District Community Council