MORVERN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

Draft Minutes of the Public Meeting of the Morvern Community Development Company held In Lochaline Village Hall on Wednesday August 31st 2005 at 7.00pm

Those Present: Mr J Bolton (JB) Chair, Mr P Lindsay (PL), Mr R Smart (RS), Mr M Sampson (MS), Mr S Malcolm (SM), Ms E Brown (EB), Angus Robertson (AR), Tim McGurk (TM), Robert Linton (RL), Dot Ferguson (DF)

10 Members of the public also attended.

Agenda Item No 1

Mr R Lees of Alienergy presented a talk and slide show on Alternative Energy Sources. At present over 114 community renewable energy projects have taken place in the Highlands and Islands at a cost of £2.99m. A further 57 are under way at an estimated cost of £1.14m. Various examples of renewable energy schemes were demonstrated and reasons for the need for renewable energy explained eg climate change, Kyoto, Scottish Executive commitment, depletion of existing supplies etc. Resources and potential benefits for Morvern were discussed and the way forward outlined if a community renewable energy initiative was to be taken forward.  Mr Lees then took questions from the floor.  JB thanked Mr Lees for coming down

Agenda Item No 3

Planning Exercise

JB thanked EB for her efforts in co-ordinating the Community Planning Exercise.  EB thanked those who had helped on the day and then read out a short interim summary of the findings. 110 people attended (54 male, 56 female) which equates to 31% of the population. Most mentioned comments were on housing, new school,and a high level of interest in enterprises community or private.  There were 16 comments on the Golf Course, 9 on the Marina and 18 on the Community Sawmill. Anna Barton will shortly produce a full report which will be used by MCDC and Morvern Community Council for forward planning and the report will be forwarded to Highland Council for potential inclusion in the local plan due to be published in December 2005.

Agenda Item No 2

Marina Project

JB outlined the findings of the Financial Viability Study.  This showed that an 80 berth marina at the top of the loch would not be viable for lease to a private operator.  It would also only be borderline if operated as a community venture. An alternative would be to establish a downscaled model (20 berths with potential expansion to 40) at Miodar Bay with shore based facilities on the village side. A rescoping study would have to be undertaken and discussions with interested parties entered into.  Due to the brevity of the funding window discussions and meetings have been held with a Design and Build consultant who are preparing figures and plans.  Once these have been established a meeting will be held with all concerned and the project put forward for public consultation. JB answered questions from the floor.

JB thanked RL and DF for attending.  Both opted to stay until the end of the meeting.

Agenda Item No 4

Apologies

JR, Kate Cruickshank

Agenda Item No 5

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a true record. Proposed by PL, seconded by RS

Agenda Item No 6

Matters Arising

All covered by Agenda

Agenda Item No 7

Proposal by Lochaline Charters

Mrs A Lawrence spoke to the above.  She has been in touch with the National Aquarium of Plymouth who were responsible for the artifical reef HMS Scylla.  They will supply us with a ‘route map’ of how to emulate this for a cost of £2/3k.  There are currently 14 artificial reefs in Britain and the benefits of these were discussed.  Suitable research in the Sound of Mull would have to be undertaken to establish a safe site.  Mrs Lawrence to investigate further and put a completed proposal to MCDC who would be willing to act as a community umbrella body for the project.

Agenda Item No 8

Sawmill Project

RS informed the meeting that Planning Permission had been applied for.  EB read out a letter from Mr and Mrs Watt of Sruhan. Mrs Laurence expressed concern over potential noise pollution from the sawmill.  Mr J Hodgson expressed fears that the Morvern Community Woodlands Project may be jeopardised by the establishment of the sawmill. MCW to be invited to the next MCDC meeting to discuss

Agenda Item No 9

Golf Course Project

PL recounted the level of support expressed for the Golf Course from the Planning Day.  A public meeting will be held in September to which all interested parties will be invited.  Planning Permission has been applied for.

Agenda Item No 10

AOCB

The condition of the new footpaths was discussed.  Should MCDC buy its own strimmer?  To be discussed at next meeting

Write to R Capell re disposal of cut timber

Agenda Item No 11

Date of the Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on September 21st at 7.30pm in the Tarmac Mine Office

Date of AGM?