Download or view in pdf format
Killin Community Council
Meeting on Tuesday 7th November 2023
in the Lesser McLaren Hall at 7.00pm
Minutes unanimously agreed at 9th January 2024 meeting – Proposed by S. McRobbie, seconded by P. Farquharson.
Agenda
1. Chairman’s welcome
A. Aitken welcomed everyone. Disappointed no-one from Stirling Council present for this evening’s meeting and we hope to have representation in future meetings.
2. Recording of those present, and apologies received
Chair - A Aitken, Treasurer - P Farquharson, Secretary- F. Inglis, S Inglis – Roads, J Laurence, A. Dowling, S. MacRobbie Apologies; C. Grant
3. Declarations of interest – no declarations
4. Adoption of previous minutes proposed by S. Inglis, seconded by P. Farquharson
5. Notes of interest from members of the public – two members of the public were in attendance regarding the issue of the C60 bus.
KCC were not all aware, that the contract with Kingshouse was going to end in
March 2024. Concern no. 1 – Stirling Council knew of this in March 2023. Seems however, they were ill – prepared for when Kingshouse pulled out early. Concern no. 2 The revised bus timetable and service seems to have been barely risk assessed. No safeguarding in place for when members of the public use the school bus. Problems are;
- that Stirling Council appear to base their plans on an urban setting – where children have more choices regarding how they get to school.
- Parents and children were not notified of the change.
- What we’re concerned about is that the council may find the combination of school and public bus, acceptable. Currently, there are only 4 spare seats on the bus reserved for the public and it could be pot luck as to whether a member of the public is able to get a seat or not. This situation is likely to be exacerbated in the summer.
- While other areas have good buses, talks are on-going it seems, with MacGills and the Council is trying to get them to take on the contract.
- In the meantime, what they’re looking at a “Working together plan” This seems to include community efforts. This approach is reflected in their response re the nursery cuts.
Key points;
- There is urgency around this as March is just around the corner. Any
conversation we need to have must happen now, and in Killin. - A bus service based in Callander would be useful, given the challenges the bus drivers have with reaching Tyndrum and Crianlarich early in the morning.
- Kingshouse had submitted the revised timetable 40 days before the end of the contract. What we need is a bus service from Callander.
- Meeting was held on 6th Nov with David Hopper. Emails have gone out to councillors (Martin Earl, Evelyn Tweed) and the school.
- Situation for Tyndrum and Crianlarich – worse than for Killin as they will have no public transport at all.
- Local key workers in the Killin care home, people attending the doctors surgery and the dentist are all impacted by the changes in the bus service.
- Kids / young people are also impacted through being unable to attend the supportive studies, extra-curricular and leisure activities held in the evening.
Strategy
- suggest that as per the care service challenges previously, the council could step in, to run the bus service.
- Seems the Killin community are all behind, fighting those bus cuts and more broadly, the detrimental way in which Killin is being treated by SC. This could be amplified through increasing the numbers who have filled in the survey.
- Build on the fact that Callander Community Council are keen to work with us and we could reach out to Balquidder, Strathyre and Lochearnhead Community councils.
- Argue for better than the original service.
- Agreed – hold a pre-meeting within the next two weeks, and invite
Lochearnhead, Balquidder, Strathyre, Tyndrum and Crianlarich CCs or
Development Trusts, to prepare the ground for a public meeting in the McLaren Hall within the next few weeks and require that Stirling Council officers attend the public meeting. - Agreed - that we fight this case, include the media, and get the young people involved, together with their parents.
A core group, called “Save the bus” has been set up. The Community Council will work with it to organise an initial meeting (proposed for next Monday in the Pavilion), involving all the local groups and clubs from all affected communities.
KCC will invite the other affected CCs and Stirling Councillors, the core group will invite others. Recent survey results give a good snapshot of people’s views.
6. Chair report
A. Aitken recently attended a meeting with DLC in Kenmore. It was reiterated that they plan to build 145 houses and renovate Taymouth Castle (due to be ready 2027) and say they will do it in an environmentally friendly manner. They have no current plans to purchase further properties. Their partner owns Glen Lyon estate which will be used for hunting, shooting and equestrian purposes. Timeframe involved is likely to be around 10 years. A letter has been sent from the Protect Loch Tay group and raised some questions about permissions and whether they have been granted, that can be addressed in a future meeting.
The new developments at Kenmore will be much bigger than present and the
infrastructure such as roads, will need to be considered.
Minutes of the last meeting will be put up on the KCC Facebook page.
7. Secretary’s report
Correspondence received from the National Centre for Resilience re funding,
Greenspan re Boreland energy storage park - shifting that from one site to another.
Communication from a member of the public re Kenmore
Communication from 3 UK re the proposed comms site north of Glen Lochay power station
Numerous emails re the bus service
Tree causing visibility problems on the Ambulance site has been removed.
SSE meeting re Lochay power station, this week on Thursday
Additional complaint received – closure of the Ardeonaig road for several hours without warning. A. Aitken has asked for an explanation from Stirling Council.
8. Treasurer’s report – nothing to report re activities.
9. Stirling Council report – No rep in attendance
10. Police report – been received and circulated.
11. Planning report & related issues – a number of planning applications in;
Greenspan – battery electricity supply point. 2 meetings – 28th Nov and 19th Dec
Acharn change of use – from biomass to battery energy system
New house, bottom of Manse Road / masonic hall
Extension, Craigdochart Craignavie road
Replacement dwelling house, old school house
Hot food takeaway at Fernbank – refused by planning
Erection of holiday let, Wester Lix
Greenbank cottage – demolition
Solar panels, Auchlyne
Phone mast, Glen Lochay
12. KAT report – no-one present to report. D. Fettes had been expected to attend to represent the national park. Jane fed back on the latest re KAT – AGM been held, the Coop being held up by Building Control. Post Office / Comm shop are likely to be asked to develop a business plan. Suggestion was that we ask someone to come along to one of the CC meeting to update us. This was agreed, in order to determine what support they might need and we could give. Question was - could this come under a potential resilience grant?
McLaren Hall – new group of Trustees with Kenny Lang due to become chair. Very limited activities going on in the hall. Some new Trustees are due to come onto the committee.
13. Roads report and related issues – roadworks on Glen Ogle will take a while.
14. AOCB – Question re coffee van at the Old Mill – still looking for local businesses to show interest / apply.
Nursery update – group have been told there is absolutely no way that the cuts will be reversed. Talking about a similar Work Together approach. Looking for child minders in the village – or some other option. This doesn’t seem at all feasible at the moment. The group have put in a participation request. The group has been asked to do the research into what can be done.
Pavement at Lyon Road A member of the public has cleared the area around Lyon Road and the Coop. There now appears to be 2 meters available for an actual rather than a virtual pavement. This is council ground. A. Aitken to email SC to see if there is any movement on this pavement question.
Bin at the gate of the park and the one at the McLaren Hall. Location has been
changed. S. Inglis together with F. Inglis – to sort out the location and functioning of the bins (they’re full). S. Inglis and F. Inglis to work on this issue.
15. Date, time and format of next meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on 9th Jan. Lesser Hall is booked for 7pm and A. Aitken is not going to be in attendance. C. Grant to chair. A. Aitken and J. Lawrence will work on the core group of the Save the Bus. P. Grant can support the fight the nursery group, as usual. S, Inglis to attend the meeting re the Glen Lochay developments, on Thursday with F. Inglis