Topic

Discussion

Action

1. Opening

Trevor Geraghty (TG) chaired the meeting &

welcomed all.

2. Minutes

Proposed Joyce Kelly (JK), seconded Natasha

Sheppard (NS)

3. Matters
arising

School safety, TG has been seeking guidance
to progress this, established relationship with
Chair of Aberfoyle Primary Parent Council
who is very keen to see progress with this
issue. Gillian McEwan (GE) updated the
meeting that formation of this year’s Parent
Council limited by Covid but will progress this
once formed.

Cemetery wall has been not only repaired but
also repointed inside & out after a request
was made from the SCC. (GMcE) extended
thanks to Local elected members for their
help with this. Martin Earl (ME) stated all

thanks should be extended to Cemeteries
Officer Barbara Docherty.

TG to forward
thanks from
the SCC

4. Flooding

JK briefed that following the most recent
flooding event and many residents’

complaints re prolonged road closure and no
access to a potential & historically used access
route through forest via Duchray road which
is now limited by a locked gate. SCC used
Stronachlachar/Inversnaid/Kinlochard CLP
database to send out questionnaire to find
how residents experiences and circumstances
were impacted by the lack of access to the
forest road. The survey achieved an 80%
return of those polled. (90% of that felt that

historical escape route was essential. 6% felt

it was important) The survey proposed that in
times of emergency residents should have
right of access. JK was aware that 3 families
impacted by the B829 closure are dependent
on epipens – clearly creating potential for a
serious incident. JK went on to say that the
survey recorded many personal experiences
which were emotive and distressing and
clearly identified a need for an agreed policy
in regard to the Duchray Road.

TG wholeheartedly commended the
emergency services. There were families
majorly impacted as a result of flooding and
no access/egress route to their homes.

TG liaised with Police & TS&R at the scene but
commented that there was no clear agreed
policy that the emergency services were
aware of and no Forestry Land Scotland (FLS)
present. The flooding lasted for 3 days

Martin Earl (ME) commented that doing the
survey was excellent as it clearly established
the demand/need to have route access for
emergencies ONLY. He went on to say FLS
have liability/responsibility and should be
able to create a carefully managed solution.
Stirling Council have a role in supporting
resilience groups – comprised of key
stakeholders including residents who work
together to create manageable solutions for
challenging circumstances such as these. TG –
proposed “SCC requires a formal procedure to
find a safe solution.” JK seconded.

Shirley Leek (representing Forest and Land
Scotland) said that FLS historical approach is
to limit access and noted that the issue is
liability and is national policy as many similar
issues occur in other areas. She went on to say
that previously enquiries with Stirling Council
(SC) adopt and bring up to standard a formal
access/egress route were considered to be
cost prohibitive. She also highlighted the
risks involved in using Duchray Road and
suggested as a responsible landowner FLS
was required to limit access. However she did
agree that FLS would be willing to listen and
work together with community reps to find a

solution.

The topic generated much discussion from
attendees highlighting different aspects of the
issue which concluded in a resolution for
form a small resilience group of willing
residents to liaise, in the first instance with
FLS, on finding a solution that met in as far as
is possible all parties needs but did not rule
out escalating the issue if a local solution
could not be agreed to.

ME asked if (SL) could send the SCC, ME &
MSP Dean Lockhart (DL) the emergency
protocol/flowchart for the community and
reiterated the benefit of a local resilience
group where responsibility is devolved to the
collaborative group.

DL has contacted CEO FLS and will appraise
SCC with any response. He offered to help in
any way possible.

SL said that FLS did not have a local plan for
residents as FLS official policy is that there
should be no access to forest roads by the
general public.

TG questioned how the 3 Lochs Forest Drive
could be open for campers, tourists and
people not familiar with the forest but it was
not possible to facilitate a safe route for
locals?

SL answered that this was a managed access
route which was unlocked morning and
locked at night with a one-way system &
much higher spec road therefore was not
comparable.

TG said that in the first instance immediate
action needed to ensure that the
Police/Fire/TS&R are given correct
information on what advice they can give the
community if the B829 is closed.

TG thanked SL for her contribution and
attendance and thanked DL for contacting FLS
CEO and looked forward to hearing the
response.

Action arising: Resilience Group to take

forward negotiations with FLS.

Post Meeting
Note: First
Zoom to
meeting of the
group to agree
way forward
scheduled for
Wednesday 10
March.

5. Planning (see
appendix 1)

JK briefed that as far as she could ascertain

there was nothing controversial in February’s
list. There were 3 new planning applications
but none with any objections raised so

far. Conversion of Craigmore Guest house
into 4 holiday flats, installation of solar panel
on the Forestry deer larder and installation of
2 heat source air pumps at the Rob Roy hotel.
There is one approval converting an ancillary
building into a retail unit at Hill Cottage
Duke’s Pass and overdue applications have
risen from 9 – 11.

She added that engagement with Amy Unitt
the LLTNP delegated officer for
2020/0267/DET Caravan Site Crannaig
House had now concluded. Amy answered all
the SCC questions and from a planning
perspective it was difficult to argue with her
logic. She went on to say that while it was
difficult to argue with the installation of 1 Pod
although the underlying aim of the
application may be to pave the way for more
in the future there was an assurance given
that permission for additions would have to
be applied for separately. The SCC would
have the opportunity to comment on all
future applications made in this regard. Her
advice was that there was insufficient
grounds to raise an objection to this
application and that she would advise that we
have no further comment to make on the
application but ask to be kept informed
should anything arise during the planning
process which calls into question any of the
assumptions being made on the suitability of
utility provision to the site, in particular
sewage services. There was unanimous

She went on to say that the SCC support letter
for planning application 2020/0250/DET the
Stonachlachar car park upgrade was now on
the planning portal along with 28 other
contributions. 27 in support 1 against and 1
concerned about bin provision. Only 4
however came from local residents and the
other 25 spanned contributions from Ireland,
England and Central Scotland all mainly from
previous customers of the Pier Café which

was testament to the quality of service
provided by the business.

6. Coop/SKS

JK briefed that things were moving forward

with the Coop project and said that they were

close to finalising the Options Appraisal prior
to starting on the Business Case. A meeting
with Calum Couston the SLF advisor had been
arranged for next week to discuss progress
and find out about timings for the new SLF
fund opening up which would be critical if the
decision is to move forward with the project.
A virtual meeting is to be called with all who
expressed an interest in volunteering to
support the project soon to establish actual
interest as this will be one of the deciding
factors in the decision to move forward or
not. JK emphasised that the project could not
move forward to the next stage unless there
was support from members of the

community.

7. Community
Life Plans

Aberfoyle

JK advised that current activity encouraging
more engagement from Aberfoyle residents
was moving forward and showing
encouraging results. She said that there is
still another 2 weeks of advertising the aims
of the project via various communication
mediums before the decision on whether to
press forward with the membership achieved
or to postpone until such times as face to face
meetings are allowed. The minimum
requirement is to get sign up from 50% of
Aberfoyle residents.

Kinlochard and
Stronachlachar/Inversnaid CLP’s

JK briefed that the mailing lists for both CLP’s
was used to distribute a survey on the issue of
how the locked gate on the Duchray forest
road affected residents in Kinlochard,
Stronachlachar and Inversnaid and there was
an 80% response. There was a clear wish
expressed by 90% of the respondents of an
essential need to have the gate opened to
residents when the B829 is blocked or there
is a Yellow weather warning issued for the
area and a further 6% expressed this need as
important. There were a huge number of
comments recorded on the survey, which
illustrate clearly the profound need for a
policy of open gate during times of
emergency. JK said that this was a clear

indicator on one of the values in having the

All – to
encourage
Aberfoyle
residents to
sign up to CLP

CLP’s in place as the survey was turned
around overnight and delivered results within
2 days giving the SCC clear and unambiguous
evidence on the wishes of the residents in the
valley of Strathard such that we have a clear

steer on how we should represent them.

8. Joint

JK provided a sit rep on the SCC stance re

Community

joining other Community Councils in

Council’s

distributing a survey amongst Strathard

LLTNP Survey

residents regarding LLTNP performance and

potential changes CC’s would like to see.

Comments received by Martin Earl in regard

to this survey at the Feb SCC meeting

indicated there was misleading information in

the preamble to the survey and JK had an

action to check this out with Gavin McLennan

the originator of the survey. JK reported that

while she had been supplied with some

information unfortunately it was not

sufficient to clarify the provenance of the

disputed statement and recommended that

the SCC hold fire on sending out the survey

until the information contained was

confirmed as being correct or was changed.

She forewarned the Councillors that because

there was no meeting scheduled for April it is

likely that this decision would have to be

taken ex committee if there was to be any

value in SCC involvement in the survey. TG

concurred that best to avoid involvement

until the basis for involvement has been

clarified. Councillors agreed. ME has not

heard back about this through his channels

either.

9 Forth Valley
Health Board

Isabel Madden (IM) a Health Professional and
an associate community councillor for health
liaising, sends apologies but also reports:
Covid vaccinations progressing well with age
60-65 and at risk groups. They hope to move
on to age 55-60 in the next 2 weeks with the
goal of vaccinating all over 50s and at risk
groups by the end of March.

She emphasises the importance of ensuring
everyone attends for the 2nd dose and
continues to follow current Covid guidelines.

All – reiterate
to community
to follow
current
guidance and
ensure 2nd
dose is
attended for.

ME reported that there have been increases in
Covid infections in some rural communities

and reinforced the need to continue safe
behaviours around this.

TG thanks IM in her absence for her input

10. Visitor
Management

TG – we are expecting big influx of visitors
once restrictions are lifted. SCC ask SC for
support with waste management and toilets.
ME – Operational planning meeting now
happening weekly with a more coordinated
approach to enforcement and presence –
Police, LLTNP & Stirling Council (SC). Majority
of SC are now working a 7 day contract which
increases availability at weekend. SCC need to
contact LLTNP & enquire what their plans are
for management and what range of extra
resources for Kinlochard.

JK – on-going meetings with Kinlochard
Village Hall rep Katy Lamb, Matt Buckland
(MB) LLTNP, herself and reps from Stirling
Road and NP Access committee to agree
policy which will be consulted with the SCC &
community before agreeing steps/strategies.
NS asked if residents could be informed of
proposed meeting the CLP database

JK responded that she was wary of overusing
the CLP database until there is news to
disseminate.

ME said that the Police had a remit of
enforcement against Antisocial or Obstructive
behaviour while SC’s role would also address
Antisocial behaviour and parking issues. The
LLTNP Rangers focus on inappropriate fires,
environmental damage, camping management
& enforcement.

A clear set of protocols for what residents
should do/who to contact should be made
available and distributed among the Strathard
resident population.

Lynda McColl (LMC) asked who manages 5m
rule ME responded the Police.

TG identified an Action was required to
ensure contact protocols are made available
to the community. Discussion required to

agree who this Action rests with.

TG – contact
SC to ask for
info on
enforcement
officer rotas
and weekend
patrolling in
area.

JK – establish
contact
protocols via
MB

11 Treasurers
report (see
appendix 2)

Report shows balance – what in & what is
expected to come out. Healthy balance but

with some already committed – CLP and covid
resilience.

TG –

coordinate

info ident and
dissemination

TG Covid resilience funding could cover
collating and dissemination of information for
emergencies.

SS – Strathard Development Trust interested
in working with other groups in community
eg Xmas TG – on agenda for next meeting

NS – info dissemination needs to be physical –
not electric for when networks are down
(fridge magnets?)

JK – CLP coordinators got good price for
doorstep drop – perhaps use this?

12. Police

Report

Appendix 3

13. FLS/QEFP

Latest info on activity included in appendix 4

14. AOCB

LMc – Thanks again to SC for repairing Cemetery
wall

JRM – Transport plan to TG, happy to continue

involvement.

Minute Secretary

(

40.00)

ICO

(

40.00)

SLF (Co-op grant)

4200.00

SKS (Co-op feasibility)

( 4200.00)

SLF (Co-op grant)

4200.00

SKS (Co-op feasibility)

( 4200.00)

• Aberfoyle LifePlan

Monies in

SC Community Pride Grant

£1500.00

Strathard Community Council

£1500,00

National Park

£1750.00

committed

Strathard Community Trust

£1500.00

Community
Council:

Trossachs and Teith Ward,

Strathard Community Council

hello@ccstrathard.org

Reporting
Period:

04/02/21 to 03/03/21 Compiled by PC Donald King

Ward Plan
Priorities

Antisocial Behaviour

You are concerned about antisocial behaviour including drunken behaviour.

There have been numerous calls in the area regarding alleged breaches of Covid
legislation that officers have attended and dealt with in the area.