MINUTES
Meeting Monday 7th April 2025 in the Village Club.
Final
Members Present: - Julie Hutchison; Grace Edmonds; John Gray; Pamela
Lee; Kate Ramsden; Eleanor Balfour
In attendance: Margaret Vass SCDT; + 13 residents
Apologies: Ian Boardley; Rob Davies; Andrew Thompson
(SC = Stirling Council. CC = Community Council. CDT= Community Development
Trust * Denotes an action)
- Welcome from the Chair and declarations of Interest
JH welcomed everybody to the meeting.
There were no declarations of interest.
- Minutes of March meeting and matters arising.
The minutes had been circulated to all CC members and were accepted. Proposed
by JG, Seconded by PL.
Matters arising:
JH spoke to James Aikman regarding the playground. With the contribution
for the houses at Graham Lambie Brae we have £6132 to spend. James is
looking to see if he can improve drainage and surfacing in the playground.
JH reported that the energy event in the library was very successful.
RF reported that SC has approached the landowner regarding land for the
cemetery extension. The landowner has not yet replied. JH said that we were
promised the extension when planning permission was granted for Braidgate
and the present cemetery is almost full. RF asked if there are any alternative
sites and JH replied that it is the council’s responsibility to look into this. A resident
commented that the site needs to be near the church.
- Police Report
Assault:
An assault has been recorded within Mugdock Country park after a walker
was “bumped” to the ground by another walker with a dog. The victim was offered
help to their feet but declined as they believed it to be a deliberate act.
The victim was uninjured. And the suspect left the area. Enquiries are ongoing.
Theft:
A theft was recorded after an exercise bike was taken from outside a property
in the village. The owner posted this on social media and the bike was returned.
No further line of enquiry.
Road Safety:
A driver has been arrested and reported for Drink Driving after being involved
in a one vehicle collision on the A81 near to Glengoyne distillery. Provisional
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licence and no insurance. Fortunately, there were no other vehicles involved
and no injuries.
Mv reported that a number of glass milk bottles have been dumped from the
bridge on Campsie Dene Road.
Residents have reported that children are riding motorcycles down the track
from the Gowk Stane Road to the water works and through the village. GE will
notify the police about this.
Councillor McGarvey raised the issue of speeding through the village with the
police. The police think that the traffic calming measures at the VC encourage
speeding. FR suggested that we should contact GMcG to ask for speed in the
village to be monitored and for an officer from Roads to attend a CC meeting.
GE and JH will contact GMcG.
- Facebook Discussion
RD suggested that we should no longer use Facebook in support of Ukraine
following America’s treatment of Ukrainians. JH said that we all agree with the
sentiment behind this suggestion, but we need to be able to communicate
with residents. A resident suggested an email list of residents that he has
seen used elsewhere. Facebook is a much quicker way to contact people in
an emergency. It was agreed that we will remain on Facebook until there is a
useful alternative.
- Biodiversity Presentation – Mirte Greve
Local resident, Mirte Greve gave a very interesting presentation about the
ecosystems around the village. Around Strathblane there are several sites of
Special Scientific Interest which are legally protected. There are also blanket
tree preservation sites, Local Nature Conservation sites and Ancient Woodland
inventory. As a village we should be aware of these and ensure that they
are protected from future development. On ancient grassland the cessation of
grazing, woodland plantation, bracken invasion and erection of solar farms will
all adversely affect grasslands. Conservation grazing programmes, more cattle
grazing for bracken control and consideration of fertilizer use will provide
opportunities to maintain grassland. JH thanked Mirte for her interesting
presentation.
- Elected member’s Report – Councillor Fraser.
RF asked the council meeting to indicate that SC still stands with Ukraine.
She reported that there has been agreement that libraries and nursery provision
will not be part of budget discussions for the next two years.
- Planning and Licensing.
25/00115/FUL Erection of ancillary building with garage, studio and workshop
on lower floor and office space on upper floor at Moorhouse, 25 Old Mugdock
Road, Strathblane. G63 9ER.
JG is concerned that this has the same size and impact as a sizeable house.
There is no explanation provided as to why it should be allowed in the green
belt or why it can’t be nestled with the main house. He has raised an objection
as a private resident and the CC agreed to submit the same comments.
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25/00020/PPP Erection of 3no.dwelling houses and upgrade of existing access/
Land 40m east of Auchineden Farm dairy Cottage Blanefield. This has
changed from the original application for four houses, meaning that they do
not have to contribute to the local infrastructure. The members present agreed
that we will send in the same comments as previously.
JG is still asking for updates on the campsite.
- Local place Plan Update
Following the two sessions on Saturday mornings in March we held a success
ful evening session. We have about 140 completed questionnaires altogether.
JH thanked MV for compiling the comments. There were some positive comments
on the professionalism of the boards on display. JH thanked JG for his
work on these. We hope to have the LPP complete by the end of June. The
group will meet again soon to start writing.
- Finance
There is £4546.50 in the account at the end of the financial year.
- AOCB
A resident asked about Broadband in the village. There are no plans to put
fibre into large parts of the village. IB and RD are our representatives regarding
this and there is a contact in Killearn who is working on it.
Edward Pickard reported that the work at Dumbrock Loch has been completed,
and they are waiting for rain to refill it. He reported that the sauna returned
this week.
JH is not available on the date of the next meeting so suggested changing it
to May 5th. This was agreed by members present. GE will notify SB of the
change of date.
- Date of next meeting
May 5th, 2025
Contact us at contact@strathblanecc.org.uk Also on our website
www.strathblanecc.org.uk. Telephone numbers for Community Councillors
are on the notice boards, in the library and in the Blane Valley Bulletin