Draft Minutes Fossoway and District Community Council
3rd March, Blairingone Primary School
Attending: CCllrs: Sandy Morrison, Kevin Borthwick, Alastair Lavery and Graham Pye; Cllrs Mike Barnacle, Dave Cuthbert and Joe Giacopazzi; 19 members of the public.
Apologies: CCllrs Angus Cheape and Trudy Duffy; Cllr Willie Robertson
Declarations of Interest: None.
Police report: No Officer was present; however a report has been received. There are no reported crimes in our area in the last month. Residents should be aware that bogus callers and workmen continue to operate in the area. Several thefts of power tools and equipment have taken place from vehicles and commercial premises across the Perth and Kinross area. Any information should be reported to the Police on the 101 number. Sergeant Sandra Williams retired on 27th February; the CC wishes her a pleasant retirement and thanks her for her assistance over the years.
Minutes of the previous meeting: Cllr Giacopazzi notes that Cllr Cuthbert is not a member of the MOWG as implied by the minutes, although he plans to attend the next meeting to address relevant points.
Matters arising
Rumbling Bridge Hydro Scheme: We have received information about how the Community Benefit Fund is to be set up, its membership and role. More details will be provided and further discussion will take place closer to the time.
Blairingone War Memorial: Cllr Barnacle reports that the contractor will carry out the move in the spring.
Crook Moss Travellers’ Site: Cllrs Cuthbert and Barnacle had intended to raise a motion to discuss this at a DMC meeting, but instead the Planners will bring a progress report to the March 17th DMC meeting. Cllr Barnacle has contacted SEPA regarding the CAR licence applications for individual systems, and PKC Planning Department are reported to be happy with this changed arrangement, even though it’s contrary to the original planning consent. Cllr Giacopazzi intends to raise the issue of planning enforcement at the MOWG.
Glenquey Quarry: We await a possible appeal against the refusal of the planning application, which must be made before the end of March.
Blairingone Community Workshop: At the request of PKC, the involved landowners have instructed Ballantyne’s to prepare a strategic plan, which is being produced as quickly as possible, with the aim of it being ready for consideration by the Community within the next six months, or hopefully sooner. There was extensive discussion about whether development would safeguard the school, and where it would be economically viable to develop new houses that would be supported by the Community.
Lambhill Chipping plant: John Anderson updated the meeting on progress of the application. The recently published Noise Assessment has been rejected by the Planners. John has been promised by Brian Stanford that a meeting will be held with the planners, local councillors and a representative of the CC, with an MP or MSP present as an impartial observer. Meanwhile John urges all local residents to object to the application.
MoP notes that there continues to be numerous lorry movements every day.
Cllr Cuthbert has been trying to arrange a site visit for a considerable time; however the publication of the Noise Report has made it clear that mitigation measures need to be put in place to reduce the noise – in the meantime, the Case Officer has agreed that the site should be issued with a stop order, which hasn’t happened as of the date of this meeting.
Several MoPs point out that even if a planning application is approved with conditions attached, the people of the village have no confidence that the conditions will be enforced. Cllr Giacopazzi agreed to look into whether the site is currently assessed as an agricultural or industrial site for Council Tax purposes.
As a result of the provision of the Noise Report, the site’s planning application 13/01174/FLL has been reactivated, and letters have been sent to prior objectors notifying them of this. (In fact the initial letter referred to the wrong application reference, and had to be re-issued.) The CC will write to PKC to seek clarification of the whereabouts of the noise mitigation measures, and to confirm that previously submitted objections would still be included.
Landscape areas in Kinross-shire: No policy has yet been published by PKC.
A977 Defects and Mitigation Measures: Cllr Giacopazzi attended a meeting with PKC where a report of the number of traffic accidents and volumes on the A977 compared to other trunk routes in the area showed that measures on the A977 are not a priority at the moment. Currently there are 4,500 vehicles per day, whereas the capacity of a road of this level is 13 thousand. The proportion of heavy vehicles is 6%. The accident rate has dropped from 13% to 9% since the Clackmannanshire Bridge was opened. The Roads department have agreed to change the style of drainage gullies to a type that make less noise when heavy vehicles cross them; Consideration will be given to installation of signs that actually show vehicle speed; Signage on the far side of the Clackmannanshire Bridge will be adjusted to try and to divert more traffic away from A977 and through Dunfermline.
Several MoPs raised the issue of speeding through the village and asked why it wasn’t possible to install speed cameras, Cllrs explained that cameras are not allowed in the absence of a bad accident record, although this rule is due to change shortly.
Waulkmill Play Area: This is expected to be completed this month.
Overhanging Trees at Moubray Hall: Awaiting weather improvement.
Main Issues Report: Comments need to be provided by the 31st March. During Sandy’s attendance at the LDP2 Pre-MIR drop-in surgery he asked how the Community as a whole could be consulted in the short timescale, with the response that the Community would be consulted once the MIR was produced. That was when major consultation takes place and the community can have input and changes can be made. Local councillors agreed that this was not how they expected the process to work, and that they thought that Community consultation should be taking place now.
Sandy suggests the following items should be included: Landscape areas; Gypsy Traveller’s Policies, including pro-active creation of sites; No retrospective applications should be allowed within the Loch Leven catchment area, with any required remediation measures being carried out before development begins; A wind farm policy needs to be developed; A977 mitigation measures; More detail on planning conditions to remove any ambiguities; Provision of employment development opportunities in areas outside Perth city; No development immediately adjacent to existing village boundaries; More development of brown field sites before green field sites are considered; Social and affordable housing should be built in areas where there is actually a need rather than insisting on them being created in every development; Concentrate new developments in the centre of existing communities rather than allowing ribbon development; Infrastructure needs to be developed in advance to encourage development; Enhance existing waste water processing capabilities to allow developments to take place. It had previously been established that development should take place at Blairingone and Powmill. The development at Powmill should focus on the old Hotel site and the centre of the village rather than ribbon development. At Crook of Devon the field beside the village hall could be looked at for possible development, provided the developer would put in a roundabout at the T-junction next to Fossoway Garage, but ensuring proper access for the garage. In Carnbo provision of public sewage in view of the extensive development which has taken place.
Any further items that the Community feels should be added to the above list are welcome to be submitted as well. MoPs suggest that the Blairingone by-pass should be added to the plan as it’s generally agreed that this would be the appropriate solution to the traffic problem in Blairingone.
Because of the views expressed by PKC officials the CC will submit the above items but any further input from members of the community would be welcome and should be sent to both PKC and the CC prior to the 31st of March.
CC Membership: We would welcome new members.
Community Speedwatch: Cllr Robertson was due to meet with Chief Inspector Mike Whitford to discuss why this is being launched in the Highland Region but not here, however Cllr Robertson was unable to attend this CC meeting so will report next month.
Bollards Opposite Crook Village Hall: Cllr Barnacle has requested a site meeting to discuss a more extensive solution to this problem, but hasn’t had a response yet.
New Business
Lambhill Forestry Project: Kevin passed on notice from the Forestry Commission that the footpath across the first field will be closed during project works; however access can still be made by going round the edge of the field, although MoP report that this is currently difficult due to the ground conditions. There is some concern from MoP about the nature of the work in process and continued access to the FC land without needing to cross ground belonging to other landowners. The FC would also welcome school visits, etc.
BT Adopt a Kiosk Scheme: BT are offering the opportunity to purchase unused phone boxes.
Community Council Business
Meetings Attended: Sandy attended the LDP2 Pre-MIR drop-in surgery. Details in MIR report above.
Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Barnacle: PKC has a Budget available of 40% towards the adoption of the road at the Village Hall, Crook of Devon, which will be actively pursued.
Cllr Cuthbert: Nothing else to report other than already described above.
Cllr Giacopazzi: Ivy Cottage can’t be boarded up without the permission of the owners.
Planning Matters
15/00262/FLL. Modification of planning permission 14/00689/FLL (erection of a dwelling house) - change of house type at plot 2, Land 40 Metres South West of Muirfield, Fossoway. No CC comment.
15/00225/FLL. Erection of a cattle shed. Rivendell, Blairingone, Dollar FK14 7ND. Note that the location of this development, although originally specified as Rivendell has now been changed to Lambhill. No CC comment.
15/00196/FLL. Change of use of coach house to mixed (sui generis) entertainment use, formation of decking, removal of stone wall and erection of temporary marquee and toilets (in retrospect). Tullibole Castle, Fossoway, Kinross KY13 0QN. No CC comment.
15/00167/FLL. Erection of boundary wall and fence. The Paddock, Station Road, Crook of Devon, Kinross KY13 0PG. No CC comment.
Correspondence: All the correspondence was available for viewing: Perth Relay for Life in aid of Cancer Research will take place on 20th June – Teams welcome.
AOCB: Vicar’s bridge core Path to Dollarbeg has had signs warning people that no unauthorised vehicles are allowed. As notified last month, the CC has now purchased a laser printer to enable paperwork to be produced double sided and at less cost in consumables. The CC’s Facebook page now has 70 likes.
Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting
Welcome and Apologies, Declarations of Interest, Community Policing, Minutes of last meeting
Matters arising: Hydro Scheme, Blairingone War Memorial, Crook Moss Travellers’ Site, Glenquey Quarry, Blairingone Community Workshop, Lambhill Chipping Plant, A977 Mitigation, Waulkmill Play Area, Main Issues Report, Bollards opposite Crook Village Hall
Community Councillors - Meetings Attended, PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB
Next Meeting: Tuesday 7th April 2015 7:30 pm
Carnbo Village Hall
All Welcome
