Category: Ardentinny Community Council

It was a depleted committee which attended the August Community Council meeting with 3 members absent from a community council which is already short of a secretary and one other member. Ardentinny.org was asked to report these vacancies in the hope that some community-spirited residents might come forward to fill the gaps.

Nevertheless, it was an informative meeting. There was no correspondence or Police report for consideration and the Treasurer reported no movement in the CC’s bank account which stood at £2069.54 on 20.7.2011.

Councillor Bruce Marshall reported that he had achieved the agreement of the relevant department to replace the two Ardentinny road signs at either end of the village. He also reported that the Jet Patcher, of which there are only two in Argyll, had been patching the village potholes on the day of the meeting, i.e., 2 August, 2011.

Jessie Crowe of Forestry Commission Scotland gave her report:
The proposed fence at the nursery field has been held up by work being done at the camp site. Once the latter is complete, the fencing will go ahead. There have been problems with the hedge-cutting machine which has also caused delays elsewhere. The riverside path has been cleared and the work on the Stronvochlan road is ongoing.

The addition of two more litter bins at the beach area is judged to have been about 90% successful in encouraging users to properly dispose of their litter. However, there is still a significant problem of damage to trees in the pursuit of firewood.FCS will prosecute the culprits, if caught.

36 police hours have been obtained from Operation Ironworks and so there will be patrols taking place in the area. The blue water pipe supplying water to the bowling club has been buried and, while the water system requires a fourth filter, the supply is on.

Forest Holidays had visited the Nursery Field with a view to using it as one of their sites. However, they have decided against this due to the nature of the approach roads.

The rhododendron cutting programme is underway and it has been judged that the bridge on the Carrick route does not need a rail installed. This concluded the FCS report and this, now regular, attendance by a representative of the FCS is very positive in that it provides information to the public which might not otherwise be so readily accessible.

The use of hydro power as an energy source for the village was discussed and the Community Council is looking for someone to take this project forward.

The necessity for signs warning of steep bends and an approach to a main road + the danger of ice over the Larach elicited lively discussion. Ultimately it was agreed that Councillor Marshall would request said signs and that the Convenor would write to the Director of Transport conveying the community’s concern re the matter.

Invited speaker Colin McColl of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue addressed the question of the use of fireworks near animals. He stated clearly that there is no legislation applicable to this situation but what is required is common sense. He went on to say that animals should be kept away from fireworks and fireworks away from animals and that the Royal
Veterinary College recommends notice of fireworks should be at least half a day but there is no law to stipulate this and it is simply common sense. Community Councillor Steven Johnstone asked about the regulations regarding camp fires. Colin McColl responded by saying that the law states that there should be no bonfires, and therefore, camp fires lit between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Another question was raised about the issue of Chinese lanterns. It was cited that it had been the discussion on the BBC’s One Show that evening which had highlighted the problems they could cause, from house fire to injury to livestock. Colin responded that they were a significant risk but that again it was down to common sense.

Other items discussed included the National Park’s withdrawal of the housing allocation for the village in the Local Plan and the question of aerial spraying and whether or not it is the responsibility of the Community Council to inform residents in advance of this taking place. There was disagreement among the committee on this issue and it was tabled for discussion at the next Community Council meeting which will take place on 4 October at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.

These were just some of the topics for discussion at Ardentinny Community Council’s meeting on 7 June 2011.

Increased Police Patrols
According to the Police Report, police patrols have trebled in the area compared to this time last year. They are also trying to have Ardentinny included in the ‘Operation Ironworks‘ scheme which currently covers Loch Lomond and Lochgoilhead. The rationale for this is that there is overspill from Loch Lomond to Ardentinny Beach since camping restrictions were introduced in the Loch Lomond area. The Community Council will write to the National Park stating the case for the need for increased security in the area during the summer months.

Forestry Commission activity
The Forestry Commission representative reported that the beach toilets had reopened and that the overground water pipe, which supplies the bowling club, would soon be buried. There are plans to erect a fence between the caravan site and the nursery field; to cut the beech hedge and spray for Japanese knotweed and to carry out a long-term programme of cutting and spraying the rhododendron. Stands for the bins at the beach are expected soon and the field next to Loch Views is about to be leased out for grazing, on a temporary basis. Finally, the local office has a new member of staff, i.e., Rebecca Smith, whose main responsibility will be supervising conservation.

Community Support
Given the problems some residents experienced by being cut off by snow and ice last winter, Community Councillor Jimmy Gordon offered to post a notice on the village board and also to survey the potentially vulnerable to see if they would like their details included in a confidential database whereby they would be contacted and offered assistance, should a similar problem arise in the future.

Conservation Areas in Ardentinny
In the Community Council’s response to the National Park on the proposal to build affordable housing in the field next to Loch Views, they mentioned the possibility of some parts of Ardentinny becoming designated conservation areas. It seems that The Reporter has picked up on this issue and has asked for further information. It was decided that the Community Council should first access a list of what buildings are already listed in the village and then re-visit the discussion on this issue at the next Community Council meeting.

The Treasurer reported a bank balance of £2069.54 as at 30 May 2011 and, as was reported at the previous meeting, there had been no correspondence and therefore there was no secretary’s report. It was stated that the Trust is still looking for someone to fill the post of secretary and that they would advertise on the village notice board.

Other topics covered were the worsening state of the roads- residents were urged to phone the call centre to report potholes; an invitation to respond to the survey on the future of Cowal Hospice; deteriorating village signage; the Carrick Castle walk and the possibility of a village hydro-electric power scheme. All of which will no doubt be covered in detail in the meeting minutes when they are issued.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 2 August at 7.30. p.m.

Related: Ardentinny Community Council meeting minutes 05/04/11