Minutes of Staffin Community Council held in Staffin School 25 th October 2004
Present: Les Downes (Chair/Treasurer)
Sylvia Porter (Minutes secretary)
Sheena MacLeod
Norma Young
Janet Lamont
Isobel MacDonald
Angus MacLeod
Iain MacDonald (Councillor)
Richard Blayne and Richard Cairns (Highland Council)
Apologies: None
Les opened the meeting and welcomed our guest speakers from Highland Council. In order for them to leave earlier, there was an open question time prior to the normal meeting taking place. The previous minutes were proposed by Norma and seconded by Janet.
The roads are no different to anywhere else in the Skye and Lochalsh area. The state of the roads is due to a declining budget in the past. With regard to the surface dressing, that goes to the area committee and an independent party prioritises it. Sub Contractors have been out on the A roads in the area. Potholes are an ongoing problem and surveys are carried out either monthly or quarterly, and repairs are prioritised. A few bad potholes were mentioned in particular, and Richard Cairns will look into these. The U-class roads have had their annual inspection, and the worse ones will be repaired. The patching budget has been spent for this financial year
A lot of the problem is caused by the off lets need clearing. The inspections are only done on good days so that the state of the road can be seen. There are 25 roadmen for Sky and Lochalsh, and they don't have their own area to cover any more. It actually equates to 1 man per 1000 square miles. The gullies were emptied at the end of the last financial year, and work is due to start again in the next few weeks. A discussion took place about the old quarry at Rigg, and the amount of water that runs out of the quarry.
The white liner machine is now on Skye and working its way down the list of jobs, but it can only be done on a dry, frost free, salt free day!!! The parking sign at Valtos, or lack of it. After a discussion, H/C have relented and agree to put a sign up. The Staffin sign at Torvaig was misprinted with 14 miles instead of 16 miles. It was asked that we move the sign nearer Torvaig junction, although the mileage would be wrong, at least people would know they were on the right road for Staffin. No money left to do it this year, and it will be looked at for next year .. No promises though due to prioritisation.
As the main A855 has grit piles down, when are we going to get them for the township roads? And will it be before they are needed. That will be looked at. There was also a discussion about the Post Office at Brogaig having a salt pile/or gritter reversing down, as there were a number of times last winter when it was impassable by foot or vehicle. H/C agreed to put salt pile down. Discussion also about the merits of salt bins to stop the sheep licking the salt away, but they are expensive to buy and stock up. The gritting routes were also discussed. Was there provision for the gritters to do side routes which although are not bus routes, they are used by school minibuses (i.e. Marrishadder/Garros road). Norma is to take that up with education dept, to put our school routes on the gritter list, but H/C can't guarantee that the gritter will be in front of the school bus.
Vegetation on road to Staffin Slip
The problem area is from the main road to the bridge, with the overgrown vegetation. This is another road that also needs a salt pile. A lot of people don't like the mess that a scrub cutter leaves behind. There is a new type coming to Skye on trial so possibly in the next season it may be done
Richard Blayne explained how the budget was distributed once it had come from the Scottish Exec.
This is being set up, with extra funding for lifeline roads. There is some thought that the Staffin to Uig road (via Kilmuir) is a lifeline road, but this will have to be clarified. The single-track road from Portree is not in the capital programme
The steel plate came to the end of its service, which was covering the culvert, where the lintels had collapsed. It is hoped to rebuild the culvert, but that would mean closing the road. Due to health and safety regulations it is not feasible to close the road overnight for the work to be carried out, unless it becomes an emergency repair. It is proposed that the road will be closed for 1 day only from 9-30am and 3-30pm (there will be advance notification when this takes place). If the damage done is worse than first thought, and the work is going to take longer it will become an emergency and work done in the dark. The ramp would stay while men were working in case of emergency vehicles needing access to Staffin and beyond.
There are places on the single-track road where we could do with barriers. The priority at the moment is keeping the present barriers in order, without putting up new ones. If the present barriers get beyond repair the whole section may be renewed.
There are a lot of chippings on the pavement between the hall and beach road after the surface dressing, making it uncomfortable and unstable for elderly residents. Could the pavement be swept?
That will be looked at.
Abandoned cars
These are now costing £182 per car. There will be no amnesty.
The grass cutting is much improved, but there are still tyres around the dustbin poles. Richard Cairns stated he had removed them after the last meeting, but they are back again. He will have them removed.
20 is plenty
After April 2006 all schools will have a 20 mph zone around them at certain times of the day. The zone for Staffin Primary will probably be Marishadder road, from just before school, to the road, and the main road from Clachan road end to the Hall
The bins are full to overflowing and beginning to smell. H/C will get these checked. The park is also regularly inspected for defects. If apparatus gets beyond repair and has to be removed, it may not be replaced. It was asked could we buy our own, but if we do who is responsible for it. H/C suggested also putting a maintenance plan in so that H/C would carry out any repairs.
Richard Cairns and Richard Blayne were thanked for attending and answering our queries, and along with Iain MacDonald left the meeting.
David Gill (Highland Fire Brigade) offered his apologies for not attending our meeting, but is hoping to attend the next one. He did send documentation that Staffin Firemen will get retained status, rather than auxiliary. There is a portable fire station that is earmarked for Staffin, when the relevant planning has been approved for sighting it. The fire station will also have a tender. The Staffin Firemen have all been trained in the use of breathing apparatus, but authorisation (if that is the right word) has or is running out, so they will all have to be retrained.
4 Digg … No objections
Nothing affecting us, other than the NVA event, which we have been kept up to date on
No takers
Affordable Housing: No takers.
Scottish Exec, water services: No takers
Portree Library: Will be at school, with buses running between the town and high school
Airport: Hopefully running by 2007
Kyleakin/Kylerea CC: Sylvia to do reply, would be happy to have joint meeting
Scottish Health Council: No takers
Licensing Board: No takers
Military Exercise: Going ahead for next 2 weeks
District Registrar: Sent to Jane Ross for her info
Small Community Housing Trust: No takers
HSMO Shellfish Management: Norma taken
Portree High School Board Minutes: Norma taken
CVO Annual Report: No takers
Food Link meeting: No takers
Scottish Water Meeting Oban: No takers
Broadband meeting Aviemore: No takers, but Angus to write to find out when we are on broadband
Butterfly and Moth Conservation: No takers
HIE Annual report: No takers
Community Care: Sheena Taken
Why is the new mast at Clachan and analogue mast and not a digital, and when will it be up and running for mobile networks. Norma to write to OFCOM for some answers
Remembrance Day: Sylvia to ask Rev Ivor MacDonald if he will do a short service again and invite the other ministers from the area. Also to contact ex servicemen regarding the laying of the wreath.
The next meeting is Tuesday 7 th December at the school
Meeting closed at 9-45pm
Les Downes (Chair) Sylvia Porter (Minutes secretary)
Copies to:
All members (7) Radio Nan Gaidheal
PC Dolina Martin (Uig) File
Brogaig Post Office MacKenzies Stores
Staffin Bay Stores John MacDonald (H/C)
Columba 1400 Community Notice Board