Supplementary Pack 1
Argyll and Bute Council · 1 November 2023
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 1 November 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT Tel: 01546 602127 Fax: 01546 604435 DX 599700 LOCHGILPHEAD 27 October 2023 NOTICE OF MEETING MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS AREA COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP - ON A HYBRID BASIS BY MICROSOFT TEAMS AND IN THE KNOCKSCALBERT SUITE, KINTYRE COMMUNITY CENTRE, CAMPBELTOWN, PA28 6AT on WEDNESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2023 at 10:30 AM. I enclose herewith an additional reports in respect of item 9 (PARTNER UPDATES) which was not included on the Agenda for the above meeting. Douglas Hendry Executive Director BUSINESS 9. PARTNER UPDATES (i) Forestry and Land Scotland (Pages 3 - 4) (j) Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust (Pages 5 - 14) Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group Councillor John Armour (Chair) Ian Brodie (Vice-Chair) Melissa Stewart, Governance Officer Contact: Lynsey Innis, Senior Committee Assistant, Tel: 01546 604338 Public Document Pack
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1 | FLS/MAKI update | Jeni West | October 2023 Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) update August 2023 Land Management Plans (LMPs) South Knapdale New Forest Planner, Anatua Martin, will begin working on LMP autumn 2023 onwards. Beinn Ghuilean Undergoing review due to Phytophthora ramorum/access. Larch- Phytophthora ramorum The disease is still spreading throughout Kintyre with infected areas now in the Kilberry area and as far north as West Loch Awe. Infections in East Loch Awe also. Ormaig and West Loch Awe amendments approved and felling is being programmed. Peatland restoration Peatland restoration started in Lussa 9/10/2023. Upcoming “complex” operations Beinn Ghuilean felling Complex operations; civils operations to commence in winter 2023, followed by felling. Dunardy Face, Knapdale felling Works currently scheduled for November. Other information Lots of landslides due to recent rainfall 7-10-2023. All areas surveyed and information co- ordinated. Visitor service provisions were unaffected, with the majority of issues in East and West Loch Awe areas. Operations under way to fix roads/culverts/bridges, with priority areas for harvesting access and neighbours. Page 3 Agenda Item 9i
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2 | FLS/MAKI update | Jeni West | October 2023 Rainforest restoration work; 100Ha non-native conifer clearance near Dalavich. Rhodedendron and non-native conifer removal in Knapdale Forest. License for the release of 2 families of beavers into the Knapdale Forest Beaver Trial area. Page 4
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Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust, William Duncan & Co, The Old Surgery, School Road, Tarbert, Argyll, PA29 6UL Registered Charity: SC033379, Company Limited by Guarantee: 233786 www.tsct.org.uk info@tsct.org.uk TARBERT & SKIPNESS COMMUNITY TRUST Summer 2023 Newsletter It has been a while since we have produced a newsletter. Here is an update of our work over the past year TARBERT HOUSING Housing in Tarbert & Skipness is a major issue. Over the past 5 years the Trust has carried out several studies to prove the need and demand for housing. Argyll and Bute Council and Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) recognise the need and demand for housing in Tarbert. In September 2022 the latest Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2023/24-2027/28 was published. The plan lists potential completions of houses in Tarbert by 2028 as 30 in 2 stages of 15 each stage. Inclusion in the SHIP commits the Council and ACHA to build houses in Tarbert. The Trust has met with the local councillors and Douglas Whyte, A&B Council, Team Leader Housing Strategy and wants to keep involved as plans evolve. We are at an early stage and the Council, ACHA and Forestry Land Scotland are working together to identify opportunities for the delivery of affordable housing in Tarbert – a site visit is planned to take place in September 2023. WHITE SHORE PATH AND CYCLE STANDS The first beach clean of the harbour area and White Shore since lockdown took place early in May 2022 followed by a second in September due to the build-up of rubbish over the pandemic. Over 60 people turned out and collected a massive amount of rubbish. Our annual clean took place in April 2023 and we were pleased that our work in 2022 resulted in the pickers being able to concentrate on smaller rubbish left from earlier years. We were pleased that the number of plastic bottles and blue gloves was much less. However, we were disappointed that the amount of microplastic had increased, resulting from plastic being caught in small spaces and ground up by the waves. The Trust thanks all the volunteers including students from Tarbert Academy and Tarbert Toppers who helped in the last two beach cleans. A family of seals are regularly spotted lazing on a small island no more than 50 metres from the path – look out for them. The cycle stands continue to be delayed by planning permission but hopefully this will be coming soon to help prevent the clogging of pavements with bikes. In the meantime, many cyclists are using the lamp posts on the harbourside to secure their bikes. Page 5 Agenda Item 9j
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Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust, William Duncan & Co, The Old Surgery, School Road, Tarbert, Argyll, PA29 6UL Registered Charity: SC033379, Company Limited by Guarantee: 233786 www.tsct.org.uk info@tsct.org.uk TARBERT LIFE Tarbert Life has re-located to the “Purple Door” at the quayside. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday and has a local display of heritage, natural history and a children’s area. This year we have received a donation of the backbone and skull of a Cuvier beaked whale that beached at Tayinloan some years ago. This is a protected species and the Trust had to obtain a licence to display the skeleton. This was done but a quick Google search showed that these bones would be potentially attractive to those who are less than honest, as they have significant value. Tarbert Life is looking to fund a safe way of displaying the skeleton. Please come and visit Tarbert Life at the Purple Door and give us your views. We really want to know how the people of Tarbert want their heritage interpreted. COMMUNITY PLAN Our Community Plan is now 13 years old. A new plan has been written based on public meetings and surveys in both Tarbert and Skipness. The shortened plan is attached with this newsletter. COMMUNITY BENEFIT DISPERSAL The Trust receives an income from RES Freasdail which it disperses in the form of Community Benefit to local groups once a year. Since 2017 the Trust has dispersed over £180,000. These grants help around 20 local groups maintain and develop their services and over the years include Tarbert Golf Club, Feis an Tairbeart, Tarbert Academy Parent Council, Skipness Sheepdog Trials and Kintyre Food Bank. This year the Trust welcomed an application from Tarbert Women’s Football Team. It is always good to see new groups emerging. A ful list of successful applicant will be displayed on the Trust website. SKIPNESS VILLAGE HALL The Trust is supporting the re-development of Skipness Village Hall and are delighted that they have received funding from Fern Community Funds to produce and cost plans for the work that needs to be done to secure the building and make it wind and watertight Skull of Cuvier beaked whale – about 1.5m in length. Page 6
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Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust, William Duncan & Co, The Old Surgery, School Road, Tarbert, Argyll, PA29 6UL Registered Charity: SC033379, Company Limited by Guarantee: 233786 www.tsct.org.uk info@tsct.org.uk TARBERT HERITAGE AND REGENERATION SCHEME In May A&B Council announced they had been successful been successful in their applications to both the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF) and Historic Environment Scotland’s Heritage and Place Programme (HES) for the Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme. The council has secured £40,000 from NHLF and £40,000 from HES, and with match funding of £60,000 from the council for the development phase. There has been one meeting in July attended by Tarbert & Skipness Community Trust, Tarbert Castle Trust and Tarbert Harbour Authority. Representatives of these groups and the Community Council will become partners with the Council to work together on the delivery plan. As more information becomes available we will keep you informed IF YOU ARE GOING FOR A WALK ALONG THE OUR SHORES, PLEASE TAKE A BAG, A PAIR OF GLOVES AND COLLECT LITTER. THIS IS A SIMPLE WAY OF HELPING KEEP OUR BEACHES CLEAN. TARBERT HARBOUR AUTHORITY HAVE AGREED THAT LITTER COLLECTED CAN BE PLACED IN THEIR BINS Page 7
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Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust Community Plan 2023 to 2026 Page 9
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Wellbeing Housing Climate Change Housing Employment Amenities Housing Connectivity The top three issues for the younger members of the community are: The village of Tarbert has a long history influenced both as a safe natural harbour on the west coast of Scotland and as a strategic point guarding access to Kintyre and the Inner Hebrides. It is situated around East Loch Tarbert at a narrow isthmus at the north end of Kintyre. This important location has influenced its development over time with Tarbert Castle's strategic position and the growth of the fishing industry shaping the village. The village hugs the natural harbour and quayside and nowadays tourism and the marina are major economic drivers. The village has its own primary and high schools, health services and a wide range of retail outlets and non-essential service providers. In any village some retail outlets close, offering opportunities for other activities. There are several vacant sites and buildings in disrepair in key locations, namely the Tarbert Hotel, two former filling stations, the VisitScotland property and the old Londis store. Following a recent survey and discussions with a wide range of the community: Tarbert Skipness The top three issues for the adult community of Tarbert are: Following a recent survey and discussions with a wide range of the community the top three issues for the adult community of Skipness are: Skipness is a village on the east coast of Kintyre in Scotland, located just over 7 miles (11 km) south of Tarbert and facing the Isle of Arran. The village is accessed by a single track road that is in urgent need of repair. The village is located adjacent to stunning beaches and is a popular destination for holiday makers. The village boasts several facilities including: • Skipness Castle • The Seafood Cabin • Skipness smokehouse and shop • St Brendan's Chapel • Village Hall • Village Shop Road Repair & Traffic Management Page 10
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Healthier Competitive, Educated & Working Work with partners to address dampness and poor insulation of housing Address water quality and supply to Skipness and Claonaig. Promote walking and cycling Improve play facilities Renovate tennis courts into accessible games space Develop opportunities that help address mental health challenges in younger and older isolated residents Work with partners for construction of affordable homes in Tarbert Agree plan for housing in Skipness Work with partners to improve strength, quality, and reliability of broadband and mobile coverage – Skipness Support development of Tarbert Harbour Authority initiatives Promote apprenticeships Develop proposals for commercial space Develop Tarbert Life heritage project to include heritage trail and archive of Tarbert and Skipness community in searchable database Repair Claonaig to Skipness Road Improve the footpath network within Tarbert. Create new cycle/pedestrian path to Kennacraig ferry terminal. Develop and implement plan to reduce marine plastic waste Renovate Skipness Village Hall Organise and complete beach and verge cleans Develop and launch community energy management courses to minimise energy usage Agree management plan for cars and camper vans Improve traffic calming measures in both Tarbert and Skipness Create an Emergency Plan working collaboratively with the Emergency Services Manage ongoing dispersal of funds to advance the Community Plan from windfarm and other funds Greener & Sustainable Inclusive, Fair & Caring Maintain current services including cash point, post office, library, village hall. healthcare, Tarbert Academy, emergency services. Investigate potential for operation of a local transport scheme. Welcoming, Vibrant & Confident Page 11
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TARBERT & SKIPNESS COMMUNITY TRUST AND REPORT FROM OUR TRADING COMPANY TARBERT & SKIPNESS RENEWABLES LTD Wednesday 22nd November 2023 at 6.30 p.m. To be held in Templar Arts and Leisure Centre Further information available from www.tsct.org.uk info@tsct.org.uk Followed at 7.00 p.m. by AGM TARBERT CASTLE TRUST www.tarbertcastle.info Page 13
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