Kiltarlity News Published by Kiltarlity Community Council Issue No. 26 AUTUMN 2011 50p Highland Council decision on Druim Ba on 20th September Officials recommended NO to proposed Kiltarlity wind farm ighland Council was to state its tions, are about "community and resi- -and without prejudice to its decision on H position on the controversial dential amenity" and related visual that application - in early discussions on Druim Ba application on Tuesday, impact. The Community Council also potential community benefit, these dis- 20th September, when the Planning believe that the landform, landscape cussions have been halted while High- Committee was due is to visit the are- character and dispersed rural settle- land Council devise a standard formula as around Blairmore Forest before ment pattern make Druim Ba totally to decide which communities would returning to Inverness to vote on Dru- unsuited not just for a major wind qualify for benefit and how cash would im Ba Sustainable Energy Ltd.‟s pro- farm, but for any wind farm whatsoev- be shared among communities affected posed wind farm. A few days before er, since the height differential between and how much allocated to a central fund the meeting Planning Department of- the valley floor and any turbines accen- for projects throughout the Highland ficers recommended that the Council tuate their dominance in the landscape. Council area. object to the application. Although the Community Council Meanwhile, a joint effort by Kiltarlity, At time of printing, the outcome of the have not taken a stance against wind Kilmorack and Inverness West Commu- Council meeting was not known. farms in general, they support Scottish nity Councils to get a local copy of the However, because of the scale of the Natural Heritage‟s view that " the pro- Druim Ba Environmental Statement has project, Highland Council can only make posal as submitted, does not maintain a been successful, despite Druim Ba Sus- a recommendation to the Scottish Gov- good standard of wind farm design". tainable Energy and Highland Council ernment who will take the final decision. The Community Council have also considering it that a paper copy, located A Highland Council objection to the established that there are hundreds in the Council offices in Inverness was wind farm will trigger a public inquiry, of permanent residential properties acceptable. unless a new amended application is sub- within three miles of the turbines and Two copies of this lengthy document mitted and approved. Even a favourable submitted this information to Highland have now been received. And can be decision is likely to be accompanied by Council both in document and map viewed at Brockies Lodge Hotel. numerous conditions. form. Following the unanimous decision of The figures are: within 2 kms - 44 members present at a meeting in April, houses, within 1 mile – 25, within 2 Kiltarlity Community Council objected miles – 122, within 3 miles -about 575 HIGHLAND COMMUNITY strongly to the proposed wind farm. This (about 315 in the Kiltarlity, Abriachan COUNCIL ELECTIONS followed months of discussion and ascer- area, and 260 in the Drumnadrochit, taining of community opinion, in particu- Milton, Culnakirk area). WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER lar at a standing-room-only public meet- (The existence of 44 homes within ing in January attended by around 160 two kilometres of the proposed tur- 2011 people. Of 120 questionnaires accepted bines has been highlighted because the at the meeting a hundred or so were re- Council agrees that large scale wind LATEST DATE FOR LODGING turned with 97 people objecting, only farms should usually be located at a NOMINATION PAPERS three of whom lived outwith the Kiltar- distance of at least two kilometres from lity area. settlements.) Kiltarlity Community Council's objec- While the Community Council was TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER tions covered a range of concerns, the involved, quite separately from its con- most important ones, which cannot readi- sideration of the planning application, Full details on Page 11 ly be mitigated by planning condi- 2 losing its „moral backbone‟. The prob- Raising Children in the lem is nowhere more evident than in Kiltarlity Church of Dark the lives of our children. In recent Scotland by months I‟ve asked local teenagers if Joe Barnard they know what „sin‟ is. The answer has consistently been „no‟. In a world ugust saw a gathering of hen I hear people talk about where 32 year old men go on shooting A youngsters at the Chat- the „Dark Ages‟ I sometimes sprees (Oslo), „sin‟ is a concept not to W be cast aside. Likewise, I‟ve asked if tabox Holiday Club to enjoy a wonder if they are thinking about the week of songs, Bible stories, 21st century. My wife and I have two they know about the „conscience‟. young boys, and one of our greatest Again, a negative reply. crafts and games, and also get- challenges in life is trying to figure out As a pastor, it is important to say that ting to know other children of how to raise them in a world in which the primary function of the church is their own age. not to maintain the morality of society. it is increasingly difficult to see which On the final Friday, children and fami- The church will always be first and way to go. lies were invited to join in a scavenger foremost that community of faith The recent death of pop star Amy hunt and barbeque. On Sunday, a spe- which proclaims the Lordship of Jesus Winehouse highlights the problem. On cial, and well-attended, Chattabox ser- Christ. Still, there is no doubt that one the one hand, Winehouse symbolized vice was held at Kirkhill Community effect of the church is that it does rein- everything that children and teens are Centre, with the worship themed around force the basic moral principles and trained by our society to love and pursue. the messages and songs taken from the values which most of us affirm to be She had fame, fortune, and popularity. Chattabox week. true and use to guide our lives and be- Yet, on the other, her tragic life revealed A Communion Service will be held at haviour. every symptom of moral blindness. She Kiltarlity Church on Sunday 2nd Octo- Going back to our main topic of par- could not understand the basic ideas that ber at 12 noon. The Communion Prepar- enting, this leads to a very practical pleasure and happiness are not the same; atory Service will be held at Kiltarlity conclusion. If any parent is frustrated that popularity cannot account for self Church on Thursday 29th September at by the amount of violence children worth; that living within limitations 7:30 p.m. absorb from TV, fearful of the poten- might actually promote personal wellbe- The next meeting of the men‟s social tial threat of drug and alcohol abuse, or ing. evening will be on Friday, 28 October bothered by the corrupt perception of So back to my kids. Raising them in a 2011 at the Old North Inn, Inchmore, sat sex within popular culture, one readily world that idolizes sex, drugs and vio- 7:00 p.m. Cost is £15 which includes a available step toward combating these lence is no simple exercise of common drink, 2-course meal ( starter / main ) influences is to take your child to Sun- sense. In fact, the truth is, all of us need and tea / coffee with fudge. Please book day school. All of us agree on the need help if we are going to find and keep your place for this fellowship event with for our children to have a well bal- track on the path to successful parenting. Alasdair Morrison on 831 185. anced diet for their bodily growth. My This is where a dusty old concept might The weekly choir practice for the humble opinion is that, considering the be worth salvaging from the past and Christmas Carol Service starts on Satur- challenges of raising kids in the 21st reconsidering: Sunday School. I find as I day, 17th September, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. century, it might also be time for us to go around Kiltarlity that people, who at Wardlaw Church. Choir practices will consider the need for a well balanced would not describe themselves as Church be in Kiltarlity Church during October diet for moral growth. goers and perhaps not even as Christians, and November during Wardlaw Church readily agree that Scotland appears to be refurbishment. Anyone interested in singing, who would like to join this won- derful choir should please speak to Mary Robb after any service, or turn up at a Saturday choir practice, or give her a ring on 01463 795 553. Autumn Birds Walk The Guild season starts on Tuesday 4th nd October at 2:30 p.m., the first guest Saturday 22 October speaker being Fiona Macleod from the Highland Archive Centre. October and Join Malcolm Harvey for a short walk through the forest looking and listen- November Guild meetings will be in ing for any birds which are present. Kiltarlity Church, because of the Ward- law Church refurbishment work. Meet at forest entrance at Ardendrain – CONTACTS: Rev. Dr. Kobus Smit 831 662, E-mail: [email protected]; 10.30am David Garvie 741 038; Sunday School – Linda MacKenzie 741 313 / An- All Welcome! neliese Garvie 741 038; The Parishion- er – Iain and Rosemary Mortimer 782 Phone Sheila on 01463 741382 or Malcolm on 01463 741328 648, E-mail – for more details [email protected] 3 Looking back from the 1970s om Fraser (Tom Gow) of Auch- Our food, the first thing T vaich, Kiltarlity, was born in the in the morning, we were early years of last century and served up usually at six o‟ clock in the 60s and 70s as an Inverness- to feed the horses and the shire County Councillor for his side of cattle and we came in for Kiltarlity.