Issue No 65, September 2019 delivered free to every home and business in Kilmallie KILMALLIE COMMUNITY NEWS the other election coming up All community councils in Highland come to the end of their 4 year term shortly. All current community councillors must stand down. All are eligible for re-election, though we know that not all current KCC members intend to stand again for another term. If KCC is to assuredly continue to exist, new candidates must come forward for election. It would be great if KCC can increase its numbers and its capacity to act (skills, resources and time available) as there are so many current and upcoming issues that impact on our quality of life locally. If you’re interested in local issues, have skills, knowledge or opinions to offer, and have the good of the community at heart, do please think about nominating yourself as a candidate. What’s it like being a Kilmallie Community Councillor? Do speak to any of Kilmallie’s current Community Councillors if you want to know more about what’s involved generally, or if you want to know more about the ongoing local issues that we have been involved in. Who can become a Kilmallie Community For more information Councillor? Information on community councils, including a map of each area is available at Highland Council’s website: https://www.highland.gov.uk/ Anyone aged 16 or over, and on the electoral roll for the Kilmallie area, who communitycouncils is interested in making Kilmallie a better place to live. If you have skills or opinions to contribute, you can make a difference. For more information on the election process and timetable go to www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/15138/ How can you become a Community Councillor? community_council_election_procedures It’s simple. All you have to do is complete a nomination form. Forms are For queries about the Community Council election, please contact the available from Dot Ferguson, Ward Manager or on Highland Council’s Elections Office on 01349 886 657 or [email protected]. website www.highland.gov.uk/elections To check if you are a registered voter and eligible to become a community The completed forms must be returned by 12 noon on Tuesday 8th October councillor, contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01463 703341 or to Dot Ferguson, Ward Manager. email [email protected]. Election Process in this issue For Kilmallie, the maximum number of Community Councillors permitted by from the chair – p2 wild about Kilmallie - p7 Highland Council rules is 8, and the minimum is 4. gas - in whose interests? - p2 Corpach in Colour - p8 if there are between 4 and 8 candidates after the close of nominations, all KCC meetings – p3 Banavie Floral - p8 candidates will be automatically elected and the new Community Council Blar street names - p3 green fingers - p8 will be formed as from 10th October 2019. noise & light pollution - p4 Games Club - p9 If there are more than 8 candidates, an election by postal ballot is held by Big Climate Conversation - p4 Kilmallie Shinty - p9 Highland Council. Anyone registered in Kilmallie on the electoral roll is plans afoot - p5 Corpach Woods - p9 eligible to vote. Voters are able to choose up to 8 candidates. smells from Duisky - p5 canal news - p10 If there are less than 4 candidates, Kilmallie Community Council will Banavie quarry - p6 glyphosate - p11 automatically and immediately cease to exist (though it could be reinstated slower safer smilier- p6 Old Kilmallie Cemetery - p11 via a similar electoral process at a later date if there was sufficient interest. community policing - p6 Sponsors - p12 Seeking clarification from HIE regarding the Our thanks are due to many people: kilmallie feasibility study for a deep water harbour at • our Highland Councillors, Allan Henderson, Ben Annat Thompson and Denis Rixson who have a good community Proposed port and rail expansion at Annat by record of attending our meetings Ferguson Transport • PS Ross McCartney, Police Liaison Officer and council Reacting to a proposed Domestic Waste sometimes PS Deborah McCartney Transfer Station at Annat • the Kilmallie Community Centre and Jimmy Milne Chair’s Report to AGM, June 2019 • Attendance at other meetings and events: the Manager This is my third annual report and I present it being Lochaber Transport Forum and Lochaber Bus • all our newsletter sponsors, contributors and very fortunate in having a good team around me in User’s Group delivery teams Mandy, Carol Anne, Treasurer Jan, Jim and Secretary Steering Group and Communications & • and to all the individuals and community groups Russell. Engagement sub-group for the new Belford who make Kilmallie a great place to live. hospital Our activities over this last year have fallen into the I would particularly like to thank my colleague following categories: Consultations on the proposed housing and community councillors for their work and support West Highland College UHI Centre for • Pursuing local issues including, noise, smells and throughout this year. Science and Technology on the Blàr Mòr dumping The Partnership of Fort William Area Community Looking to the future, I remind you that our term • Responding to Highland Council Planning on Councils has met occasionally, particularly on comes to an end in November and so we need new proposals that will affect us supporting the creation of a Loch Linnhe Harbour members to take the CC forward. Our aim should be • Communication and engagement with the Authority but there remains considerable scope for to find folk who can represent the extent of Kilmallie community via: the CCs to support each other on the many matters from the High School to Erracht to Kinlocheil. There four newsletters, produced and delivered of mutual interest. is scope for up to eight members, essential to spread free of charge to every home and business in the load – wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had to hold Kilmallie, completely by volunteers, though Having been reduced last year, our annual grant from an election! we have had to reduce its size latterly the Highland Council remained stable this year. Such meagre funding is certainly demotivating and has our website, Twitter and Facebook pages, It can be very rewarding to serve on a community directly affected our Newsletter- as the lowest tier in our two noticeboards and suggestion boxes council. Kilmallie is the biggest development area in our democratic hierarchy our needs are modest and Lochaber at the moment with the new Belford, the • Specific projects such as: it is a shame that they can’t be met. West Highland College Centre for Science and continuing our “Slower Safer Smilier” Technology and houses on the Blar Mor, together campaign, with the Corpach crossing a major Our limited Newsletter budget has meant that we with the Marina and the possibility of a deep water success have had reduce its size but I am pleased to say that harbour and gas storage at Corpach. We should all Banavie War Memorial access and lettering we have donations of money, mostly from be glad that we have a Community Council; some individuals, which so far have totalled £580. We are advisory ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ speed limit now in places don’t and you have shown that you’ll be with really grateful for this support as we are determined place at Hillview Drive and Drumfada being us when it’s critical. That’s what has given us not to charge. The feedback I get helps me realise pursued confidence over the period but it’s now time for that this is much more than a production process. • Direct involvement with consultations, others to step forward. The Newsletter takes the community into folks’ presentations and gatherings including homes and this is invaluable for those who are less Help Kilmallie Community Council to help Kilmallie. Final West Highlands and Islands active or those who are focussed on other things. Thank you all. Development Plan along with the Fort Christine Hutchison, William Area Community Councils’ Chair, Kilmallie Community Council Partnership [email protected] examination of the business case and does not housing on the Blar to be heated by gas, when include any assessment of impacts on the several other preferable options are available. gas - in whose environment or the community. There is also no Highland Council’s plans for gas heating at the Blar obligation to make any of the results public. development seem even stranger when there are interests? Continued use of coal is clearly a problem but no plans for gas heating in the new Lochyside or Following a series of complaints, we have been replacing it with another fossil fuel is not the Upper Achintore houses. The dangers of trying to help solve problems of noise and light answer. It seems illogical that the proposals for focussing on old ways of providing energy have pollution from the port at Corpach. Some of these gas carriers should come now, at a time when recently been highlighted by the Organisation for impacts are related to activities that breach there is a commitment to phase out fossil fuel use Economic Co-operation and Development, which planning conditions. These are being followed up, because of climate breakdown. A gas terminal is a bit like the international equivalent of HIE; the but any action takes time, and enforcement can would mean a huge amount of infrastructure general secretary Angel Gurría said “Our policies be difficult. This highlights the need for planning development for something that could only be have to be made with our children’s future in decisions to consider the impacts on the used for a few years. HIE have justified putting mind … short-term decision-making can lock community from the outset, rather than trying to public money into this on the grounds that it countries into expensive mistakes in financing and fix problems through planning conditions further could help tackle fuel poverty.