Aspirational Path Report for A020 Ardtaraig to Way East of Garvie, Glendaruel

1. Proposed Aspirational Path

Page 1 of 12 2. Summary of Representations Received Representation Respondent Organisation/ Objection Summery Respondents Respondent Objection Name Group proposed Ref No. withdrawn action Objection Bill Carlow Ardtaraig Sporting Amend P057 3rd Farming Interests/Alternative E010 October Company Route Available 2011

3. History of Access i. Right of Way Status: none ii. Recorded Access Issues: none

4. Site Visit N/A

5. Alternative Route/s N/A

6. Consultation with Objectors & Other Interested Parties The route as shown goes through pheasant pens. An alternative is proposed.

Page 2 of 12 7. Access Officer’s Initial Comments: Suggested alternative route shown in purple and green avoiding game breeding and shooting areas. Red and black line shows the line of the proposal to be deleted.

The proposed amendment is sufficient for the objection to be withdrawn, although it does raise some concerns as can be seen in Mr Carlow’s email below dated: 03 October 2011.

This proposal is currently an aspirational path and no finalised route has been agreed upon. The route shown here is to record that the Council received support for a route to be developed between these two points, however at this time there is no available funding to deliver this project. If funding were to become available in the future, further consultation and detailed discussions would be held with all relevant parties before the finalised route would be identified.

Page 3 of 12 8. Advice received from the Access Forum and Bute Council Core Path Plan Finalised Draft 2012 Minute of Discussions by the Access Forum Path Number: A020 Path Name: Balliemore to Garvie Burn

Forum Members Present x John Urquhart (Chair) x John Little x Niall McAlister Hall (Vice Chair) x Duncan McDonald x Fiona Russell x Stuart Shaw

Declarations of Interest x None

Members Familiar with the Location x None

Discussions x It is an Aspirational Path x Amendment proposed by one of affected landowners. x The proposal links into the Cowal Way x Are all affected landowners aware of proposed amendment?

Access Forum Advice to Council

Support Officer’s Recommendation (in Section 7) Object to Officer’s Recommendation (in Section 7) Mixed opinion amongst Access Forum members (record all views below)

Majority View Unanimous support for Access Officer’s recommendation with the caveat that this view was based on the assurance all relevant landowners had been made aware of the proposed amendment. Douglas Grierson to check records and ensure that as far as practicable this has happened.

Minority View None

Page 4 of 12 9. Access Officer’s Final Recommendations The Access Officer is able to confirm that he has corresponded with 3 of the 4 representatives from The Trustees of Ardtaraig Estate who confirmed that they are happy for the route to be amended as shown on page 3 of this report in the Access Officer’s Initial Recommendations. A copy of this correspondence is included in Appendix II.

Therefore the Access Officer’s recommendation is that this Aspirational Route is amended as shown on Page 3 to follow the dashed purple and green line.

Page 5 of 12 10. Appendices

Appendix I. Copies of the representations received during the formal consultation

Page 6 of 12 Page 7 of 12 Page 8 of 12 Email Sent: 03 October 2011 14:26

Dear Mr. Grierson, Thank you for your email and I am thankful for your decision to move the Aspirational Path A202 from its original route through the middle of the partridge rearing pens and the pheasant drives.

I therefore withdraw my objection.

However, I would point out to you that the route now selected passes through a commercial woodland, and the owner has recently spent a lot of time and money improving the road with a view to felling the timber from next year. During the time of the forestry operations there will be heavy lorries running on the roads, and harvesting equipment operating. I would imagine that during these periods access to the track will be denied to the public for safety reasons.

I can appreciate that the Core Path system must have several of these forest tracks which are working roads, and assume that there is in place a system like "Notices to Airmen" (NOTAMS) or "Notices to Mariners", where walkers are advised of areas which are closed to the public at certain times. I can only imagine the frustration otherwise of walkers who have planned an extensive walk during their holidays arriving at places where the paths are not accessible to them. With kind regards, Bill Carlow

Page 9 of 12 Appendix II Copies of relevant correspondence

Correspondence with Trustees of Ardtaraig Estate

From: Rorie [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 28 August 2012 16:54 To: Grierson, Douglas Subject: Re: core path objection report on A20

Dear Mr Grierson, thank you for your mail, my brother in Law, Bill Carlow, had let me know the satisfactory result. I have no further comment to make.

Kind regards, Rorie Geddes

From: Nicola Simpson [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 05 September 2012 11:04 To: Grierson, Douglas Subject: RE: core path objection report on A20

Dear Mr Grierson

Many thanks for sending me this report for my comment. I have now read the report, and have no further comment to add.

Kind regards

Nicola Simpson

From: Marcus Geddes [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 06 September 2012 09:48 To: Grierson, Douglas; Bill Carlow Subject: Re: core path objection report on A20

No comment beyond those supplied my Mr Carlow.

Many thanks

Marcus Geddes

Page 10 of 12 Correspondence with Councillor Bruce Marshall - received after the Forum gave its advice to the Council

From: Gritten, Jolyon Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 11:34 AM To: Marshall, Bruce Cc: Grierson, Douglas Subject: RE: Core Path Reports

Dear Councillor

Although the Access Forum members have already met to give their advice to the Councillor on these objections I will copy your comments into the reports so that they are available to the Reporter as part of the Public Inquiry Process. The Objection Reports will be sent to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals in the next couple of weeks, and they will appoint a Reporter to conduct an Inquiry.

Yours sincerely,

Jolyon Gritten

Access Manager Development & Infrastructure Services, Argyll & Bute Council Manse Brae Offices, Lochgilphead, ARGYLL, PA31 8RT Tel: 0154 660 4314, Mobile: 0782 788 3167 Email: [email protected]

From: Marshall, Bruce Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2013 11:26 AM To: Gritten, Jolyon Cc: Grierson, Douglas Subject: Core Path Reports

Jolyon

Re your paper to the Bute & Cowal Area Committee in which you ask for comment, I apologise for being late in making my comments.

A020 Am pleased Mr Carlow has withdrawn his objection but don’t think future logging should be a barrier as there are long periods when there is no work taking place and suitable warnings can be placed if there is any potential danger

Councillor Bruce Marshall - Ward 6 Cowal Violet Grove, Strone, , PA23 8RX 01369840346, 07717772097

Page 11 of 12 Appendix III Copies of responses additional consultations

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