Issue - meetings

Andrew Wilson, North Knapdale Community Council, enquired as to what Scottish Water were planning to do to mitigate issues at Tayvallich where there had been 12 water bursts in the last 2 years. The Regional Communities Manager, Scottish Water, advised that a need for investment had been identified in Tayvallich and that planning design work was currently taking place on work to be carried out which would include the replacement of old style pipes with new style plastic pipes and would provide resilience and reduce the risk of future bursts. In addition, a short 200 to 250 metre section had been worked on more urgently near the caravan park as this area was the biggest risk of potential disruption to the water supply and this work has now been completed. The Regional Communities Manager advised that there was no start date agreed for the longer term works taking place but he would be able to confirm this at a later date.

Councillor Taylor asked if Scottish Water were aware of other areas in Mid Argyll which may require to be updated due to the use of older style pipes and infrastructure which were likely to have a finite lifespan. The Regional Communities Manager, Scottish Water, confirmed that investment was taking place across the whole of Scotland in relation to this and he would provide further information around this during his update at item 6 of the agenda.

Councillor Redman raised the issue of weed killing in the area of Cnoch-na-Faire, Port Ellen, having caused damage to a large portion of the green area outside houses. Councillor Redman noted that this issue had previously been raised with the Roads department who had advised that they would not be re-seeding the area. It was agreed that this issue be raised with Jim Smith, Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services, at item 11 of the agenda. 

Councillor Redman raised concerns regarding street lighting repairs and advised that Roads department operatives had been attaching access panels with large holes in them to lights when carrying out temporary repairs. Councillor Redman noted that where constituents would complain about cabling being exposed on street lights, the temporary repairs carried out where access panels had holes in them would leave the cabling still exposed. It was agreed that this issue be raised with Jim Smith, Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services, at item 11 of the agenda. 

Councillor Redman expressed disappointment that a number of constituents in Carradale had been left without water between 9:30am and 7pm on Tuesday, 1 September 2020, with no prior warning from Scottish Water which had adversely affected businesses and residents in the area. Councillor Redman also noted that requests to Scottish Water for bottled water to be delivered to elderly residents had not been fulfilled. The Regional Communities Manager, Scottish Water, advised that he was unaware of this issue but would raise this with the Local Operations Manager and would report back to Members with further information around this.

Councillor Armour asked if the link for attending virtual meetings of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee was being sent out to all Community Councils or if it was necessary for members to indicate to Governance staff that they would be in attendance. The Committee Manager confirmed that the agenda which is sent out to all Community Councils indicated that the meeting would be taking place via Skype and the meetings had been advertised on social media where contact details were provided for the relevant officer to contact in order to facilitate attendance.

Councillor Redman raised concerns around issues with rabbit infestation in Kilnaughton cemetery which had led to fears among constituents that graves could start to be desecrated. Councillor Redman noted that this issue had previously been raised with the Roads department. It was agreed that this issue be raised with Jim Smith, Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services, at item 11 of the agenda.