Issue - meetings

Cllr Horn reported that the town is gearing up for the Viking Festival and so far is looking very good.

She noted that the new flats currently being built  are moving forward well, and will soon be able to be occupied   Cllr Horn highlighted that Yvonne Lister (ACHA area manager) attended a meeting to discuss social housing in Tarbert  and discovered through questioning that that the demand within the community is considerably  greater than previously thought.

Negotiations about obtaining community ownership of a turbine at Stronegar wind farm are ongoing.  The new “Green Gym” is doing well.  Cllr Horn also noted that a member of the CC is undertaking the challenge of doing a sponsored kayak paddle round the Kintyre peninsula.

The group heard an update from Bob Chicken in which he reported that various road issues had not been resolved in the local area. He also reported that the Community Council was now quorate.

Councillor Anne Horn updated the group on local issues in Tarbert.  It was noted that this is the 10 year anniversary of the Conservation Trust.  Anne highlighted that the work undertaken by the local community working with partners had made an enormous difference to the village and highlighted specifically the successful creation of the Woodlands area which now includes an outdoor classroom, a green gym and other facilities.  Similarly events like the fish festival bring much needed commerce to the area.  The local produce project has now completed.

The Christmas lights switch on had been hit by bad weather which caused a power cut  on the day,  however, the lights were switched on successfully the following day.  A number of local craft fairs have also taken place.

Achahoish Primary school created a “St. Hilda Museum” and the Secretary of State for Education has written to the school commending it on this effort.

The Chair thanked Anne for her informative update. 

Councillor Anne Horn updated the group on local issues in Tarbert.  These included:-

·         Work on the Castle continued with the inclusion of a pond and wildlife area.  This was being used by the school as an ‘outdoor classroom’.

·         Access for disabled people had been completed

·         A children’s playarea had been constructed at the Outdoor gym on the walkway

·         Both the 5 and 10K marathons recently held in Tarbert had been well attended with plans to make this an annual event

·         Music Festival was scheduled for 21 and 22 September with a Book Festival planned for November

The Chair thanked Anne for her informative update.   

There was no update.

Councillor Horn updated the group regarding the addition of more pontoons in Tarbert harbour and also noted that there was also a new play park at the outdoor gym.  She advised the group of a forthcoming event at Tarbert Castle – Medieval Melee – which would be held on 1 June.  The work was now completed at the Castle and the school had been involved in a lot of the improvement works.

Betty Rhodick (on behalf of Ian MacIntyre - who was not present)  raised the car parking issues and the perceived need for a crossing in Tarbert centre.  Councillor Horn replied that the Harbour Board had further plans for the walkway and deemed it unlikely that they would entertain requests further parking in this area.

The Chair stated that he would raise this issue with Councillor Semple, Lead Councillor for Environment, Development and Infrastructure. 

There were no representatives from the Tarbert Area.

Councillor Horn read a statement from Ian MacIntyre who had confirmed that he would no longer be attending MAP meetings.

In regards the points Ian had raised regarding the land owned by Tarbert Harbour Authority (THA) being progressed by Argyll and Bute council for car parking, she was unaware of THA views.

Action: Councillor Horn would take Iains report to Tarbert and Skipness Community Council for further discussion. 

Councillor Horn reported that the Harbour Board Trustees had received the Volunteer of the Year Award.  She also informed the Partnership:

·         that new equipment had been installed at the open air gym

·         lambs had been born at the castle

·         they were still awaiting a bin on the steps leading to the castle (Anne stated that she would be raising this with John Downie)

Councillor Horn reported on new pontoons which were planned for the harbour in Tarbert.   

Iain Macintyre raised the issue of the provison of affordable housing, industrial space and car parking in the Tarbert area.  He queried why Tarbert had not been included in the recent CHORD project, being a notable harbour on the West Coast of Scotland.  Bob Millar agreed with Iain on this point and reiterated that Mid-Argyll had not been included within the project despite ongoing flooding issues at the front green in Lochgilphead.  The Chair advised that the projects were too far advanced and that the funds had been set aside therefore there was no scope to re-look at this.  Bob requested that local Members address issues of localised flooding in the Mid Argyll area in terms of equitable funding.  The Chair replied that Argyll and Bute council were looking at rationalisation of properties in the area and it may be possible to ask questions such as this at that time.

Jeanette highlighted the ‘area for action on the local plan’.  She continued that this did not fit the criteria for many projects  Consequently, many communities were suffering as a result.

Councillor Horn advised the group of more fruit trees to be planted in the Tarbert area.  Jim Paterson, representative from the local Community Trust in Tarbert had sourced the funding for the trees.

Jeanette Laughton reported that the Woodland Trust was also providing packages of trees for planting in local communities to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Action: It was agreed that Fergus Murray would be invited to the next MAP meeting to discuss local plan designations.    

Melissa Stewart on behalf of Ian Macintyre raised the issue of street lighting on Balmore Road in Tarbert.  This had still not been resolved and she agreed to progress this for Mc Macintyre.