Issue - meetings

No update received.

Heather Clark and Sharon MacInnes reported on a recent event which had raised £700 for 2 local charities and the local lifeboat.  Planning permission had been granted for the village hall extension and remedial work had been completed on Redwell Park.

No update received.

Andrea Henderson updated the group on the work being conducted by the community council in updating their community survey with the aim of determining prioritisation of community needs.

Heather Clark discussed the success of their recent Gala Day.

 Discussion continued in regards the alcohol controls in place at the event.

The Chair thanked Andrea for her informative update.   

Andrea Henderson updated the group on the following:-

• Forthcoming meeting arranged between Scottish Water and Argyll and Bute Council to give further discussion to the erosion issue at Furnace.
• Concerns in regards the road into Furnace
• Marketing project to advertise for GP replacement – forthcoming meeting between Furnace and Inveraray Community Councils had been scheduled.
• Wind Farms projects – uncertainty over the progression
• Furnace Gala Day was being held on the last weekend in August.

Andrea Henderson reported that there was still no replacement GP at the surgery in Furnace.  The locum provision was effective; however the community were anxious to get a permanent GP in place. 

Councillor Currie detailed the success of the appointment of a GP on Jura and stated that he would provide the relevant contact details to Andrea Henderson, should they wish to discuss the issue further.

Andrew Henderson continued that the road and scrub issues had been resolved by the Roads Department.  Work undertaken by Scottish Water to install a sewerage system some ten years ago is causing concern to villagers in that adjacent foreshore/garden land has subsequently been eroded by the sea.  Although Scottish Water has agreed to carry out work to protect its sewer, several manholes and S.W.T. plant, this does not include any repair to the eroded bank/foreshore.

Andrea Henderson reported on the following:-

The Community Council had received no further nominations of candidates for the recent run of by-elections. It was noted that there was a problem with trying to get younger people to sit on Community Councils.

Furnace CC had been approached by West Lochfyne CC regarding two wind farm developments in the area and they were looking into what their responsibilities were. There was an indepth discussion on wind farms and Andrea Henderson advised that they were looking at doing a survey in the area on the impact of wind farms. Councillor Taylor advised that the Council has invested with SNH to do a landscape capacity to see if windfarms can fit in and be less visible in areas. The Council are also investing with Highland Council with regard to the number of wind farms in a geographical area which will inform future planning.

Andrea Henderson reported on the following:-

Ø      Furnace Bridge – repairs would be undertaken by Cumlodden Estates

Ø      Funding received from the Wind Farm would maintain the local walk at Leacainn with an eventual link to Auchindrain Museum

Ø      War Memorial – a grant from the Wind Farm Trust would enable research of names inscribed on the War Memorial

Ø      Annual Gala Day – thanks were made to John Downie, Fraser McCorquodale and the local fish farm for their help on the day