1

FWSG A82 CAMPAIGN MEETING– 20th March 2008

ACTION NOTE

PRESENT

Cllr Brian Murphy, Chairman / Highland Council / Alasdair Ferguson / Ferguson Transport & Chamber of Commerce
Emma Tayler / Highland Council / Dave Wrigglesworth / OCUK
Charlotte Wright / HIE / Cllr Bren Gormley / Highland Council
Scott Dingwall / HIE Lochaber / Donald Stewart / Glencoe & Glen Etive CC
Patricia Jordan / Assoc of Community Councils / Ann Marie Cameron / Nether Lochaber CC
Stewart MacLean / A82 Partnership / CI John Chisholm / Northern Constabulary
James Weir / Inverlochy & Torlundy CC / Cllr Michael Foxley / Highland Council
Douglas Mainland / NTS Glencoe / Cllr Donald Cameron / Highland Council
  1. APOLOGIES –Cllr Roddy McGuish, Cllr Allan Henderson, Darren Chambers, Dave Duthie, John Hutchison, Cllr Eddie Hunter, Drew Purdon, Maggie Wilson.
  1. Note of previous meeting 26th February 2008 –

Previous notes agreed, action points updated from previous meeting as follows;

Named Person / Action / Comment
John Hutchison / Look further at NPF2 consultation document. Arrange meeting in response. / John has made one or two additions
Update Campaign strategy document as required. / On-going
To amend petition detail as agreed. / complete
Check number of lines & ‘click on’ issue with petitions clerk / To be live Mar/Apr
Submit petition as agreed / complete
Draft electronic ‘campaign letter’ to be downloadable on website. / WG agreed not req at present
JH cont; / Liaise with Stewart Maclean regarding updating of A82 website and on-going campaign updates. / Complete / on-going
Liaise with Gordon Fyfe regarding campaign launch / Press / Complete
To pursue representation at the Transport conference on 18th March / Complete, awaiting feedback
Cllr Brian Murphy / To meet with Argyll & Bute Campaign group on the 28th Feb 08. / Complete
Patricia Jordon / Extend invite to Argyll & Bute for meeting 5th April with Scottish Association of Community Councils. / Complete, SACC dist. E-petition details but not to all membership
Emma Tayler / To arrange for amendment of campaign artwork and place order for stickers etc. / Complete
With John Hutchison, follow up involvement of young people in the campaign / Complete –YP unable to attend due to school commitments
All / Feed in any additional information / links for petition / On-going
Assist in launch / campaign as required. / Complete
Alasdair Ferguson / Liaise with John and Brian as required. / Complete
  1. Review of launch

The group felt that the launch went exceptionally well with TV coverage deemed as reasonably good on the whole. It was noted that there had been an error made by BBC Scotland but this was quickly corrected.

  1. Report from working group

The following points were noted:-

Media

  • There is a need for someone/group to co-ordinate the media contact to provide consistency and ensure adequate and effective media planning. Gordon Fyfes team need to assist in this process with local support.
  • It was agreed to form a media strategy group consisting of: Gordon Fyfe, Stewart MacLean, Cllr Brian Murphy, Alasdair Ferguson and John Hutchison. This group would communicate with each other at the end of every week. It was acknowledged that partners would need to feed any information regarding publicity intensions / coverage to this group in a timely manner.
  • Nevis radio have been covering the campaign well. Oban FM have also picked up.
  • Good articles appearing across a range of publications (newspapers, trade magazines etc).

ePetition

  • Going well. Currently pencilled in to appear at the petitions committee on the 15th April.

Minsiterial meetings

  • Working group has received un-official word that Stewart Stevenson will meet with the group in May.

Campaign Resources

  • The working group agreed to a re-run of car stickers (15,000) due to high demand. Banners have been erected but with some issues of removal. The working group is pursing appropriate placements. Additional leaflet run of 20,000 taking place.
  • Dave Wrigglesworth offered support in leaflet / sticker distribution.
  • Campaign resources have been depleted, there is a need to draw in more funding. Suggestion made that businesses should be targeted for a contribution. Emma to draft e-mail for circulation by Ally.
  1. Draft response to National Planning Framework (NFP)

No update available

6.& 7. Building interest over the West Highlands, Retaining Momentum

  • Need to look at the next stage of the campaign ensuring that colleagues affected / interested in the FW-Inverness section are on board. It was agreed that Cllr Bren Gormley (& other members) would work on these relationships and getting the right messages out.
  • HIE – Robert Muir will be in a good position to forge campaign relationships with Skye.
  • Agreed to use Ward Forums in other areas to promote campaign particularly in view to laying foundations for next stage.
  • Need for template (with Minsterial addresses) to be placed on website once epetition closed in order to aid letter writing to Ministers.
  • Cllr Hamish Fraser in Skye to be kept abreast of campaign (also connected to the association of small businesses).
  • Campaign to be promoted at party conferences.
  • CALMAC – Cllr Michael Foxleyto follow up discussions with Hugh Dan re: support (leaflet / sticker distribution etc).
  • Cllr Michael Foxley has spoken to the Western Isles and will continue to pursue.
  • It was agreed there was a need use the Easter weekend break to heighten the awareness of the campaign and collect more signatures for the ePetition. Lorry banner to be placed in West End car park, Donald / Ally to organise. Tricia & Anne Marie agreed to lead on high street signing.
  • Douglas offered to organise distribution of info and signing of petition through NTS in Glencoe.
  • Radio Gael has been contacted.
  • Ally is continuing to promote campaign with haulage industry.
  • AA & RAC – need to try and get them on board.
  • Agreed for a need to send a deputation to speak to the Chief Executive and Convener (HC) to discuss financial support for the campaign.
  • Agreed a need to ask Fergus Ewing and Jim Mather to next meeting. Video conferencing could be available.

8.AOCB

Dave Wrigglesworth reminded the campaign group that tourism businesses although fully supportive of the campaign, did rely on drive through trade for business. On this basis he called for some air of caution in regards to the content of media coverage etc so as not to adversely affect business.

SUMMARY ACTION POINTS FROM MEETING

Named Person / Action / Comment
Media co-ordination group
(Gordon Fyfe, Stewart MacLean, Brian Murphy, Alasdair Ferguson & John Hutchison) / To draw up protocol for handling media coverage / issues
To manage and implement agreed process
To speak to Gordon re: his role
Tricia Jordon / To co-ordinate stand for epetition signing over Easter weekend.
Ally Ferguson / To organise additional helpers for Easter weekend ePetition signing , to liaise with Tricia..
To organise trailer banner for Easter weekend
To speak with Road Hauliers in Northern section re support
Chase Norwich Union re support they can offer
To promote campaign at Haulage conference on Saturday (22nd March)
Douglas Mainland / To organise epetition signing point at Glencoe National Trust centre
Cllr Donald Cameron / To speak with Donnie Corbett re: Trailer at west end car Park over Easter weekend
Working group / To discuss further action plan re: what presence is required and where to promote campaign.
To discuss meeting with Chief Executive and convener
To discuss further pulling in of finance – who should be targeted & how.
To discuss getting people on board from Western Isles etc.
To discuss invites to Fergus and Jim for next meeting
Emma Tayler / To look at getting A82 Campaign on other Ward Forums agenda’s
To draft letter / electronic mail re: business contribution
Bren Gormley / To organise presence at SNP party conference
To work on relationships re: second stage of campaign (FW-Inverness)
Michael Foxley / To follow up distribution of leaflets etc to CALMAC – Hugh Dan
Dave Wrigglesworth / To assist with distribution of leaflets
Brian Murphy / To organise presence / promote campaign at Labour party conference in Aviemore

9.& 10 Frequency and date of next meeting(s)

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Working group to decide next meeting date following discussion with Fergus and Jim re: attendance. Main partnership to be advised ASAP.