TUESDAY 6th January 2014
Present:
Pam Linton (PL) - Chair
Tony Hancock (TH) - Vice Chair
Stephen Thompson (ST) - D&G Council Member
Dug Pettigrew (DP) - Treasurer
Ian Vidler (IV) - Member
Edna Allbrooke (EA) - Member
Anne Wyllie (AW) - Secretary - Member
Jim Davidson (JD) - Co-opted Member
Charles McKerrell of Hillhouse - Member of the Public
May McKerrell of Hillhouse - Member of the Public
Apologies: - Peter Diggle; Graham Tait; Martin Wilson
In Attendance: - Press Reporter
Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting (held 9/12/15):
Approved by TH and seconded by EA
Minutes of the Previous Meeting:
Accepted by Tony Hancock and seconded by Jim Davidson
Short Police Report:
Police Officers Neylon and Sergeant Jonathan Edgar attended and introduced themselves – Main Points:
· Two new supervisors at Lockerbie, Jonathan being one replacement and Joyce Adams is the other replacement. (Sergeant Edgar emphasized that he was always there to help if anyone needed to get hold of him).
· A couple of recent house break-ins which are currently being investigated, one at Whitelaid Farm and one at a premises Eloradan – inquiries are still at a very early stage.
· Cars being damaged in Croft Terrace – a couple of names brought to the attention of the police this week re these damaged cars.
Matters Arising:
· Flag - Town Hall:
o Still no feedback re the position with regards to flag flying at the Town Hall (TH to chase up)
o TH to find out about the other flag pole to see if this is accessible.
o Look into perhaps flying a flag representing Lochmaben on other days which would look attractive for both residents and tourists.
· RBS – Mobile Van:
o TH still to write to RBS re the positioning of the RBS Mobile Van as well as stating the Community Council’s concern about safety with regard to possible opportune burglars.
· Small Lane Between the Caravan Park and Bruce Street:
o Peter Diggle has taken some action re this and has put in hand to have it cleaned up. / TH
TH
TH
Presentation – Home Energy Scotland – Lucy Brown, Community Liaison Officer:
· Lucy Brown gave a brief overview re Home Energy Scotland which is an energy saving initiative.
· The main thing they are trying to promote at the moment is the help phone line trying to encourage people to phone up to find out about funding which is available for people who meet certain criteria whose houses are energy inefficient at the moment. When anyone phones up they are asked a whole gamut of questions re their property and circumstances to see if they are entitled to any funding for extra insulation or a new heating system. Even if people are not eligible for funding the initiative offers advice on all aspects of energy saving. If someone is not keen to phone – visits can be arranged. They are also able to signpost other agencies which may be able to help e.g. handy van and foodtrain services and other community charities.
Treasurers Report:
Christmas Light Account – since the last meeting paid in amount is £40 from donations so this means the balance stands at £1604.65 – still not received the invoice from John Smith. PL to go round next week to empty donation boxes.
Community Council Account (£270 now paid in from raffle and donations) – still a ATI bill to be paid from this account. The balance now stands at £1158.02.
D&G Council Issues:
· Lochmaben Population: ST informed the group that the population of Lochmaben (Town) as cited in the 2011 census was estimated at 1,942 of which 950 are male and 984 are female, but obviously many more houses have been built since then.
· Path Round Caravan Toilets Area Going Towards The Garage: ST had found out that it was the Council’s responsibility and would be cleared up within the next few days.
· Church Place: PL reported still a problem with ponding.
· Mounceys Wynd Foul Smell: The group reported that the foul smell continues. Still ongoing – ST to chase up.
· Dropped Drain in Princes Street: - ST went informed the group that this dropped drain in the middle of the road has been reported but still not repaired.
· Pavement near Victoria Cottage: - still not sorted.
· Bushes near Community Centre: have now been cut back and the path cleaned up.
· Cleaning of Bus Shelters: Although this was attempted, special cleaning products are needed to clean properly, although panels now seem to be being replaced.
· Advertising at the Old Library: ST informed the group that it was established that these advertising panels do not need advertising consent – the Council’s Planning Inspectors have now contacted the operators of the business, RJW Electrical who have expressed to apply retrospectively for formal consent for the adverts.
· Public Toilet Signage: ST informed the group that there is now Public Toilet signage at the entrance to the street where the Public Toilets are sited, however if you are coming into the town from the east, signage not relevant for people stopping in the High Street. ST to further chase up to see if more appropriate additional signage can be installed.
· Vodafone Mobile Boxes: still ongoing discussions on this – ST reported that this has now resulted in Vodafone getting together with O2 to see about boosting the 4G signal in the area. However still need to look at a number of sites for these mobile boxes within areas like ours and possibly increase the height of masts. Looking at for example, the Annandale Estate in Lockerbie, Kirkton Farm etc. – Ongoing discussions.
· Dog Fouling: TH informed the group of a new initiative from the USA called “Pooh Prints” which has now come to the UK – basically you can now find out whose dog has fouled the pavement by a process of DNA testing – although this may be some time off here – it may be something that will eventually stamp out the practice of dog owners not disposing of their dog’s waste.
· Dog Fouling Waste Bin for new Wimpey Scheme: ST to look into placing a new waste bin for this area.
Lochmaben Telephone Box:
· After discussing the poor condition of Lochmaben’s red telephone box at the last meeting; with great deal of help from the Local Press, BT have now replaced the panels, the door will be replaced at the end of this month and when the weather is a bit more clement it will be duly paint – so a great success all round.
Wind Farms, Minsca, Harestanes, Hartwood Hill:
· Harestanes – We will be getting £4,000 as a one off payment by the end of January and we will get the next £2,000 this August plus this year we will get around £1,700 from Minsca this year.
· Hartwood Hill – Following our last meeting the name for the petition against this Wind Farm is “Communities Against Hartwood Turbines” – a flyer was tabled as this point which had been prepared by those from the Royal Four Towns who came to our last meeting. We were also asked last time to put together a template letter which would lay out the situation that we thought was an objection to this Wind Farm going ahead. This will not be actioned until the Planning Application is made. The idea of this letter is that it will be signed by individual people who which to object (draft tabled).
· TH had researched and found that Dumfries and Galloway has 272 wind turbines active at the moment, 60 offshore and 212 onshore – there are a further 324 which have received planning consent already plus 257 applications awaiting consent and a further 530 in the scoping stage which altogether add up to 1,383 turbines which could be operating in Dumfries and Galloway in the next few years.
· TH also tabled a letter from the RSPB which had expressed concern about the methodology re the survey of the area. They feel a further 2 years of survey need to be carried out before wind turbines should be considered if at all. Torthorwald and Collin Community Councils have now also come out against this Wind Farm. Public in Lockerbie have also come out against this Wind Farm. The Royal Four Towns are having a meeting to discuss later this week.
· TH also tabled an Architect’s report re scoping for this Wind Farm which said that “It is unlikely that the principle of any large typology wind farm development could be accommodated in this sensitive location”.
Fund Raising for 2015:
· Agenda item for next meeting.
AOB:
· Lochmaben Initiative – TH tabled a list of projects/ideas the Lochmaben Initiative are looking at for next year e.g. provision of a BMX Skateboarding Park; provision of a MUGA area, provision of allotments; establishing a voluntary litter patrol; providing a Warden Service for Mill Loch; a piazza in front of the Town Hall; establishing a sporting event; a MOOCH House etc.
· Missing Sign for the Old Cemetery on the Kings Arms (possibly taken down when the Kings Arms was painted): TH to follow up on this with ST (it is a Right of Way).
Correspondence Received:
· TH tabled correspondence from D&G Council re the budget, stating that there is a meeting in Annan Town Hall Chambers on 21st January if anyone feels like going along to discuss D&G Council’s budget.
Date of Next Meeting
· Tuesday 3rd February 2015 – Start time 7.30 p.m.
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