Fossoway and District Community Council - April 2013 Minutes

Draft Minutes Meeting Fossoway and District Community Council
Tuesday 2nd April 2013, Carnbo Village Hall

Attending: Sandy Morrison, Trudy Wigman-Duffy, Alastair Lavery, Kevin Borthwick, Sheila Anderson, Rod Paterson, Cllrs M Barnacle, J Giacopazzi, W Robertson and 11 Members of the Public (MoP).

Apologies: Cllr D Cuthbert, Angus Cheape

Declarations of interest: None

Community Policing: No officer present this month, however report received after the meeting: Warning of bogus workmen in area; Theft of batteries from temporary traffic lights at Powmill under enquiry; Speed checks continue at Rumbling Bridge. Note that the new non-emergency number (101) to contact the police, mentioned last month, is subject to a 15p flat rate charge from any phone (land line or mobile.)

Minutes of the previous meeting: There were no amendments so the minutes were signed off.

Matters arising:
• Outh Muir Wind Farm: John Anderson reported that the liaison meeting covered the risk to private water supplies from the works, although the hydrologist assured residents it would be safe. Proposed turbine numbers down from eight to five and reduced to 110 metres in height. Road shows by developer will be held 18th, 19th and 20th April at Saline, Gowkhall and Kelty. Fife has produced a consultation document recommending that turbines be placed only on low areas rather than hills. Next meeting of the liaison group will be at 7pm on Wednesday 24th April at Knockhill.
• Blairingone War Memorial: Alastair reported that nothing has happened this month.
• Crook of Devon Church Car Park: No news yet from the church about funding.
• Signposting Core Paths and Rights of Way: A number of local landowners and farmers met Mr Laurie, and Mr Stubbs, to discuss the core path through Craigton Wood, and along the old railway line. It was unanimously agreed that this should be replaced by a circular path through Craigton Wood. Although some work (bridging ditch, clearing branches, etc.) will need to be done to complete it, possibly with community help. The CC fully endorsed this result. Thanks were recorded to Mr Stubbs for his flexible approach on this matter.
• Lambhill Wood Chip Plant at Blairingone: Alan Kinloch’s letter to Bernadette Malone of 27th March (escalating his letter to Nick Brian) elicited a reply from Mr Brian the same day. However there’s no change on the separation of the two applications even though one site needs the other to accommodate its turning circle, and meanwhile work on the site continues in the absence of approval. Nevertheless, the valid points raised in Alan’s letter have still not been addressed prior to the application being submitted to Committee, so he has written to Mr Brian again. Mr Lavery would write again stressing the 4 planning law points which were in Mr Kinloch’s letter and reiterating the CC’s view that this was one site, and should be treated as such.
• Travellers’ Site at Crook Moss, Crook of Devon: Cllrs Giacopazzi and Robertson described the contents of the Contamination Report which says that the contamination is not sufficient to prevent the application going forward, and any risk can be eliminated with Radon barriers under each pitch. Traces of lead and nickel were found in the groundwater, and grey asbestos found in one borehole, however PKC do not believe the amounts are significant. No investigations were done on the part of the site which was previously a waste dump as that is not included in the current application even though a successful application might result in expansion into that area in the future. The CC would expect there to be an exclusion on any development out with the original site until a full contamination report had been completed on the remainder of the site.
Grey water is still being disposed on the site, but that is also not considered to be a concern. A new proposal for sewage disposal is being prepared by the applicant who hopes to include other existing properties in the area, in order to meet the Loch Leven Catchment 120% criteria.
Cllr Barnacle points out that even with the above points being addressed by the applicant there are still the matters of the site being contrary to the local plan, and adequate provision for travellers already being available at other sites. The CC still believes that the calculation of need is incorrect and will be resubmitting their calculations on this matter.
Councillor Giacopazzi reported that the planning department had confirmed that the occupants were in breach of the timescale allowed for submitting plans, but this had been exacerbated by the death of their agent. However planning’s patience was not everlasting.
• Glenquey Quarry: May be on the Agenda for the DMC meeting on 24th April or 22nd May.
• Glendevon Pollution Incident: Nothing further to report.
• B9097 works: Sandy reports that the signage was installed as agreed. A977 in Blairingone: work now re-scheduled for 22nd to 29th April – See also Cllr Barnacle’s report.
• Green Routes: Cllr Giacopazzi confirms that the Green Route including the loop road has been extended to the old road not the A91.
• Local Development Plan: The proposed plan has been submitted to the Scottish Government for approval.
Kinross Civic Trust mounted an appeal against the way that PKC had conducted the public consultation, but the Reporter stated that they thought the process was adequate.
Cllrs Barnacle and Robertson made similar representations to the Recorder, with the same response.
• Gartwhinzean Loan Signage: The CC contacted PKC - This is not currently a high priority, however PKC will attempt to resolve.
• Gartwhinzean Hotel Site: the CC contacted Ken Thompson who has agreed to take down redundant signage and trim overhanging bushes’, the latter has been done and the former will be dealt with over the next week. The CC thanked Mr Thompson for his prompt response.
• Powmill Snack Bar: The CC emailed Cllr. Barnacle regarding problems with parking, litter, etc., discussed at the last meeting – the complaint has been passed to Ray Short. Parking is a Police matter, other concerns have been passed to the appropriate departments, and our complaint will be passed to the Case Officer if the planning application is renewed, since the current permission expires in September.
• Church Community Office: Meeting on Friday to try and find more volunteers.
• PKC Ground Maintenance Review: Kevin reports that PKC have held this review – various cost-saving measures have been proposed, e.g. verge cutting stops at 30mph signs, poor condition flower beds returned to grass, etc. Full details were made available for inspection. There is an opportunity for the community to retain the maintenance of these areas, but proposals would have to be discussed with PKC, also taking into account health and safety requirements.
There main concerns from those present was that reduced verge cutting would be a safety issue; it was also stressed that verge cutting should not be left until T in the Park, but should be dealt with when required. Any comments about these proposals should be sent to PKC by 12th April.
• Dead sheep in River Devon: The CC was contacted by a MoP to report a dead sheep in the river above the Scout camp, having not gained any useful response elsewhere. Angus removed it and contacted the owner.
• Community Plan Consultation: Sandy reports that he will respond in accordance with discussions held in meetings of this CC.
• Gritting and Snow Clearing: PKC have asked for comments on this process – The general view of those present was that a good job has been done in spite of the conditions. However in some areas the bins were unable to be emptied due to bad weather.

CC Business: Outh Wind farm – see Matters arising above.

PKC Councillors’ reports:

Cllr J Giacopazzi: A Crook of Devon resident had complained about a letter from PKC concerning the Electricity supply to Crook Moss. He had investigated with an independent legal source and was informed that the response was legally correct, although the terms of the letter could have perhaps been better phrased.

Cllr M Barnacle: Area at end of Aldie Road – PKC will look into tidying up.
Carnbo Post Box: Royal Mail are investigating Cllr Barnacle’s complaint about removal of this box.
Development Management Councillors are taking a tour of Wind Farms in Kinross-shire to compare the reality with photo-montages submitted with previous planning applications.
PKC have agreed to create a business case for A977 improvements, as the first step towards actually doing something.
New HGV sign put up at the Drum road end.
MoP notes that the A977 closure will result in diversion via the Knockhill road, which is already damaged (and has temporary lights) so is not appropriate for this use. Cllr Barnacle will investigate.

Cllr W Robertson: Loch Leven Heritage trail – work should commence at the end of May as all the landowners have agreed the route, and all other requirements in place.
Greenknowes Wind Farm: Why weren’t Fossoway CC consulted about this? Cllr Robertson will find out whether this community should receive some benefit from this.
Yesterday was the start of the new Policing structure, so it’s important that we make sure the contact with the community continues as before.

Planning:

13/00561/PN Erection of an agricultural building. Viewfield, Carnbo, Kinross, KY13 0NX.
No Community Council comment.
13/00544/FLL Erection of a dwelling house and garage with ancillary storage. Plot 3, Muirfield, Fossoway, Kinross, KY13 0UN. No Community Council comment.
13/00508/FLL. Extension to dwellinghouse. 10 The Old Station, Rumbling Bridge, Kinross, KY13 0QP.
No Community Council comment.
13/00426/FLL. Erection of a single 37m wind turbine. Gelvan Farm, Fossoway, Kinross, KY13 0PW.
The CC did not agree a recomendation on this particular application, but the continued absence of a detailed policy for wind turbines make these applications difficult to determine.
13/00396/FLL. Installation of bio-mass boiler and associated housing structure (in retrospect). Tullibole Mill, Crook Of Devon, Kinross, KY13 0UL. No Community Council comment.

Correspondence: Full list was circulated to the attendees:
Clydesdale Bank Community Fund still has £175,000 available to Community groups.
Loch Leven Walkathon postponed to 28th April.

AOCB: Devonshaw Quarry site is on the market – CC will investigate any extant planning permissions and report at the next meeting.

Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting
• Welcome and Apologies
• Declarations of Interest
• Community Policing
• Minutes of last meeting
• Matters arising:
Outh Muir Wind Farm , Blairingone War Memorial, Crook of Devon Church Car Park
Signposting core paths and rights of way, Lambhill Site Blairingone , Travellers’ Site Crook Moss
Glenquey Quarry, Resurfacing A977, Church Community Office, PKC Ground Maintenance Review
• Community Councillors - Meetings Attended
• PKC Councillors’ Reports
• Planning Applications
• Correspondence
• AOCB

Next Meeting and AGM: Tuesday 7th May, 7:30 pm
Fossoway Primary School, Crook of Devon.
All welcome!