Agenda
Minutes of Meeting of the Caithness Local Access Forum held in Mowat Room, Assembly Rooms, Wick on Monday 18th June, 2007 at 7.00pm
Present:
Mr Ken Butler (Chairman)
Mr William Bruce (Vice Chairman)
Mr Peter Blackwood
Mr Robert Coghill
Mr Steven Fraser
Mr Chris Hobson
Mrs Elena Koponen-Baikie
Councillor Graeme Smith
Mr David Shaw
Mr George Walker
In Attendance:
Mr Geoff Robson, Head of Environment, HC
Mr David Barclay, Access Officer, HC
Mr George Hamilton, Fisheries Manager HC
Miss Lindsey Duncan, East Coast Ranger
Mrs Fiona Sinclair, Area Solicitor HC (Clerk)
Business
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs Cath Whittles and Mrs Mary Legg.
2. Chairman’s Remarks
The Chairman referred to the successful Pan Highland Local Access Forum Meeting which took place on 9th March 2007 and the talk from Andrew Thin.
He invited Mr Robson to speak on the future of Local Access Forums following the Area boundary changes in the Highlands. Mr Robson explained that the advice from the new Chief Executive is that the status quo will continue in the short to medium term as Core path Planning is too far advanced for the area boundaries to be modified. He also explained that the new Highland Council members on the Local Access Forum are Councillors Graeme Smith and David Bremner.
3. Minutes of Meeting Held on 11th December 2006
The Minutes of the last meeting were held as read. Mr Butler proposed that the minutes be amended subject to an amendement on the second paragraph on the second page of the minute. Mr Butler proposed that the paragraph which states that he hoped to form an action group in Thurso to obtain funding for the repair of storm damaged items, be amended to read that Mr Butler encouraged the formation of such an action group. The Forum so agreed.
4. Update on Storm Damage
Mr Barclay distributed a sheet with a report on various sites damaged in the October storm. The Forum noted the position and cmments were made as follows (Access Officer Report 180607):
River Thurso Path at Halkirk – Mr Blackwood explained that Halkirk Village Council is the lead body in a number of groups trying to repair the Thurso River Path.
River Thurso Footbridge – Mr Robson agreed to find out whether the Council can fix the bridge or not.
Dunnet Bay Access – of the three footbridges, the issue of the two furthest from Castletown being on sandy soil makes replacement unlikely.
Robert Coghill referred to the Wade Bridge at Forss which was damaged in October. Mr Barclay said that the level of use of this bridge by the general public was unknown, and that the bridge had not been brought to his attenition previously.
5. Access Officer’s Report
A copy of Mr Barclay’s report was circulated and was duly noted. The Forum agreed to hold its next meeting on 13th August in Halkirk to dicsuss Core Path Planning.
Land Management Contract Menue Scheme - Geise Farm path – It was suggested that this path might be suitable for a site visit by Forum members prior to further comment from the Forum over what may be an excellent demonstration site.