Action Note - Tain and Easter Ross (Ward 8)
Meeting held on Thursday 29 May 2008 in Nigg Village Hall, Nigg
Present:
Cllr Richard Durham (Chair)
Cllr Alan Torrance
Hamish Mackenzie – Tarbat Community Council
Richard Cross – Nigg & Shandwick Community Council
George Dobbie, Kilmuir and Logie Easter Community Council
John Scott, – Fearn Community Council
Angus Scobbie - Balintore and Hilton Community Council
Liz Whiteford - Fearn Peninsula Partnership
Fiona Robertson, Tain initiative Group
Inspector Neil MacKinnon – Northern Constabulary
Squadron Leader John Gilbert - RAF
Caroline MacAskill - Ward Manager Tain & Easter Ross
17 Members of the Public
Apologies
Cllr Alasdair Rhind
Ian Hargrave, Corporate Manager – Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Roddy Robertson – Tain Community Council
Sarah Lumb – Inver Community Council
KALE Action Group
Seaboard Initiative
1. Cllr Durham welcomed the Forum and Members of the Public to the Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum. The Members of the Forum introduced themselves to the member of the public present.
2. Feedback on Action Points from Ward Forum held on 24 April 2008
The Ward Manager reported that further questions were raised in relation to the feedback received from the last Ward Forum and further clarification had been requested. When the final feedback is received the information will be distributed to the Forum Members and posted in the Council’s Website. Feedback has now been finalised and is contained in Appendix 1.
Inspector MacKinnon provided a map detailing the Area Command Boundaries which showed that there was a line which defined the boundary at Kildary. The line followed the Balnagowan River – North and North East of the line is covered by the Tain Police Station with the area South of the Line is covered by Alness & Invergorodn Police Station.
3. Need for Low Flying Training – Presentation by Squadron Leader John Gilbert, RAF
Squadron Leader John Gilbert introduced himself to the Forum and Members of the Public outlining his previous career with the RAF and confirming the he is now the Public Relations Officer for Scotland and is based in Dumfries and Galloway.
During the presentation Squadron Leader Gilbert played a short video which outlined the history of the RAF which celebrated their 90 year anniversary this year.
Squadron Leader Gilbert went on to explain that low flying needs to be practices on a regular basis in order to retain essential skills and that the Government requires fighting forces to be fast reacting and therefore skills need to be developed and retained.
Low Level flying is classed as below 2000ft. Although a Hercules Aircraft can fly at 150ft when training but will fly lower during combat.
Flying at a low level needs a lot of training to prepare and be ready for possible conflict.
Safety is always paramount when undertaking training and one of the concerns when organising training is the weather – training is more likely to take place during good weather when there is improved visibility.
Squadron Leader Gilbert confirmed that the RAF are not permitted to fly in controlled air space i.e., airports, Nuclear Power Stations, hospital or theatres which are in the country. The Government do not allow the RAF to fly below 200ft over towns or cities which have a population of over 10,000.
North Scotland is a tactical training area which allows fast jets to fly at 100ft.
Squadron Leader Gilbert went to explain that simulators do not allow for the physical effects that happen when flying the aircraft and this is why there is a need for training. The training allows the pilots to understand and adjust to “G” Forces which can have an affect on eye sight, balance, disorientation and motion sickness.
Pilots are monitored during flying training for both safety and to ensure that they are not flying over areas that are out of bounds.
There are reciprocal arrangements with NATO which allows British Air Forces to fly in their space equally NATO Forces use British landscape for training.
Squadron Leader Gilbert explained that there is equitable flying over the UK as oppose to some other countries who undertake low flying only in specific areas.
Tain is an area with a bombing range with the result that there can be increased activity in this, and other areas, which have bombing ranges. There are regulations on the number of aircraft at a bombing range at any one time (fewer than 4 aircraft). The range at Tain is open from 9am to 10pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 2pm on a Friday. There is no limitation to the numbers that can use the bombing range per day.
If there is a complaint in relation to activity from the RAF the details of the complaint should include the date and time (this information is imperative to allow investigation), direction and aircraft type (if possible) along with details of the damage caused.
Any claims against the RAF need to be completed as soon as possible and should include evidence and statements from independent witnesses (where applicable).
Compensation will be paid for valid claims.
A question was raised by the Forum in relation to Community Benefit – it was recognised that the larger bases based at Lossiemouth and Kinross provide visual economic benefit to the surrounding towns a villages which are used by the Servicemen and their families. It was explained that there are benefits from the range in Tain in form of employment for local residents. Any monitory gain for communities would be a political decision.
Information was requested of the relative intensity usage for the Highlands, specifically Tain and Easter Ross, so that this information can be shared with communities given the amount of aircraft activity in the area.
It was asked that the Highland Council write to the Ministry of Defence statistical information that will compare activity at Easter Ross with other bombing ranges. Information is to be requested as to the number of aircraft booked into Area 14 (which covers the whole of Scotland) compared to the number who used the range. A letter is to be sent to Squadron Leader Gilbert who will arrange for the details requested to be investigated.
4. Community Safety
Inspector Neil MacKinnon advised that there had been no significant incidents since the last meeting.
A question was raised in relation to the ratio of police to people in the community. Inspector MacKinnon confirmed that there is an imbalance in the Highlands and that this information will be brought to a future Ward Forum.
Concern was expressed in relation to cover to the Tain Police Station, particularly that the station was covered by Caithness when not manned. Inspector MacKinnon confirmed that cover would come from Alness and Invergordon, if required, to assist in Tain.
5. Members Feedback from HQ Committees
Appendix 2 contains details of reports, relating to the Ward that went before the Highland Council Strategic Committees since the last Ward Forum.
6. Date, Location and Topic of Next Ward Forum
The next meeting will be for Forum Members only on 3 July 2008 at the Royal Hotel, Tain when a review of the Forums over the last year will take place and a programme of forums for the future year will be agreed.
9. AOCB
Consultation on Community Councils from the Scottish Government – it was requested that this consultation document be considered at a Ward Forum with a brief discussion to gauge agreement/comment from Tain and Easter Ross Community Councils.
Information was available to the Forum in relation to:
Physical Activity Consultation with a request that the questionnaires be taken away and completed so that the information can be fed back and be considered in a future Physical Activity Strategy to be presented to Highland Councillors
Leader Funding – a briefing paper was available explaining the funding available.
A copy of the Members Leaflet was available to Forum Members and Members of the Public to take away along with a booklet detailing the Highland Council Membes and Senior Managers.
The recent Preliminery Consultation on the Nigg Yard Masterplan which took place on 27 May 2008 was discussed with the explanation that this had bern organised for information gathering. Halcrow and MacKay are now in the process of preparing a report from event which will be sent to all those invited to attend. The report will provide details of what was discussed. Halcrow and MacKay will then be tasked with producing a Materplan which will be reported to the Planning, Environmental and Development Committee before going for approval to the Highland Council. Following this there will be a period of Publci Consultation. The information will then be advertised in European Journals looking for a preferred bidder.
9. Questions and Action Points
A question was received in advance of the Forum. The questions and the Council’s response are contained in Appendix 3.
In response to a question raised in relation to the need for a pan Highland Development Plan it was confirmed that a requirement of the new Scottish Planning Act Structure Plan (Strategic Plan) that there is an overarching Plan of the whole of the Highlands. However, Local Plans, which are currently in place, will not be reviewed for 5 years and these will be open to consultation before being adopted. If further information is required in relation to this matter local planning officials should be approached.
The following action points are to be progressed before the next meeting:
- Letter to be sent to Ministry of Defence requesting statistical information relating to flying activity in Tain and Easter Ross
- Information to be brought from Northern Constabulary in relation to ratio of police to people in the community.
Action Points which require a response from the last Ward Forum are:
- Investigations are to be made as to whether a Local Letting Initiative can be adopted by the Highland Council
- A quicker turn around of vacant properties for rent within the council is requested with performance information being provided to future Forums
- When considering the allocation of properties in Portmahomack can quotas be agreed beforehand and can these be reported to a future Ward Forum.
- Can the Housing statistical information for Portmahomack be available for the next Forum.