Agendas, reports and minutes
Skye And Lochalsh Local Access Forum
Date: Friday, 29 August 2014
Minutes: Read the Minutes
Minute of the Meeting of Skye and Lochalsh Local Access Forum held in Tigh Na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree, on Friday 28 February 2014 at 2.00pm.
Present:
Mr Peter Elford, Mr Brian Linington, Mr Ally Macaskill, Ms Nicola Rust, Mrs Audrey Sinclair, Mr Bruce Taylor, Mr Jim Towers and Mr Robert Ware
Also in attendance:
Mr Alaisdair H Mackenzie, Legal Manager, Highland Council (Clerk)
Mr Donald Kennedy, Access Officer, Highland Council
Mr John Phillips, Senior Countryside Ranger, Highland Council
Mrs Catriona Leslie, Portree Community Council
Mrs Irene Hepburn, Portree Community Council
Mr J MacLeod
(In the Chair – Mr Brian Linington)
1. Apologies for Absence
Mr John Gordon
2. Confirmation of Minute
The minute of the meeting of the Local Access Forum held on 6 September 2013, a copy of which had been circulated, was approved.
3. Highland Core Path Implementation Programme Update
The Access Officer made a presentation to the Forum as follows:
HCPIP Programme of Works Progress
Phase I (2010-11) Phase 3 (2012-13)
Idrigill, Uig £2,160.00 Healaval Forest Dunvegan £7,764.00
Uig Woodland £1,982.00 Edinbane to Greshornish £3,892.00
Rubha Hunish £15,282.00 Corran ROW, Glenelg £6,947.00
Talisker to Fiskavaig ROW £7,564.00
Phase 2 (2011-12) HCPIP 1 closed down
HCPIP2
Elgol Circular £9,201.80 Balmaqueen Coastal £4,613.00
Inverinate Forest £9,348.00 Earlish to Cuidrach ROW £3,979.00
Struan Link £2,273.25
Kyleakin Salt £2,247.30
Marsh Path
The Access Officer reported as follows:
-
The Earlish to Cuidreach path was now completed.
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HCPIP – Programme of Works Progress - Signage
15 of the 17 routes had been signed under HCPIP 2.
-
HCPIP Programme of Works Progress – Leaflets
Paths around Dunvegan had been printed and delivered.
Paths around Sleat had been printed and delivered.
-
HCPIP 2 – Extension of time
- Final Invoices had to be in by the end of August;
- Only projects approved by the Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee could be considered;
- All path projects are completed in Skye and Lochalsh but it was hoped to carry out work on the Dalavil path
which had been held as a reserve. The work would involve re-aligning the path to avoid four burn crossing points;
- The Corran Information Panel would also be included.
The Forum noted the position.
Action by: DK
4. Local Access Issues
There had been circulated Report No. SLLAF-01-14 by the Access Officer detailing local access issues in Skye and Lochalsh as follows:-
SL03.11/01 Public Access, Strollamus
Background
The Access Officer (AO) had received a complaint from a member of the public regarding a sign deterring public access at the start of the Strollamus to Torrin Right of Way which also links to the Strollamus to Luib Core Path. The AO visited the land manager who explained that the sign had been put up following a number of incidents of dogs out of control and gates being left open.
Current Status
The sign has been removed. The land manager has not accepted an offer of signs explaining management issues.
The Forum noted the position.
Action by: DK
SL13.26/01 Estate Sign, Cluanie to Loch Loyne Old Road
Background
The AO had received a complaint from a member of the public regarding the permanent nature of a ‘Deer Cull in Progress’ sign
Current Status
Since writing the Report the AO had been in contact with the land manager who had indicated that consideration would be given to taking the sign down when there was no stalking over a period of time. The AO would monitor the situation.
The Forum noted the position.
Action by: DK
SL16.08 Public access to Cave of Gold, Borneskitaig
Background
Further to issues regarding this route raised at previous forum meetings the land manager had contacted the AO to ascertain what measures could be taken to alleviate problems of visitors disturbing livestock.
Current Status
Signage encouraging visitors wanting to access the headland to follow a way marked route is being discussed between the AO and the land manager. If proposals can be agreed the AO will have the signs made up and supply waymarkers.
The Forum noted the position.
Action by: DK
SL27.03/01 Informal Camping, Uig Woodland Core Path
Background
The AO received a complaint from a local resident regarding a group of approximately 8 people camping in the woodland near to the path. An open fire could be seen and loud music could be heard. The AO and S&L Senior Ranger visited the site the following day and advised the group of their responsibilities regarding camp fires and litter. A further site visit after the group had left revealed that bark has been stripped from a tree in the area of the camp fire and graffiti applied to the exposed trunk. A small amount of litter was evident in the area of the camp fire.
Current Status
The land owner, The Woodland Trust, have been informed of the incident and a local representative for the Trust will be monitoring the situation.
The Forum noted the position.
Action by: DK
The AO provided a verbal report on the following access issues.
SL24.02/01 Public Access, Ord
Background
Since buying Ord House in 2011, the current owners have disputed the right of members of the public to be on a short linking path within their grounds with measures such as signage and locked gates to discourage access deployed at various times since then.
Current Status
At present there is no obstruction to access The AO received a letter from land agents acting on behalf of the landowner proposing a re-routing of the path to divert access takers away from the front of the house where the route runs close to the parking and patio area.
The Forum agreed to conduct a site visit.
Action by: DK/AHM
Safety Warning Signs, Fairy Pools and Trotternish Ridge.
Background
The Access Officer had been contacted by the leader of the local mountain rescue team proposing signage for the Fairy Pools path where there have been incidents of access takers being unable to cross rapidly rising burns on their return from the pools and those ill equipped and inexperienced becoming lost whilst taking access to the Trotternish Ridge.
Current Status
Possible wording for such signage is currently being considered.
The Forum noted the position.
Action by: DK
5. AOCB
5.1 Membership
The Access Officer announced that Mr Rob Ware had been appointed to the Forum.
The Forum noted the position.
5.2 Timber Harvesting – Bernera and Glenelg
Mr Bruce Taylor advised off the above which would affect some core paths. Advisory signs would be in place but a section of core path on the Ratagan Road would have to be closed as there was no alternative.
The Forum noted the position.
5.3 John Muir Trust
Mr A Macaskill advised that the JMT were carrying out a footpath consultation, focusing on the Bla Bhienn footpath from Loch Slapin, in Broadford Hotel on 12 March.
The Forum noted the position.
5.4 Footpath to Oronsay at Ullinish
Mr Peter Elford reported that this path would soon be inaccessible.
The Forum noted that the AO would investigate.
5.5 Walking Strategy for Scotland
Mr Jim Towers reported that Minginish Community Council would be advising Rona Gibb, of Paths for All, who was putting together a revised draft of a “Walking Strategy for Scotland”, that it was the Community Council’s view that a system of paths (core paths) sufficient for the purpose of giving the public reasonable access throughout their area, as required under the Core Path Plan, were not being met in numerous communities in the Minginish area, where there are no walking opportunities beyond the township roads.
5.6 Hillphone Scheme
The Chair advised that SNH were withdrawing funding for this scheme.
The Forum noted the position.
6. Date of Next Meeting
The Forum agreed that the next Meeting be held in Portree in September 2014 on a date to be agreed by the Clerk in consultation with the Chairman. (Subsequently fixed for 2.00pm on 26 September 2014 in the Chamber, Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree.)
Action by: AHM
The meeting closed at 1540 hrs.
- Item 4 SLLAF-02-14 Report, 25.43 KB