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Gartmore Community Council
Date of Meeting: 2nd August 2023
Venue: Gartmore Village Hall
Present: Janet Billett, Mike Houghton-Evans, Colin Scrimgeour, Ian Dinwoodie,
Chris Webster, Wayne Glasse-Davies, Helen Webster (minute taker)
Apologies: Police Scotland
In attendance: Martin Earl, Stirling Councillor, Trossachs and Teith; Peter
Sunderland, Gartmore House Estate
Press: None
Members of Public: 3
Declarations of Interest‐ CS raised a declaration of interest regarding a license
application
1. Adoption of previous meeting(s) minutes
Proposer – MHE
Seconder – WGD
2. Matters Arising
White lines have now appeared at the Cobleland entrance. Re speed limit
signs – Stephen Bly (Community Council Enquiry Coordinator, Stirling
Council) has been in touch to say that due to lack of staff, this has been held
in abeyance.
Parking at the top end of the village is still an issue. ME said Police will get
involved if parking is deemed dangerous or obstructive.
MHE suggested asking the National Park to investigate parking areas outside
the main street to alleviate the pressure on parking and to allow space for
buses, emergency vehicles etc to be able to get through.
ME thought that this wasn’t a Community Council issue and that it was up to
McGill’s or the waste disposal teams to report the issues to Stirling Council.
The drains issue was being dealt with by a motp. They were not present at
the meeting to report.
The SORN vehicle has not been removed. The recipient of the letter from
the CC did not attend the meeting. ME advised the CC to ask Stephen Bly
for an adopted road document which shows the land owned by each property
owner. The owner of the vehicle/property could then be approached in
person and asked to remove the vehicle again. Action : MHE
Bees Wood – Peter Sunderland was in attendance and gave a summary of
what had happened to date. Replanting has to be completed by the end of
June 2024. He plans to start doing this in the winter including putting up a
deer fence and replanting the mix of trees that were there before. PS stated
that he could replant the trees elsewhere. CW asked for clarification if this
was the preferred choice and PS said he didn’t mind either way. A motp in
attendance was asked for his views. He is in discussion with PS about
buying the land himself. If this happens, PS would be required to plant trees
of a similar kind and size elsewhere on Gartmore Estate. In addition, PS
stated that thinning will start in Sow Park in October 2023. He stated that the
license FPA-8747 (expires March 2025) had been approved for thinning and
Nature Scotland had been informed.
3. Matters Arising
ME raised the issue of the UCI Cycling Championships. JB said there is
huge confusion about which roads are closed. ME said there was a number
of issues being raised about the organisation and communication
surrounding the event.
4. Matters for immediate attention. None raised.
5. Planning.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/planning/planning-applications/find-anapplication/
weekly-planning-lists-2023/
Weekly-List-No-27 Dalmeny Cottage – treeworks 2023/0236/TRE – this is at
CS’s house and he had declared his conflict of interest. No objections.
Weekly-List-No-28 Blarnaboard Barn Cottage – stables 2023/0245/DET -
discussion was held as to whether it was usual to erect a built structure in an
unbuilt landscape. ME said it was not unusual but it would be open to
scrutiny. He thought it would be unusual to be objected to. He suggested
that the CC could ask for due process on this. ID will look into this. MP4 and
MP17 should also be looked at. Action : ID
Stirling Council
https://pabs.stirling.gov.uk/online-applications
23_week27 TrossHolPk - Entrance signs – no objections
23_week27 Wardpark - Extension to dwelling house - no objections
23_week28 Benview - 30 lodges – discussion around the loss of the
amenities (shop/garden centre). JB expressed concern about the traffic and
the difficulty with the line of sight currently. Could the new owners be asked
to make a roundabout at this junction? ME said it was relevant for the CC to
express technical decisions re traffic concerns to Stirling Council Planning
Dept. There are public meetings on from 4-7pm on 16th August and 6th Sept
in Buchlyvie Village Hall. CW and MHE will go to the August meeting.
ME reminded the CC that Planning Aid Scotland is available to use.
23_week28 TrossHolPk - relocation of timber tents – no objections
6. Reports‐ External
a. Police Scotland‐ Nothing to report 5th June-29th July.
If there are any issues to discuss, please contact Callander Police Office
on 101 or email TrossachsTeithCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk
ME informed the CC that issues have been raised about the noise of
motorcycles in particular along the A81. This is on Stirling Council and the
Police’s radar. The CC should ask for an update on this from the Police.
VOSA are the body who check the status of bikes and this is done
periodically. Action : CS
b. Elected Member‐ Nothing particular to report other than the ongoing
budget problems. Stirling Council will soon only be able to carry out
statutory work.
c. National Park- No report had been received by David Mackie (LLTTNP).
ME said that the National Park Consultation Plan is nearing fruition in
September and that the CC should take an interest in what is noted there.
7. Reports‐ Internal
a. Treasurers report attached. Thanks were given to Scottish Water for
paying the full amount for the replacement daffodils. Volunteers were
being sought to plant them in the Autumn.
b. Subgroups‐
Steering group café - this is going well and being run twice weekly.
Grant applications are being looked at to allow the café to grow – possibly
for part time staff, equipment etc. Discussions were held as to whether
any excess money from the sale of the shop could be held by the
Community Council in the interim. ME thought the money could be held in
a holding fund. He will confirm this. Action : ME
Village Square – a draft plan will be created soon. Clarification has now
been received that no-one owns the square. King’s and Lord Treasurer
Remembrancer (KLTR) will be contacted. Search and legal fees could be
incurred plus a nominal fee to buy the square. Local authority and NP to
be asked to confirm that they don’t own the land. Action : WGD
c. Chair‐ The action points above were reiterated.
8. Community Council Business
a. Item 1‐ A new agenda and minutes template has been created along with
an Enquiries Procedure and a Complaints Procedure. These were adopted
unanimously.
b. Item 2‐ Village Website – discussion ensued that there is no current village
website and the one that was started by the Community Trust has not been
continued by anyone. Could documents be made available on the Stirling
Council Community Council pages? MHE will ask Stephen Bly about this.
Action : MHE
9. AOB
Defibrillator –JB had been contacted that new pads and a new
battery were needed. The Community Council bought new pads but the
battery is more expensive. The Community Trust were asked if they would
pay and they initially said yes. Friends of Buchlyvie and Aberfoyle
Surgeries have money but no one knows how to access it. The Community
Trust have now asked the CC to look into getting a grant. MHE stated that
the phone box and the defibrillator are community assets and felt these
should be the responsibility of the Community Trust. It was agreed that the
CC should write to the Community Trust to ask them to adopt responsibility
for it. WGD will contact the Community Trust to suggest they apply for a
Community pride grant. Action : WGD
10. Items raised by members of the public
Patient transport services - ME explained that people are now being
quizzed about their needs when they requested this service and this is
causing concern. Some patients are asked if they can get a bus (for
example) when clearly they are too elderly/infirm that they should not be
asked these types of questions. If patients are turned down, they can
appeal. An item in the Gartmore News would be good. Action : JB/CS
11. Date, time, and venue of next meeting –
October 4th, 7.30pm, Large Meeting Room, Gartmore Village Hall