Glenfinnan Community Council
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Glenfinnan Community Council (GCC) held its monthly meeting on Wednesday September 13 over Zoom and in the Jetty Hut.
Among the issues discussed were:
Issues raised with Highland Council traffic officer Shane Manning and David Devine (Transport Scotland) – It was noted that Shane Manning has positioned 3 radar counters (one each at the eastern and western ends of Glenfinnan plus a third at the end of the Slatach Road).
These cameras merely count but will give an idea of traffic movements in and out of the village at the Slatach/Glen road ends.
Councillor Liz Saggers was thanked for initiating the conversation with David Devine
about concerns from the community over dangerous parking on the verge and community requests for metal barriers.
David has said that they will put in ‘passive bollards’.
Glenfinnan CC chairperson Ally Entwistle also met with Pauline Donaldson of the Highland Council on Tuesday September 5 and they walked the length of the Slatach Road to discuss the possibility of a footpath and signage at the road end to deter motorhomes from turning.
Pauline was dismayed to see the potholes and damage to the Slatach Road end and took photographs of this.
She also went away to:
(i) Chase the double yellow lines
(ii) Explore a possible further reduction in the speed limit through the village
(iii) explore bigger and clearer signage to deter motorhomes and caravans
Pauline also left information about applying for funding for a footpath as this would not be something the Highland Council could afford.
This would involve someone in the community putting in an application to SUSTRANS.
Anyone willing to take this up should get in touch via the GCC inbox glenfinnancommunitycouncil@gm.
It was noted that there had recently been a problem with large coaches including a 61-seater coming down Pier Road regularly. It was suggested that this might be due to the NTS taking a harder line on coach parking.
Games Day – Games day was successful with around £1200 being raised in the tea tent.
Defibrillator
The temporary defibrillator at the Glenfinnan house hotel is up and running while the old one is repaired.
Glenfinnan House Hotel – Glenfinnan House Hotel (GHH) is to be open again in May 2024, under the management of ICMI.
The public car park being run at the GHH over the summer has caused residents quite a lot of disturbance and nuisance, as previously only hotel residents would drive down the Slatach Road to park there.
The car park has brought a lot of extra traffic into the village and caused concerns for pedestrian safety, and now a footpath is being considered.
In a spirit of friendship and openness it was suggested that Norbert Leider of ICMI should meet with the community, or a Zoom meeting arranged, to give the community more of an idea of what is being planned and how it might impact residents.
The GCC agreed that this was a good idea and that an invitation should be sent out.
NTS survey
The GCC sent feedback on the draft survey to EB who took on board that ideally there should be separate sections for local residents and others. The draft online survey will be ready shortly.
SCIO Report – The AGM will be held at the Jetty Hut with cheese and wine on September 20 at 7.30pm. All are welcome.
NTS report
NTS operations manager Emily Bryce reported that as of the week of the meeting there had been 440,000 visitors to the Visitor Centre in 2023.
This compares with 305,000 in 2022 (44 percent more) and 406,000 in the previous busiest year, 2019 (8 percent more).
In August 2023 alone, 97,000 visitors were recorded.
More anti-social behaviour is occurring, particularly with coach drivers giving staff abuse.
Glenfinnan clearly needs proper coach parking facilities and hopefully the transport summit will put forward a better solution.
The double yellow lines seem to be making some difference – police have been enforcing them, removing vehicles and issuing fines.
A deep dive face-to-face survey of up to 500 people was being run by ScotInform. Visit Scotland may put this out on social media.
The NTS is looking to upgrade services including sewage – this will increase the number of toilets and NTS would be willing to put in an out of hours facility in time for high season next year.
NTS would be keen to work with the Highland Council and rural infrastructure fund – the GCC confirmed that this would be welcomed.
NTS needs agreement from the land owner as they need to go across estate land to reach the outfall.
As there is a six month lead-in time this is getting tight. It is in the Highland Council strategy to have a facility here and a letter of support from the GCC would be welcomed.
War Memorial
The first stage of work is complete (base tidied and chips down, rhodies tidied).
Thanks were given to Pat Grieve and Dave Mann for their help on blocking off the layby to allow materials to be delivered and the contractor to gain access.
The contractor will be in touch re: the next stage – the tree trimming.
Date of next meeting – Wednesday October 4.
Photograph: Glenfinnan House Hotel, which sits on the shores of Loch Shiel, is scheduled to reopen in May 2024. NO_F39 Glenfinnan House Hotel_23