Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
Present: E. Meyer, J. Morrison, J. Blanco, A. Walker, A. Marsham, K. Black, L. Black, S. Blanco, L. Glob, H. MacLellan, D. Morrison, F. Morrison, J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat, K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat, B. Meyer-Damm, C. Smith, J. Whitelaw
In attendance: F. Keith (Highland Council), K.
MacRae (Durness Community Council), C. McCowan (Auditor), E. Seki (The Arkleton
Centre for Rural Development Research, University of Aberdeen)
1. Apologies for
absence and Introduction:
Apologies for absence received from G. Marsham, I. Black, J. Mackay, J. Dale, J. Clark, W. Ewing, N. Ross, J. Watt, J. Thurso, U. Smith, R. Grant, J. Stone, J. Watson
Proxies received from G. Marsham, I. Black.
E. Meyer welcomed everyone present at the meeting.
2. Amendment to Minutes of Inaugural Meeting, 14th December, 2001
Point 7.3.4 – Membership
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat wished to include in the minutes his comment that the electoral roll is not a reliable basis for defining residence, citing the inclusion on a previous roll of a person called Colin MacLennan, who turned out to be non-existent.
Point 9.2 - Election of Vice-Chair
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat wished to include in the minutes his comment that he feels there is no conflict of interest between the Laid Grazings Committee and the Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con Residents’ Association.
The Minutes have been amended accordingly.
E. Meyer mentioned the establishment of the Association, and said that letters had been sent on this matter to all residents, all non-residents with interest in Laid affairs, MSPs W. Ewing, R. Grant and J. Stone, MP J. Thurso, MEP I. Hudghton, N. Ross (Scottish Land Fund), J. Watt (HIE), J. Watson (CASE), P. Buchanan CASE), R. Perret (SERAD), S. Fraser (Solicitor), D. Inglis (Police), U. Smith (Crofters Commission), I. McGaskall (Crofters Commission), I. Wilson (Durness Estate), J. Rennilson (Highland Council), I. Rideout (Scottish Crofting Foundation), F. Mackenzie (The Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research, University of Aberdeen), G. Fagan (CADISPA), to newspapers (Northern Times, Am Bratach, Press & Journal, Independent, West Highland Free Press, Guardian and Sunday Herald).
He stated that Executive Committee meetings were held once a month.
He reported that he had a meeting with D. and L. MacLellan, at their house, which was interrupted and curtailed by outside intervention.
He had sent a letter to K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat, as Chair of Laid Grazings Committee, proposing regular meetings. Two meetings already held, one in January, one in February. They agreed to meet on regular basis. Topics discussed so far: proposed buyout, heritage trail, wind farm, residence qualification, Laid postal address. K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat invited member of Residents’ Association to join meetings of Laid Grazings Committee. It was pointed out that Laid Grazings Committee members are nearly all members of Residents’ Association.
Decision taken at Executive Committee of Residents’ Association that possible split of Laid from Durness was undesirable.
Matter of non-residents joining Residents’ Association also discussed at Executive Committee meeting. Decision taken that they could be Associate Members.
Calls received from A. Crawford, Sunday Herald, regarding resignation of members of Steering Group for proposed buyout, and from S. Restan, Press & Journal, regarding recent events in Laid, including police involvement.
Executive Committee members attended Durness Community Council meeting in January to present Residents’ Association. Executive Committee member A. Marsham will attend DCC meetings on regular basis as Residents’ Association observer/representative. An exchange of minutes of Executive Committee meetings and DCC meetings was agreed, in order to be better informed about DCC and Laid affairs.
Letter sent to N. Ross, Scottish Land Fund, to present correct information about Residents’ Association’s position on proposed buyout.
Residents’ Association is in process of setting up own website under Laid heading, organised by R. Lansley.
E-mail address has also been set up.
E. Meyer has been contacted by BBC Scotland, who are planning to visit Laid this summer to report on life in a small community.
A meeting was held between the Executive Committee and J. Thurso, MP.
A meeting was held between E. Seki of Arkelton Research Centre, Univ. of Aberdeen, and S. and J. Blanco, in Laid, to discuss current situation in Laid.
A meeting with Chair of CASE is being arranged for April or May.
Executive Committee meetings will be arranged for set dates and will be publicised.
Buyout was discussed for first time at last Executive Committee meeting, 11th March.
Some unpleasant occurrences have arisen since Residents’ Association’s inaugural meeting on 14th December. These include: committee members reported needlessly to police, matchsticks in car locks, car scratched, complaint sent to Electoral Registration Officer about residence status, unsavoury article in Am Bratach about election at inaugural meeting.
Comments made on report of Chair:
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said that S. Marshall and S. Block had not received information from Residents’ Association.
E. Meyer said that this would be corrected, once the address of S. Block had been obtained. S. Marshall had been contacted and invited to the AGM.
H. MacLellan stated that he had nothing to do with the article that appeared in Am Bratach in March. Copy of letter from H. MacLellan to F. Keith passed to Secretary for filing.
4. Report of Secretary
Letters received from:
1. I. Wilson (Durness Estate) - 4 letters received.
a. Reply to information sent by Chair on formation of Residents’ Association on 24th December 2001. Acknowledgement and expression of desire to work closely with Residents’ Association. I. Wilson believes that the Residents’ Association ‘more correctly represents the aspirations of the Laid Community’.
b. Letter enclosing copy of letter I. Wilson received from Durness Community Council, rejecting offer of land buyout.
c. Letter enclosing copy of letter I. Wilson received from Durness Grazings Committee, rejecting offer of land buyout.
d. Letter enclosing copy of letter I. Wilson sent to J. Whitelaw, Secretary Laid Community Group, expressing concern at strained community relations in Laid, and stating that he was not willing to meet either Laid Community Group or Residents’Association until differences were resolved. Also asked Laid Community Group for terms of reference of feasibility study.
2. Letter received from J. Morrison, 96 Laid
She asked about payment of membership fees. She had received incorrect information from another resident, and Secretary wrote to her correcting this misinformation, stating that as a pensioner she would not have to pay any fees. Subject to be raised again under point 20.
3. Letter received from H. MacLellan, 90 Laid
He asked for copies of letters sent by the Residents’ Association to I. Wilson and N. Ross in which his name was mentioned. He was told that no such letter had been written by the Secretary to either of these persons, in which his name was mentioned. Secretary said the only letters she had written to I. Wilson and N. Ross were the invitations to the present AGM.
E. Meyer said he could clarify this matter, and read a letter Chair had sent to N. Ross.
Matters arising from Executive Committee meeting
in February
1. Cleaning up of the ground in front of the post box and notice board in Laid:
Point discussed at Executive Committee meeting in February. Secretary asked to write to local councillor to find out who was responsible for land. F. Keith replied on 22nd February that land belonged to Durness Estate and was part of Laid Common Grazings. Land comes under jurisdiction of Laid Grazings Committee. He suggested several options (fence with gate, gravel/tarmac over area, or alternatively moving post box and notice board to area away from muddy area). Matter referred to Executive Committee meeting in March and decision taken to refer matter to Laid Grazings Committee. Letter sent to Chair of Laid Grazings Committee on this matter on 15th March. Reply received from Chair Laid Grazings Committee that matter would be tabled at their next meeting. Owners of School House, Mr. and Mrs. S. Marshall, have been apprised of the situation, and have given their consent to any action that needs to be taken.
2. Recycling centre in Durness:
Point raised at Executive Committee meeting in February. Letter sent to Durness Community Council about possibility of locating recycling centre at refuse site in Durness. Matter discussed at DCC, and reply given that Highland Council will provide containers but will not collect contents, and that central government does not give recycling companies sufficient incentive to collect waste for recycling. Matter put on hold.
5. Report of Treasurer
A. Walker stated that an account had been opened, and that the financial year would be 1st January to 31st December. A cheque of £200 had been received from the Highland Council.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat expressed concern about money being supplied by Vibel or F. Keith, and expressed his belief that sources of funding should be independent.
A Walker stressed that the £200 was received from the Highland Council start-up grant, not F. Keith. This was confirmed by F. Keith stating that it was a Highland Council cheque he had provided, as normal in such start-up situations, not his private money.
He made a strong objection to K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat’s implication that the Residents’ Association was being funded by Vibel.
6. Report of Auditor
Nothing to report.
7. Election of Executive Committee
E. Meyer stated that the current Executive Committee members had only served three months, and asked meeting if they were happy for them to continue until AGM of 2003. There was no dissension.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said it was a pity that someone from Laid Grazings Committee was not on Executive Committee of Residents’ Association.
E. Meyer said that H. MacLellan had been allowed to stand, despite Constitution regulation not allowing an Office Bearer of another local organisation which could cause a conflict of interest to be on the Executive Committee of the Residents’ Association, and that he had been defeated.
C. Smith expressed his unhappiness at the Chair of the Residents’ Association, as he believed he did not fulfil the eligibility regulation.
E. Meyer said that he would read the paper he had received from the Electoral Registration Office regarding rules of residency later.
S. Blanco said the same thing applied to other residents, eg. John Whitelaw, who was on the electoral roll, but not often in Laid.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said this was untrue, as J. Whitelaw had dinner with him every week.
J. Whitelaw said he had received a letter from the Electoral Registration Officer about this matter.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat suggested that S. Blanco had been the person who had reported him
S. Blanco strongly denied this.
C. Smith also stated that he has been speaking to people who have been unhappy about E. Meyer being Chair of Residents’ Association, but could not name names when asked by the Chair.
8. Appointment of Auditors
Accepted by C. McCowan.
9. Agenda request by J. Morrison, 96 Laid
Animals on road
E. Meyer said she should approach Laid Grazings Committee on this matter.
10. Agenda request by L. Glob, 105 Laid
a. Water supply - taste of excessive chlorine in water.
A. Walker suggested there was not enough supervision on chlorine inclusion.
J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said that NOSWA were in fact testing the water, but that it was not working, ie. they were not doing the right thing.
A decision was taken to write to NOSWA, to see what could be done.
b. Power cable - suggestion that cables be buried - view spoiled.
C. Smith said that Hydroelectric had been asked to put them elsewhere, but they did not.
E. Meyer said he had had his cables buried, but at own expense.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat suggested that a point could be made about spoiling tourism.
A decision was made to write to Hydroelectric to ask them to bury the power cables.
c. Laid notice board - this point to be discussed under point 17.
11. Agenda request by J. Whitelaw, 100 Laid
a. Passing places – to be enlarged as in other places, eg. Kinlochbervie.
E. Meyer said Roads Dept. had no money available.
J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat suggested a letter be written to the Roads Dept.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said the number of poles at passing places not sufficient or missing.
F. Keith said this might be possible to remedy.
b. Bends in roads / roads should be widened
E. Meyer said he had met with D. Inglis (Police), and the police had warned people to drive more slowly.
c. Speed restriction.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said Laid Grazings Committee had sent an official letter to Roads Dept.
E. Meyer said this matter had to go before MSPs and Transport Dept.
F. Keith said in order to have speed restriction the village had to have shops, school, etc.
d. Footpaths and cycle paths.
Decision to refer matters to Roads Dept.
E. Meyer said water pressure in Laid not high enough.
J. Whitelaw said that fire hydrants were legally compulsory
H. MacLellan said that fire brigade would not arrive in time to prevent fire, also that hydrants could be operated on low water pressure.
Decision taken to write to Highland and Islands Fire Brigade about possibility of installing hydrants.
L. Black said she could supply their address.
12. Agenda request by K. and J. MacKenzie Hillcoat, 92 Laid
a. Laid water quality - see above
b. Winkle pickers
J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat asked for support, because winkle pickers very rude and aggressive when they want to cross through crofts to shore.
S. Blanco said that at Durness Community Council meeting in January, I. Mackay said she had given them permission to cross her croft.
E. Meyer said Laid Grazings Committee should write to I. Mackay to clarify situation.
A. Walker said the police did not pay enough attention to matter.
J. Morrison said they were not necessarily committing a crime. She said she has asked them not to go through her croft, and they do not, but she reserves the right to allow them or not to cross her croft.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said the winkle pickers were not locals, but from South, and asked for support to prevent them getting access to shore.
E. Meyer suggested that if every croft was fenced in, they would not have access.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat replied that the winkle pickers are very cunning and they say they have permission. He stressed that everyone should totally oppose them crossing people’s crofts.
d. MOD quarries
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said they are an eyesore and should be filled in, and tidied up by the people who built them. The MOD had made them without permission, and a letter should be written to them. Also people should be discouraged from dropping rubbish in them.
e. NOSWA parking place
For weekly water testing they park in driveway of K. and J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat. There should be a parking place on the other side of the road.
E. Meyer said land is common grazings and so Laid Grazings Committee should deal with it, e. g. provide some land in order to create car parking space for NOSWA.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat suggested that Residents’ Association should write a letter to NOSWA.
E. Meyer said that since it is a matter of parking space to be created on common grazing land Laid Grazings Committee should take this up.
A. Walker said there was a safety factor, and that the police should be notified.
L. Black said that when they come down to Port-Na-Con, NOSWA park in their drive.
f. Post Box - see point 17
g. Meeting with J. Thurso
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat objected that he had not been invited to this meeting.
E. Meyer told him that it was a meeting between Executive Committee of Residents’ Association and J. Thurso. L. Black had also been asked to attend as she had specific information to impart.
Secretary pointed out that the meeting was held at her house, and that there was not room sufficient for all residents.
P
g. Membership of Grazings Committee
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat stressed that we should be working together, and that a member of Executive Committee. of the Residents’ Association should be on Laid Grazings Committee and Laid Community Group. This was an official invitation, and there should be an official member. He asked that a member of Executive Committee of the Residents’ Association be nominated to Laid Grazings Committee.
C. Smith said he had heard that some people in Laid were anti-crofting and anti-buyout. He said there should be cooperation.
S. Blanco said that he was not anti-crofting, but did not see any crofting being carried out in Laid. Also, he had been told that there had been no crofting in Laid since second world war.
E. Meyer said that there were difficulties between certain members of the two Associations. He also asked Chair of Laid Grazings Committee for a copy of Laid Grazings Committee Constitution, and was told that he could get one from the Crofters Commission.
E. Meyer asked why the Laid Grazings Committee constitution stated that the Laid Grazings Committee AGM had to be held in March of each year, and theirs was scheduled for 6th April.
H. MacLellan said that they had been given permission by the Crofters Commission to postpone meeting.
h. Membership of Laid Community Group
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat offered an official invitation for an Executive Committee member to join Laid Community Group.
13. Agenda request by C. Smith
a. Speed restrictions – (see above) and Animal warning signs –
E. Meyer asked the police about this matter and was told that signs have to be approved by Scottish Parliament. Before that nothing can be done about them. He suggested that owners of animals could put up their own signs.
J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat asked if permission was required to put up signs.
C. Smith said that if they were temporary, no permission was needed.
b. Laid notice board - see point 17
c. Future meetings to be in Laid
E. Meyer said that meetings had to be held in a public place, and that the only public place is Durness Village Hall or Durness Primary School. C. Smith’s tearoom is not strictly speaking a public place.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat disagreed, stating that he believed the tearoom to be a public place, and that the meetings should be held in Laid.
E. Meyer disagreed with this.
F. Keith and K. MacRae said that, for example, hotels in Durness are not classed as public places, but that Durness Village Hall is the local village hall for Laid as well as Durness.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat stated his objection to having the meeting in Durness.
14. Agenda request by H. MacLellan
a. Fire hydrants - see above
b. Laid postal address - see point 16
d. Pathway to D.and J. Morrison’s house
Rail and steps have been authorised but nothing done about it. Suggestion made that the authorities are waiting for better weather.
F. Keith said if it came under ‘care and repair’ scheme, it would get done and that Residents’ Association should not interfere.
Suggestion made that J. Morrison contact the NWS Information Service.
C. McCowan said that she would make enquiries since she is a member of the Committee and knows that rail and steps have been authorised. There could be a hold up because of the change of financial year.
e. Low flying
Secretary unable to hear what was said by Hugh MacLellan on this point
f. Yellow caravan
Request to remove it. Laid Grazings Committee had requested it before.
E. Meyer said problem is that it is on private property
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat suggested that a letter be written by Residents’ Association to Mr. Watson, the owner of the caravan, to request that it be removed.
E. Meyer said that he had no address of Mr. Watson
g. Cell net mast
Letter written to cellnet.
J. Blanco asked J. Clark about matter, and was told that there were still ‘technical problems’ with second mast, but that it should be connected by the summer.
L. Black asked if the old one would be removed.
h. Roadside ditching
Secretary unable to hear what was said by Hugh MacLellan on this point
i. Signpost to Laid
E. Meyer said it was a matter of official sign policy.
F. Keith said that, as people had to pass through Laid from Durness to Tongue, sign posting not necessary.
Suggestion that letter be sent to Roads Dept to include Laid on signs, and when replacement signs are made Laid will be included.
j. Superquarry
H. MacLellan asked for the opinion of residents on superquarry.
E. Meyer thought it was not a viable business proposition.
S. Blanco said he was against superquarry and that he had previously told F. Keith and K. MacRae of his opinion.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said the Residents’ Association should add its voice to the opposition, and that it should adopt this as its official position.
J. Morrison said Residents’ Association had not discussed superquarry and was not in a position to take such a decision without a vote.
L. Black asked F. Keith if, since the superquarry was in the Highland Structure Plan, the price of property would be affected.
F. Keith said that, in his opinion, the value of property would increase because of workers moving to the area seeking housing.
F. Keith also said that it would be necessary to have the application before Council before forming an opinion.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat cited the case of the Watsons (owners of yellow caravan) who were going to build a place to live, and were put off by proposed superquarry.
K. MacRae said that even crofter J. Sutherland was impressed when returning to a visit to the superquarry.
Vote on superquarry postponed - matter to be raised again next time.
J. Morrison said she had not made up her mind.
F. Keith issued invitation to Laid residents to visit quarry in Ross-shire, when the next opportunity arose.
The invitation was accepted. Since only three places are available E. Meyer, A. Walker and K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat will be join F. Keith and visit the superquarry.
k. Aquaculture plan
No satisfactory answer had been given.
E. Meyer requested a copy of the plan and of a study which was made.
F. Keith said that the Council had got an award for the plan.
15. Agenda request by M. Ross
Use of Cape Wrath range
Petition drafted against use. Passed round for individual members to sign, if they so wished.
E. Meyer stressed that this was nothing to do with the Residents’ Association.
16. Laid Postal Address
E. Meyer said that this was not satisfactory at present. The Post Office states that the postal address should refer to the next postal town (Lairg), but they are willing to add either Loch Eriboll or Durness.
L. Black said that mail coming via Durness arrives 2 days late.
D. Morrison said that the postal address used to be Durness and should not have been changed.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said that J. Thurso had taken the matter up with the PO and that they had agreed to Loch Eriboll being included.
J. Blanco stated that if 75% of people at meeting were in favour of specific change, the PO would agree.
A. Walker thought that Sutherland could be omitted and that the post code would be sufficient, as the system was computerised.
L. Black pointed out that there was often a problem with the computerised system.
It was agreed that when all residents received these minutes, they should also be asked to write down what they would prefer as the address.
17. Laid letter box and notice board
Of the options suggested by F. Keith in reply to Secretary’s letter on the matter, J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat preferred tarmac.
S. Blanco suggested that the post box be moved to the area beside the telephone booth.
This was seconded by K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat.
Permission from the PO would be needed to move post box and the suggestion made to apply for Community Action Grant, by writing to George Sharp outlining the proposal.
E. Meyer said he had the address. It was suggested that the notice board be moved to the same location, and that a new board be obtained (included in the grant). It should be a waterproof notice board.
18. Laid website
E. Meyer said Laid presentation to be on Durness website.
R. Lansley explained what it entailed - domain name (www.laid.org.uk), a site similar to that of the Durness website, with same context and style, e-mail addresses, web space.
E. Meyer said that Durness website had been very professionally done. When more developments were made, residents would be kept informed.
19. Associate Membership
E. Meyer said this topic had arisen because of the case of D. and E. MacLellan specifically, and others, although, when approached in writing, nobody had replied or indicated that they wished to be Associate Members. They could not have a vote since this is regulated by the constitution.
Suggestion made that this matter be put on website, and people can become Associate Members if they wish.
E. Meyer said he had been reported to the Electoral Registration Office that he was not a resident, and at this point he read a section of a letter he had received from the Electoral Registration Office confirming his status as resident in UK. C. Smith had raised the matter previously, querying E. Meyer’s residence status, but was no longer present at the meeting.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat was unconvinced, and stated that he did not agree with the government paper on residency. He still did not think E. Meyer qualified as a resident.
20. Membership fees
It was decided at the Executive Committee meeting that pensioners and registered unemployed residents should not pay any fee.
It was decided that all others should be asked to contribute £10.00 per year. Voluntary donations would also be gratefully received. In due course a letter would be sent to all residents about fees together with the minutes ofthe AGM.
The annual fee of £10.00 was agreed by everybody present.
21. Buyout
E. Meyer said he had written a letter to N. Ross on this matter on 7th February
S. Blanco asked what householders had to do with the buyout, and why they, as well as crofters, had to have an input. He stated that he was not against the buyout, but wanted to wait and see how the company was formed.
K. MacKenzie-Hillcoat said he wanted everyone to contribute.
A. Walker cautioned against going in too quickly, and warned that community would be buying barren land.
S. Blanco mentioned that the feasibility study had not yet been issued, and wished to wait and see what it recommended.
E. Meyer cited the example of Gigha, as reported in the press, which was not favourable.
No decision was taken at this meeting and no information regarding the current situation of the buy-out was volunteered by committee members of the Laid Community Group.
<