Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
held on 11th March, 2002, at 18.00 at 89 Laid
Present: E.
Meyer, A. Walker, J. Blanco, A. Marsham
In attendance: R.
Lansley
Apologies for absence: Jean
Morrison
1. Minutes of Committee Meeting, Monday, 11th
February, 2002 at 89 Laid
Approved.
2. Website
R. Lansley said that Laid Residents’ Association could have a page on the Durness website. He said the Association could put on it what it wanted, e.g. why formed, constitution, how Association sees Laid, members, etc..
It would have a link to the Association’s own dedicated website. He intimated that the domain name www.laid.org.uk was still available for lease at a cost of £30.00 for the initial 2 years, + £30.00 per year, web space included.
A public forum page would involve an additional charge of £25.00, which the Association felt was not needed.
An e-mail facility could also be regulated.
R. Lansley offered to design and build the site for £75.00, and it could be changed at will for 6 months, and then he recommended it be left for 1 year. A simple site would be best. He gave suggestions for the format - front page, theme colours, buttons, mailboxes, etc.
3. Letters
sent
On 13th February E. Meyer sent letters about comments made on the buyout to all residents, and to S. Fraser, J. Watt, U. Smith (Crofters Commission) and Am Bratach.
Invitations to attend the AGM were sent to all residents, as well as D. Mackay (Mather), J. Clark (Eriboll), M. A. Douglas (Laid), C. Whitelaw (Laid), G. Stewart Laid), P. Stewart (Laid), Jean and Jonathan Mackay (Laid), D and L. MacLellan (Laid), U. Smith (Crofters Commission), C. MacCowan (Auditor), F. Keith (Highland Council), K. MacRae (DCC), I. Wilson (Durness Estate), K. Rundle (BBC Scotland), S. Restan (Press & Journal), J. Watt (HIE), S. Fraser (Solicitor), N. Ross (Scottish Land Fund), J. Thurso (MP), W. Ewing (MSP), R. Grant (MSP), J,. Stone (MSP), A. Crawford (Sunday Herald), J. Watson (CASE). G. Noden (Laid) was omitted from this list, and a note was made to include him in future mailings.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 2
E. Meyer wrote to Joyce Morrison in reply to a letter about sheep on the road in Laid, informing her that she should address such matters to Laid Grazings Committee. A. Walker intimated that he had also spoken to her.
E. Meyer wrote to J. Sutherland of CASE to arrange a meeting in the near future.
E. Meyer wrote to CADISPA of the University of Strathclyde, with a copy of the minutes and constitution.
On instructions from the last Exec. Comm. meeting, J. Blanco wrote to Francis Keith regarding cleaning up the ground in front of the post box and notice board in Laid.
J. Blanco also wrote to Durness Community Council, on behalf of the Association, regarding the possibility of siting a Recycling Centre at the Durness Refuse Site.
J. Blanco also wrote to Vodafone, on behalf of the Association regarding the mobile telephone mast on Loch Eriboll.
J. Blanco wrote to J. Thurso, thanking him for meeting with the Exec. Comm. of the Association on 20th February at 89 Laid.
4. Letters received
Letters were received from the following:
E. Meyer received an email from Austria, inquiring about the Cape Wrath ferry. The inquirer was referred to the tourist authorities.
E. Meyer received a letter from N. Ross regarding H. MacLellan and the buyout.
E. Meyer received a letter from J. Watt regarding the buyout. Letter passed on to N. Ross.
The Crofters Commission acknowledged letter on buyout.
J. Blanco received 3 letters from Ian Wilson, one acknowledging receipt of notification of formation of Association. He expressed a wish to work closely with the Association.
The second letter from Ian Wilson enclosed a copy of a letter sent to him by the Durness Community Council, rejecting the offer to buy the land.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 3
The third letter from Ian Wilson enclosed a copy of a letter he sent to the Secretary of the Laid Community Group, J. Whitelaw, in which he rejected their request to meet him, as long as disputes remained among the people of Laid. He also requested information on the feasibility study, on which matter he had not been informed. A. Marsham asked who was going to pay for feasibility study.
J. Blanco said that a meeting had been arranged for the Exec. Comm. to discuss these matters with N. Ross at Port-Na-Con on Saturday, 6th April, at 3 pm.
J. Blanco received a letter from Francis Keith in reply to request for information about clearing the ground by the postbox. Several options were proposed in the letter, and it was agreed to refer the matter to the Laid Grazings Committee, and to the AGM. A. Marsham suggested a copy of the letter be sent also to S. Marshall of the School House, in order to obtain his support.
On the matter of Recycling, A. Marsham said that Durness Community Council had tried before to get a Recycling Centre, but that the Highland Council would provide containers, but would not collect the material. The government was not prepared to provide incentives to recycling companies.
Apologies for absence at AGM have been received from: Jean Mackay, W. Ewing, N. Ross, J. Watt, J. Thurso, U. Smith.
5. Bank Account
E. Meyer reported that, due to a technicality, signatures are needed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, but the account will be ready this week. Signatures by letter have been accepted
6 Durness Community Council Meeting
A. Marsham reported that an exchange of minutes has been agreed, and the Association is on their mailing list. E. Meyer said that we would send them ours. Items discussed of relevance to the Association were: Notice of Elections, Letter Box, Website, AGM, Recycling, Mobile Phone Mast, J. Thurso’s visit, A. Marsham to stand for DCC, Port Chamil Pier Group - project of interest to Royal Engineers - MOD willing to build pier.
MOD Liaison meeting. Letter from H. MacLellan about low-flying helicopters. MOD’s reply - if we give them 6 weeks’ notice, the area will be designated a ‘no-fly zone’. The telephone number can be obtained from DCC Secretary.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 4
7. Meeting with J. Thurso – 20th February
Nothing further to add. A. Walker recommended he be treated with caution.
A. Marsham suggested that he will do everything to make the buyout go ahead. To him a failed buyout would be worse than one not started.
A. Walker has permission to phone J. Thurso. He will keep in contact with him.
8. Erika Seki
Researcher from Aberdeen University. She met Sergio and Jane Blanco on 21st February. They discussed the current situation in Laid.
9. Northern Times
An article about Laid appeared on 1st March. It was decided that R. Lansley’s report was accurate and he correctly quoted E. Meyer. S. Blanco was telephoned by C. McMorren. KMH left 2 telephone messages for E. Meyer, who has not yet had time to reply.
10. CADISPA
E. Meyer checked them out on their website - organisation from University of Strathclyde that looks after community development projects. Their website is www.cadispa.org.uk
11. Proposed meeting with CASE
E. Meyer is to arrange a meeting with CASE to be held in Thurso. A. Walker volunteered to attend the meeting with E. Meyer.
12. Proposed meeting with Neil Ross
J. Blanco has arranged for the Exec. Comm., minus E. Meyer, but with S. Blanco as his representative, to meet Neil Ross, Scottish Land Fund, on 6th April at 3 pm, at Port-Na-Con.
13. Possible Error in Members’ List
E. Meyer expressed doubt about whether J. Whitelaw had registered E. Whitelaw as a member. He suggested writing to her. A. Marsham suggested it be resolved at the AGM, and that J. Whitelaw be given a proxy vote.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 5
E. Meyer mentioned J. Mackay, grandson of Jean Mackay, who is a student and will become 18 in April. He is to become the owner of the croft, already owning 50% of it, and could be on the electoral roll in Laid. He has already applied to the Electoral Registration Office, as he is entitled to call the croft in Laid his main residence. 0
14. Meeting with K. Mackenzie Hillcoat
The only point agreed at this meeting was the change in the Laid postal address. The Post Office has to be contacted, and either Durness or Loch Eriboll should be included; the post code would stay the same. Matter to be referred to the LRA AGM.
15. Laid Grazings Committee AGM
KM Hillcoat informed E. Meyer that the date of the AGM would be 16th March. A. Walker had been told that it would be 25th March. E. Meyer suggested he himself determine the actual date from Christine Fraser.
16. Laid Postal Address
E. Meyer mentioned copy of letter J. Thurso had received from the Post Office. It appears that if 75% of the people present at a meeting of local residents are in favour of changing the postal address to Laid, Durness, or Laid, Loch Eriboll, the PO would change it. Matter to be discussed at AGM.
17. Committee Meetings
E. Meyer said that at present these were not publicised, and asked it they should be opened up. A. Walker said that the Durness Community Council should be informed. A. Marsham said that if they were not opened up, they could be construed as secretive. The suggestion was made for a public meeting once a quarter. It was also suggested that the website could announce meetings. It was decided that if meetings are not publicised, the LRA runs the risk of acting in the same way as the LGC.
18. ‘Bratach’ March 2002
In view of the derogatory remarks about the LRA published under the article ‘Do As I Say’ in this month’s edition, it was decided to send a letter to the Chair of the LGC, demanding an apology from H. MacLellan, and stating that the Exec. Comm. of the LRA would have no contact with any committee of which H. MacLellan was a member, until the matter was resolved to the satisfaction of the LRA Exec. Comm.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 6
19. Buyout
E. Meyer stated that this was the first time this topic had been raised by the LRA. J. Blanco read the copy of a letter sent by I. Wilson to J. Whitelaw, secretary of the Laid Community Group, stating that he did not wish to meet either the LCG or the LRA until relations among the residents improved. Most residents had received an invitation from J. Whitelaw to attend a meeting of the LCG on 6th April at 7.00 pm. In this invitation mention was made of a note that L. Black had sent, but A. Walker said she had only sent one letter. A. Marsham was uncertain on what basis the LCG determined eligibility for membership.
20. AGM Agenda
9. Associate Membership - stress no voting rights. Voting members to be those on the electoral roll only.
11. Membership fees. Fee of £10.00 agreed, except for pensioners and registered unemployed. Voluntary contributions also to be accepted.
21. AOB
It was announced that the cost of the Village Hall for the AGM would be £5.00 per hour.
22. Next meeting
To be decided.
There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 21.00.