Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
held on 31st May, 2002, at 19.00 hours at 89 Laid
Present: E. Meyer, Jean
Morrison, A. Walker, J. Blanco, A. Marsham
In attendance: F. Keith
1. Minutes of Committee Meeting, Wednesday,
1st May, 2002 at 98 Laid
No amendments. Minutes approved.
2. Letters
a. Sent
i. Minutes of AGM - 52 letters sent
ii. Matter of H. MacLellan (see details under Item 4)
b Received
i. W. Ewing - re. H. MacLellan.
ii. W. Ewing - re. AGM Minutes - Acknowledgement
iii. D. Hamilton - re. AGM Minutes - Acknowledgement
iv. J. MacGrigor - re. AGM
Minutes - Acknowledgement
v. J. Thurso - re. AGM Minutes - Acknowledgement
vi. I. Wilson - re. permission to use land for Clay Pigeon Shoot 3rd July.
3. Revised
Minutes of LRA AGM
H. Maclellan’s additions to Minutes (see Minutes of previous Exec. Comm meeting, item 5). To be sent out on 1/6/02.
4. Hugh MacLellan
E. Meyer reported that H. MacLellan was trying to annoy the Residents’ Association, by reducing matters to a personal level. S.and J. Blanco, and E. Meyer have all received accusing letters. E. Meyer stated categorically that at no time has the Association discussed H. MacLellan’s business affairs. The fact that the Highland Council visited him is not the responsibility of the Association.
E. Meyer also stated that in the Article in the Northern Times, H. Maclellan’s name was not mentioned.
H. MacLellan’s letter to J. Blanco replied to by E. Meyer on 8/5/02, with reply from H. Maclellan on 10/5/02, refusing to apologise.
E. Meyer sent private letter to J. Whitelaw on 29/4/02, requesting a copy of the Constitution and latest Minutes of the Laid Community Group. Reply received from H. MacLellan on 23/5/02, refusing to send Minutes of Laid Community Group.
H. MacLellan has complained that Minutes of LRA AGM, item 21, misrepresent matters with regard to the buyout. Comment made that H. MacLellan must be specific about nature of complaint.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 2
E. Meyer said that Association had two options, either to ignore him or to expel him from Association. Possible third option, E. Meyer to see his lawyer in Dornoch. Could ask solicitor to send H. MacLellan a letter of warning.
F. Keith suggested that Association might invite H. MacLellan to next meeting of Exec. Comm., but thought he probably would not attend, and cited the example of meeting in Durness about Chamil pier, where H. MacLellan was not present.
E. Meyer said H. MacLellan would only be invited as a resident.
The decision was taken that the way to resolve the matter should be considered in the meantime, and discussed at next meeting. Meanwhile, no Exec. Comm. member would reply to any letter from H. MacLellan, unless his actions became serious.
5. Press Council/Bratach
E. Meyer received letter from D. MacLeod, Editor of Bratach, on 13/5/02.
Reply to D. McLeod sent on 17/5/02, no reply yet.
Letter to be sent early in June by E. Meyer to Press Complaints Commission (to be distributed). Dossier of Bratach articles prepared.
6 Laid Notice Board
Estimate received from K. MacRae for building and installing notice board - £ 394.67 (excl. VAT). Possibility of obtaining a grant was raised.
A. Walker commented that the timber had to be treated.
A. Marsham suggested getting other quotes, eg. from Inverness.
It was suggested that the 3 groups in Laid (Laid Grazings, Laid Community Group and Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con Residents’ Association) should each pay a third towards the cost. Agreed at LRA AGM, Item 17.
F. Keith suggested a Community Action Grant. He also agreed to get catalogues from sign companies, etc.
A. Marsham reported that Durness Community Council had donated £100.00 to the Association, from the proceeds of sale of parts of old Village Hall.
7. Durness Community Council
E. Meyer reported that no minutes of Council meetings had yet been sent to the Association.
New Council members: K. MacRae, J. Avison, A. Marsham, I. Mackay, Y. Mackay, J. Morrison, H. Munro.
Letter sent by K. MacRae about Chamil pier, stating that the dispute raised by the Laid Grazings Committee was jeopardising fish farm.
F. Keith reported that a meeting had been held regarding the pier, at which M. Mackay of Durness Grazings Committee produced a map with boundary at Port-Na-Con. Durness is proceeding with plans for pier.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 3
8. Letter to Hydroelectric
E. Meyer sent letter to Hydroelectric re. burial of power cables. No reply yet.
9. Letter to Roads Dept.
E. Meyer sent letter to C. Stuart of Roads Dept. re. points raised by J. Whitelaw and H. MacLellan at AGM.
Reply received - no change.
10. Letter to Crofters’ Commission
E. Meyer received letter from S. Rankin, Chief Executive of Crofters’ Commission, dated 2/5/02. E. Meyer replied on 4/5/02. No reply from S. Rankin.
Second letter sent to S. Rankin on 8/5/02, enclosing copy of letter from H. MacLellan to J. Blanco. No reply.
11. Letter from Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board
E. Meyer summoned to meeting on 2/5/02 in Inverness with Mr. Gillespie, attended by another person from Golspie. Meeting lasted 10 minutes. E. Meyer pronounced bona fide resident of Laid. Matter concluded. E. Meyer received letter of confirmation on 3/5/02. E. Meyer told by Board that he had been reported by a person in Laid, who would also be receiving a letter.
12. Proposed meeting with CASE
Meeting arranged for 10/6/02 with P. Buchanan in Thurso, to be attended by E. Meyer and A. Walker.
13. HMS Sutherland/HMS Hood Memorial Shoot
E. Meyer contacted by L. O’Neill on 8/5/02. Visit of HMS Sutherland crew arranged for 3rd and 4th July.
Clay Pigeon Shoot arranged between Gualin Gun Club, Durness/Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con Residents’ Association and HMS Sutherland crew, to take place at Port-Na-Con on 3rd July, at 7.30 pm. To be called the “HMS Hood Memorial Shoot”.
F. Keith commented that it would be good publicity for the Association.
E. Meyer in contact with D. Shaw of Gualin Gun Club, and meeting arranged for 4/6/02.
Letter sent to I. Wilson of Durness Estate, requesting permission to shoot over land.
Trophy to be presented - “HMS Hood Memorial Trophy”.
Letter sent to C. Marsham, requesting permission to shoot over land. Offer of sponsorship of £50-£100.
Contact with MOD Liaison Officer - Capt. D. Halpin and HMS Sutherland Liaison Officer - Lt. Com. M. Harris.
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 4
R. Lansley invited to attend meeting on 4/6/02, and to put notice in newspaper. R. Lansley also put notice on Internet.
F. Keith offered money from Highland Council grant for ammunition.
Letters sent to Grampian TV/BBC Scotland/Press & Journal/K. Clark, Secretary of HMS Hood Association, with information about event and invitation to attend.
No replies yet.
Letter sent to J. Clark, Eriboll Estate, requesting sponsorship. No reply yet.
Suggestion that Memorial Trophy become a yearly event to be discussed at meeting on 4/6/02, with the next shoot on the ship, possibly February 2003.
F. Keith reported that crew of HMS Sutherland excited about event. Crew staying at campsite free of charge, with meals paid for by Durness Community Council.
Form of trophy discussed, plus possibility of cash prizes.
F. Keith suggested contacting ‘Country Images’ in Rogart Road, south of Lairg, that sell trophies and provide engraving services.
14. Proposed meeting with J. Thurso in Laid
E. Meyer sent letter to J. Thurso on 2/5/02, in reply to latter’s suggestion of a meeting in Laid.
Reply received from J. Thurso on 14/5/02. Meeting arranged for 4/6/02 at 3.0 pm.
E. Meyer and A. Walker would attend.
15. Proposed quarry visit
F. Keith said that no date had yet been set for a visit, but it would probably be in the Autumn. He will give due notice.
16. Laid website, contents, design, etc.
E. Meyer asked for ideas about content.
Suggestions: background history/constitution/support/ events/ articles/ photos.
Photo of shoot suggested.
E. Meyer would arrange meeting with R. Lansley.
17. Laid/Durness boundary dispute
A. Marsham reported that the Pier Association Committee had requested a representative from the Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con Residents’ Association should attend its meetings as an observer.
F. Keith reported that the Association had been resurrected after 18 months.
A. Marsham offered to obtain more information from C. Marsham.
F. Keith suggested that Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con Residents’ Assocation should write a letter to Martin Mackay about the pier, thus isolating the other group(s).
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Laid, Polla and Port-Na-Con
Residents’ Association
laid_residents@europe.com
Page 5
18. Letter from C. Whitelaw
E. Meyer received letter from C. Whitelaw, and subsequently he and A. Walker went to see him. Discussed situation in Laid. C. Whitelaw unhappy about it. He cited a past meeting of the Laid Grazings Committee at which he was excluded, despite the fact that they say everyone is welcome. His example confirms their statement untrue. He also stated that he did not receive any information from the Laid Community Group.
19. MOD
Letter sent to them re. low flying, etc. Long explanatory reply from E. Levey (see copy of letter).
20. Ross Finnie (Bratach, May 2002)
Letter sent to R. Finnie with regard to article about him in Bratach, May 2002.
No reply yet.
F. Keith suggested sending copy of letter to Rhoda Grant.
21. AOB
None.
22. Next meeting
Next meeting of the Executive Committe is arranged for Friday, 28th June, at 7.00 pm at 98 Laid.
There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 22.00.