Mr Marsh gave the meeting an update on the progress on the Kyleakin and Kylerhea Hills Restoration Project. Several environmental surveys have been carried out and plans have been put in place for the removal of conifers and replacement with native woodland species, internal deer fences would also be removed to reduce local concentrations of deer and ease the pressure on vegetation.

The main reason for Forest Enterprise's visit was to inform us that there was funding available for about five kilometres of footpaths and possible cycle tracks radiating out from Kyleakin, and to ask our advice on proposed routes. After a discussion it was agreed that Mr Marsh would produce a map showing the proposed routes and bring it to the next Council meeting for comments. He would then discuss these plans with other organisations in the village possibly by having a display in the foyer of the Village Hall.

 Mr Marsh, Mr Taylor and Mr Wood then left the meeting after being thanked by the Chairman.

1. Matters Arising From Meeting of 13th January 2003

1.1	Mr Speed contacted the Secretary and said he will arrange a walk round the village in early March. The Secretary wrote again to Mrs Phipps but has received no reply.
1.2	The Secretary has sent details of the erosion measurements to Mary McLauchlen, Director of Tech Services at the Highland Council. She replied saying she would keep the measurements on file as part of the overall monitoring exercise on erosion of the coastline.
1.3	Alaisdair Mackenzie wrote enclosing a copy of the letter he had received from Neviscastle explaining the action they had taken with regard to the nuisance that had been caused by the Management and Staff of the "Saucy Mary" and how they had ignored complaints from the villagers. Mr Mackenzie has discussed the reply with Mr Drew Millar and they feel that given the warning issued by the Police and the action taken by Neviscastle there is no point in referring this matter to the Licensing Board. In a separate letter Mr Mackenzie thanked the Community Council for their letter confirming they were in favour of a byelaw to prohibit drinking in public places in Kyleakin.
1.4	The Secretary has written a letter of thanks to the Skye Bridge Company for the annual gift of a Xmas tree to the village.
1.5	Alistair Thomson, Head of Environmental Health replied to our letter complaining about the noise emitted and unsightly appearance of the Portakabin and Freezer unit in the garden of Bellveue. One of his officers had visited the premises and had been assured that the unit was switched of at 8pm and it was not particularly noisy, in view of this the Service does not intend investigating any further but will be copying the information to the local planning office.
1.6	The infill beneath the railings at Kyleakin Harbour has been completed but the two posts opposite the old ferry office have not yet been removed.
1.7	The Secretary had written to John Macrae to ascertain to whom the fees being paid by owners, for mooring their boats in the harbour for the winter were being paid to but had received no reply.
1.8	The Secretary wrote to Bill Ross asking him to arrange for the bin by the pier to be moved to a site on the Green and one provided at the Hall, notices had been put up in the village advising residents that the scoopers were available at the Post Office. Nuala McKay had written requesting a third bin be provided by the play park in Olaf Road, the Secretary was asked to contact Bill Ross to try and arrange this.
1.9	The Secretary had written to Robin Graham asking if it would be possible to erect a fence across the entrance to the area at the back of the Crofters or block it off with large boulders, to prevent rubbish being dumped, but had received no reply.

 

2. Correspondence