Minutes of Meeting in Kyleakin Day Centre

On Monday 1st November 2004

Members Present: Caroline Clouston, Craig Glenwright, John Robertson, Ian MacLean, Ian Sikorski, Shirley Taylor and Mike Taylor

Apologies: Nuala McKay

1.    Matters Arising From Previous Meetings

The Secretary wrote to John Macdonald suggesting the possibility of a joint project with Scottish Water when they install a new pipe along the foreshore and also to North British Trust, the owners of the Kings Arms Hotel, but neither have replied. Ms McKay said she would speak to Mr Macdonald.

Calum MacAskill has given a quotation of £1700 + VAT for replacing six windows and he will also check the roof and see if there are any missing slates etc. We agreed to ask Calum to carry out the work and he has the windows on order.

The secretary had written on 7th July to Alistair Thomson regarding the smell originating from the burn opposite the entrance to Kyle House and requesting to have a sample of the water tested. Grace Noble replied that tests had been carried out and something had  been found.

 Marshall Gillespie is fitting the two cages to the War Memorial.

The Secretary has written to Tony Usher, Marine Superintendentasking for the rusty vessel moored in front of the shop to be removed. Bill Fulton has also written to Bill Ross on the same subject.

The Secretary had spoken to George Speed regarding white lining and landscaping of the car park, he apologised for the delay and said the white lining was imminent.

The saga of the sale of the old “Calmac” Building continues. A solicitor acting on our behalf has now received a letter from Alaisdair Mackenzie saying he had copied all the correspondence to the Customer Service Officer at Inverness.  

Bill Ross has written saying that the total value of Village officer funding available in Skye & Lochalsh is £15000 and with 23 Community Councils in the area not all CC’s can be accommodated in any one year. Councillor Fulton said that a decision would be made in August on the sum to be awarded to each CC.

 The Secretary wrote to ask Bill Ross regarding the battered “Kyleakin” sign pointing down to the village at the roundabout. He was unable to fund a replacement however he had copied the letter to the Planning and Development Service at Inverness as they have been able to assist with ‘gateway’ type signs in the past. Geoff Robson wrote saying that they have no funds earmarked currently for Kyleakin in the recently approved 5 year plan, and the sign falls within Bill Ross’ remit.

The Secretary has written to Bill Ross regarding the damaged bus shelter opposite the Castle Moil Restaurant and a works order for the repair has been raised.

Ms McKay had spoken to the manager of the King’s Arms Hotel regarding the large yellow bush on the corner obstructing the vision of anyone turning from King Street onto the main road. He had agreed to cut it back. Mr Glenwright will remind him.

The Secretary had written to Alasdair Nisbett inviting him to join the Council but he has not replied, the Depute Head Teacher of Portree High School has been informed.

We held a meeting with David Lamont of Scottish Water to discuss the capacity of the Proposed Sewage Treatment Facility as both us and the Highland Council feared there is no additional capacity in the facility for any future expansion of the village.

Ms Clouston said that some of the village youths had constructed a substantial camp on Kyleakin Feus land without asking permission. Ms McKay had spoken to Caroline Langlands and pointed out that if the youngsters in the village were going to be seeking help from the Community Council they would have to start acting more responsibly. The Camp has now been removed although there is still a considerable amount of rubbish around the area

The Secretary had written to Donnie Macrae asking him to move the vehicle which had been towed from behind the Kings Arms to the gravel area on the pier and left on blocks. The car has now been moved.

Ms McKay said the surrounds of the play area in Olaf Road were very dirty and a lot of the problem was in the area between the two fences that surrounded it. The Secretary contacted the Highland Council and the inner fence has been removed and all the rubbish removed.

We have received a complaint about a large amount of oil on the road out side Bellevue, the Secretary was asked to report it to the Highland Council. The Council have contacted the occupier reminding them of their responsibility with regard to oil spillage and have applied detergent to the affected area.

Mr Glenwright said that very few of our requests to the Highland Council appeared to be resolved and wondered if this was the same in other Community Councils. The Secretary had written to all the Community Council’s on Skye asking them if they had the same problem. We have received written  replies from Dunvegan, Kilmuir, Minginish, Skeabost, Staffin, and Uig plus a verbal one from Broadford.  The majority of the Councils appear to be having the same problems as ourselves and the suggestion was made that we raise the matter at the annual meeting of CC’s, however one suggested that we should not rock the boat.

2.     Correspondence

None

3.       A.O.C.B.

In March this year Broadford Medical Centre agreed to that they would extend the consulting hours in the Kyleakin surgery from 9.30 to 11.00 a.m. this, assuming 10 minutes per consultation, would allow them to see nine patients. However the Community Council are still receiving complaints from Kyleakin residents that they are being refused consultations. The Secretary was asked to write again to the Practice Manager asking for the restriction on number of patients to cease, he was also asked to ascertain progress on a new ramp leading to the surgery.

Ian MacLean had been speaking to Sergeant Galloway about forming a “Neighbourhood Watch Scheme” in Kyleakin he was asked to invite Sergeant Galloway to our next meeting to explain the potential benefits.

The Council are concerned about the large number of items, addressed to the Highland Council, which have been on the agenda for a long time and we have not even had the courtesy of an answer. The Secretary was asked to list these and send them to John Macdonald, with a copy to our MSP John Farquar Munro, asking him if would be prepared to attend our next meeting.

Next Meeting: Monday 6th December 2004 at 19.30.