Minutes of 3rd March 2026 - Approved
Garve and District Community Council
Added at 07:24 on 16 April 2026
Going forwards we will be adding our Approved Meeting Minutes as an article on our website - this is because we are aware that using the traditional document format is not altogether Accessible for those that use screen readers. We will continue to add the document format to our Minutes Archive which goes back to 1994 and is arranged by year.
Minutes of the Garve & District Community Council ordinary meeting held on Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Community Council elected members present: Bob Moir (Chair) Caroline Gamble (Treasurer) and Sadie-Michaela Harris (Secretary)
Community Council co-opted members present: Simon Friend, Alistair Meikle
Also present: : Member of public Laura Gauna
Apologies: Katrina Walker & Fiona Milligan (Boralex): Cllr Kraft.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7pm and welcomed everyone. He also confirmed that this meeting would be recorded as per the agenda and will be archived and available for viewing thereafter. He reminded members of the public that although our meetings are not public meetings, they were still very welcome to attend Community Council meetings even on webcam and take part in the discussions under his guidance (see section 12 of the Constitution) and that phones should be on silent. Those who cannot attend our meetings can, as always, write to us by post or email with any issues they wish raised at Our website gdcc.scot continues to receive a high volume of visitors per month as does our Facebook page. The Community Council area covers from Garve to Aultguish and from Garve to Achnasheen and is the only organisation that represents the whole community. We are elected by the community every four years or so and usually meet once a month. Draft minutes and a list of current members of the Community Council can be viewed at our website. We are also on social media - www.facebook.com/GarveCC
Declarations of Interest – the Chairman is a Garve Public Hall Trustee, a Friend of Garve War Memorial, a LCT elected Director and a member of the GD CORe land panel. The Treasurer noted she is a landowner with regards to the SSEN underground cable from the Western Isles to Beauly and Community Council elected member Sadie-Michaela Harris is a member of the Wyvis Natural Playpark group and Wester Ross Biosphere as is co-opted member Simon Friend.
Community Council elected members confirmed that they had read all documents due to be discussed tonight before the start of this meeting.
Approval of draft minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Tuesday 20th January 2026 via webcam were proposed without amendment by Alistair Meikle and seconded by Caroline Gamble, unanimously agreed. Minutes are available at Garve Post Office, on our website or via email. Hard/electronic copies are also available on request. Minutes will be signed by our Chairman and Treasurer in due course via post.
Matters arising –
Boralex windfarm – https://www.boralex.com – The Highland Council North Planning Applications Committee notes that the application was approved by them in January 2023. Details for the satisfaction of pre-start planning conditions are pending consideration by the planning department. Katrina Walkerr confirmed there was no update.
Proposed Boralex Lochluichart East BESS - https://www.boralex.com/en/projects-and-sites/storage-lochluichart-east-bess - Katrina Walkerr confirmed there was no update.
Kirkan Windfarm – https://www.kirkanwindfarm.co.uk - as reported previously, they are still in the phase of considering options for Kirkan and working through the various planning conditions. The Highland Council North Planning Applications Committee notes the Scottish Government issued consent on 25 July 2023 and are now awaiting submission of pre-development planning condition requirements.
No further update.
Proposed Tarvie windfarm – www.tarviewindfarm.com – No further update.
Proposed SSE Fairburn windfarm extension – https://www.sserenewables.com/onshore-wind/in-development/fairburn-extension No further update.
SSEN Spittal – Beauly 400kV project - https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/spittal--loch-buidhe--beauly-400kv-connection - 3D modelling of the proposed route can be viewed - https://www.3dwtech.co.uk/dashboard/ssen/spittal-to-beauly/portal-update/ which show they are still thinking routing the line east of Contin rather than east of Garve. SSEN plan to submit a section 37 planning application to the Energy Consents Unit in spring 2025. No further update.
SSEN underground cable from the Western Isles to Beauly – https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/western-isles No further update.
Field Corriemoillie – www.fieldcorriemoillie.co.uk No further update.
Proposed Glasa windfarm - https://glasawindfarm.com/ Coriolis Energy, with development partner ESB are considering a 27-turbine windfarm on the Strathvaich estate. The turbines would be 250m tall from base to blade tip generating up to 189MW of electricity. A public drop event was held in Garve on Wednesday 2 April 2025. No further update.
Proposed Carn Fearna windfarm – https://projects.statkraft.co.uk/Carn-Fearna
No further update.
In related news - www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/carn-fearna-wind-farm-connection. This is dependent on Carn Fearna approval.
The EDF Corriemoillie Education & Training Fund details can be found at https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/corriemoillie-education-training
The Highland Council updates – www.highland.gov.uk – NONE
Achnasheen Hall – No updates. Remains on market.
The Highland Council notes that residents should report issues directly to them by calling The Highland Council’s Call Centre on 01349 886606 or via www.highland.gov.uk/report In all cases, you will be given a reference number. The Highland Council also appreciates photos showing the actual problem.
A835 Trunk Road issues -
Faults on the Trunk Road (A835) should be reported via www.bearscot.com/report-a-defect/ or 0800 028 1414. Members of the public can live track gritters on the trunk road network using Transport Scotland’s online ‘trunk road gritter tracker’. It displays the current location of gritters and where they have recently treated.
Over last weekend there have been many reports of faults with the lights at CRC.
Bear have been consulted and we await a reply.
Garve & District Community Council currently has vacancies on the Community Council. The Community Council elected members consider it to be very important to have as broad a representation of our community as possible, as we cover a wide variety of community issues and to do this well, we would like members from all corners of our large area. We usually meet on the first Tuesday of the month. If you are aged 16 or over, live in the Community Council area and are on the electoral roll and would like to be considered for co-option onto the Community Council, please email contact@gdcc.scot with your name and contact details. This update has already appeared on our online channels. LCT and the Development Company also have vacancies, contact them directly for more details.
Due to retirement of former chairman, there is now no representation in the Community Council for areas outside Garve. There is a vacancy for another co-opted member and it was agreed to advertise for a volunteer.
Police update - as reported at previous Community Council meetings, anyone who wishes to raise an issue with the police are asked to call them directly on 101 at the time of the incident and make a witness statement. Video, dashcam or photo evidence is also welcomed, indeed encouraged by the police. The police can also be contacted on www.scotland.police.uk/secureforms/contact/
Treasurer’s report -
Bank balance £1,956.52
Within this figure:
· Wreath account £377.30
· Community Fund £1,453.42
· Treasurer Fund £125.80
Insurance premium of £97.20 paid.
There were no questions for the Treasurer.
AOB from Community Council members –
New Cemetery Gate.
It has been confirmed that THC are in receipt of new gate and hoping to get fitted in next couple of weeks.
Blackwater Bridge
Following received by email
“We have further inspected the bridge this morning. (Wednesday 25th February)
The bridge itself is in good condition.
The concern highlighted in our initial inspection was the gaps in the steel deck panels. The pins across the bridge were all in fair condition and functioning as intended.
The arrangement of the steel deck panels is unlike our other structures, hence the need for our second inspection this morning. This was to further clarify the arrangement of the deck panels.
Upon Andrew Tryon return, we will discuss how to progress with amending the gaps. In the meantime, suppliers will be contacted for their advice.”
Strathgarve Logging
On 2nd March Chair and Secretary of GDCC met with FLS, THC (roads) and Cllr Kraft in Garve to discuss the planned timber extraction from Strathgarve.
The following issues discussed.
· It was confirmed that operations are for commercial extraction only. No work will be done in relation to the SSEN underground cable.
· A follow up survey of flora and fauna will be undertaken prior to extraction.
· Tracks will be 44 Tn gross with 25 Tn payload.
· There will be a maximum of 8 trucks per day. Secretary to contact residents regarding times to be avoidable / preferred and information passed back to FLS.
FLS will try to work with feedback, but it will be dependent on destination of timber, acceptance times at mill, loading of ship’s if being exported.
· There is the capability to work 24/7 but at this time work is only planned for daylight and not on Sunday.
· 3 passing places will be created on Strathgarve Main prior to haulage operations.
· Trucks can alter tyre pressure to minimise damage to road surface. Any damage to be made good at completion.
· Sightlines at junction with avenue to be cleared. This is complicated by presence of overhead powerline. THC to liaise with SSEN on this.
· Signage directing visitors to playpark away from village and Little Garve to be positioned at the appropriate road junctions.
· Entrance to quarry road will be widened and tarred.
Not related to operations but THC (Roads) are to look at external funding and possibility of repairs to section of road between Keeper’s Cottage and play park.
After the meeting the following issues were reported during walk around with Ian Moncrieff, THC Roads and chair.
· Pothole outside hall
· 20 mph roundels in village
· Matheson Road surface
· Matheson Road fence
Joint meeting with LCT and GDDC on 25th February
All community councillors attended.
Main item was Community Resilience. Sadie gave feedback to all as to what CR is. Thank you.
It was clear that a proper presentation to the community is required in respect of Community Resilience Planning for Emergencies is required.
Agreement was reached on key questions to be put to community as to at people want in an emergency in next newsletter.
Demolition of the former staff block on community land will start 9th March with contractors beginning preparation the week before.
Accumulated rubbish in Garve station yard / car park. (Post meeting this was reported to Network Rail.)
Routing of underground cable. Maps supplied by SSEN have very poor definition. (Post meeting secretary has found a map on SSEN website and publish on our website link https://www.facebook.com/GarveCC/posts/pfbid0348aTy3CLMecaHpPVi3Vay4xPguDngkeRgyvewdq9iEvigvcKvifRbMHpKopcY2Bol
AOB from members of the public –
Will there be a generator at the hall?
Chair as a trustee of the hall replied. Hall trustees do not oppose the siting of a generator but there are many issues siting, maintenance, fuel supply etc. to be looked at. Also, the need has to be assessed after consultation with the community.
Will there be community compensation to residents of Strathgarve? Not financially but we have asked about road surface improvements – IE road from Keeper’s Cottage to play park as above.
Screening reports, scoping reports and consultations –
All Highland Council consultations are available at https://consult.highland.gov.uk/portal All Scottish Government consultations are available at https://consult.gov.scot/consultation_finder
Building warrants, planning issues and licensing issues -
There are no new building warrants currently being shown on The Highland Council website for our area.
No previous planning applications have been determined by The Highland Council since our last ordinary meeting.
There are currently number of planning applications awaiting determination by The Highland Council for our area.
But due to the poor nature of the new Highland Council website, it is difficult to establish which.
One new planning applications have been received by The Highland Council since our last ordinary meeting.
Added on 04 February 2026
Ref Number 26/00311/S37 Application Type Section 37
Grid Reference 221927 866447 -
Location of Works Land 460M NE Of Fannich Lodge, Lochluichart, Garve,
Description of Works New Overhead and Underground Supply to Mast Site - consent for two new small sections {one 3 span and one 1 span} of 33kV overhead line which will connect onto an existing section of 33kV overhead line.
Applicant Name Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution Plc
There were no new licensing issues for us to consider this evening.
Dates of future meetings - (Ordinary meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday of every month unless stated otherwise).
Tuesday April 14th, 2026, 7pm, online and in person - TBC
As usual, our Chairman started to draw the meeting to a close by asking all present if anyone had any final questions or thoughts on anything they had heard this evening, a question he often asks throughout the meeting too. Nobody had any final questions or thoughts. Although our meetings are not public meetings, members of the public are still very welcome to attend Community Council meetings and take part in the discussions under the guidance of the Chairman (see section 12 of the Constitution). A copy of our Constitution is available in the library section of our own website and hard/electronic copies are available on request. Those who cannot attend our meetings can, as always, write to us by post or email with any issues they wish raised at contact@gdcc.scot
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending. He also thanked Community Council member Sadie-Michaela Harris for hosting the webcam session. The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.25pm.