A quick news roundup

Garve and District Community Council

Added at 05:18 on 11 July 2025

Hello, 
June was a busy month and July is galloping along at a similar pace, despite it being our recess. Here's a wee round up of the main things keeping us busy.

3rd June
I submitted an objection on behalf of the community to the ECU - Energy Consents Unit
in respect of the proposed Carn Fearna wind farm . We are aware that over 1000 representations were submitted to the ECU before the closing date
on 4th June. At the time of writing the ECU as only manged to get 500 on to their portal and they tell us they have no statutory obligation to publish them. 
We will keep you update on that. 

June 9th
Kenny retired as our long standing Chairman at the  AGM 
The four of us remaining bought him a quaich {for his apple juice!} as a wee thank you for all of his help and community service over the years.
We presented it to him on Sunday when we had a friendly catch up lunch. Fair to say Kenny is really loving his new location and all that it has brought. 

12th June
Bob, went along to the Western Isles HVDC Link event  in Garve Public Hall. 
 
14th June
We actively participated in the Community Councils Convention on the {negative} Impacts Major Energy Infrastructure held in Beauly. 53 Community Councils attended, along with members of communities from across the Highlands. Phipps Hall was packed with many people standing crammed in.
There were also both Councils and community members attending on Zoom too. 
The outcome of that convention was this joint Statement

“This Convention supported by over FIFTY COMMUNITY COUNCILS, collectively representing over 72,000 residents within The Highland Council area:
RECOGNISES the impact of climate change on our planet but OPPOSES an unjust and unnecessary industrialisation of The Highlands.
CALLS for our elected members to URGENTLY support and protect our communities at NATIONAL level, given that community consultation is inadequate and LOCAL DEMOCRACY is being overridden, with decisions made by Community Councils and Highland Council consistently disregarded by the Scottish Government.
CALLS upon the Scottish Government to undertake a PLANNING INQUIRY COMMISSION to address the whole cumulative impact of all major renewable energy infrastructure developments, including transmission, storage and generation with all ancillary infrastructure on our communities and landscape, rather than the salami sliced approach which has thus far been taken.
CALLS for a PAUSE of all major applications, given the impact upon our communities, which may hasten depopulation in some areas until a clear NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY is in place and an ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT undertaken given that tourism is currently the backbone of The Highland economy.”

There is to be a follow up meeting on 12th August with MPs and MSPs in Inverness, all of us will be attending.
If you have any thoughts you would like raising that you haven't already told us about please do get in touch. 

15th June, 
Simon and I went to join the opening and continuing conversations meeting on Suicide Prevention in Kessock this was the first multi organisation event in Highland with;
Mikeysline
Cruse Scotland
Suicide Prevention North East Scotland
Samaritans Scotland
Excluded Scotland
Change Mental Health 
Police Scotland Highland & Islands
James Support Group
There will be more of these conversations across Highland and it is hoped that discussion will be the catalyst for change in helping to remove the stigma attached to suicide. 
For those bereaved by suicide;- recently or a long time ago there is currently, fully funded, counselling available in Highland for people all ages with Cruse Scotland. We are incredibly thankful that this counselling is available immediately, people can self refer themselves too. This is of course hugely important because as we know those grieving need to be able to get help and support when THEY feel they need it, when THEY are ready. If we can help please get in touch. Our thanks to Jenny Valentine, Police Scotland, and Chair of the Highland Suicide Prevention Steering Group, Emily Stokes CEO of Mikeysline, Patrick Mullery of James Support Group and everyone involved in bringing together.

 
4th July 
Following various reports of near misses due to the failing traffic lights on the A835 at Check Rail Corner, I
spoke to BEAR Principle Engineer Mark Smith about the on going problem with failing light showing green both ends. 

The outcome is that BEAR say;-they will install a 'signal booster' to relay the signal between the lights. This will not affect the phasing or timing of lights. The lights themselves were changed this morning in case the existing had any faults. The light heads have now been brought closer together as, with such a long site which curves around the hillside, this can be a cause for the signal between them being affected. The combination of moving the lights closer together and an additional signal booster will ensure they operate correctly. The fail safe system of these lights is to go to red-red if signal is lost or any other issue. 

Hopefully this will be an improvement on every other intervention used in the past 18 months! 
Please do keep us and BEAR informed of any dangerous situations or light failing in anyway.

7th July 
All four of us met in Garve Public Hall to discuss the Community Council website.
The original website was built on a foundation which is was entirely free and is now obsolete.
For ease and cost we decided to stay with the platform provider for the new website site. 
The provider no longer offer a free service, it is no longer sustainable for them to do so. 

The ongoing cost is currently under £150 per year including VAT. 
Very little in real terms but it actually represents a sizeable chunk of the £445.20p
annual grant that our Community Council receives for its running cost from The Highland Council. 
There was no build cost for the website because I did it, and I'm hosting the website free of charge too.

I hope you find it easy to navigate it does have limitations there are no frills, bells or whistles. 
Do let us know what you think.

As a side note,  it was very useful to plug into the big screen in the wee meeting room and look at things in context as we chatted.
Our local community groups and members of the community can use the wee meeting room free of charge by prior arrangement and subject to availability.
It can also be hired by businesses. Capacity is 8 people. 

Bob has been invited along to a meeting with representatives of Contin, Strathpeffer, Marybank Scatwell and Strathconan CCs on 16th July to chat about the possible SSEN financial benefits relating to the Western Isle HVDC link.

There is a meeting for the proposed Tarvie wind farm taking place on 17th July in Contin Village Hall from 7pm until 8pm.
It will be possible to join via Zoom too. As the proposal currently stands turbines will be visible from some home and gardens in our community.
** 16th July - UPDATE we heard today this is a closed meeting for Community Councils along with Tarvie Community Alliance representatives at the request of the developers KRE / their PR company Orbit. **

For ease I have added relevant links for points mentioned in this news roundup.
Carn Ferna Objection
Beauly Convention transcript
AGM and Ordinary Meeting Recording
Garve Public Hall