Dear Ms Manson
PS-270-1: Red John Pumped Storage Hydro
Thank you for your email of 29th June 2020 requesting further comments from the Community Council in relation to Flood Risk and Seismic Activity and Traffic and Transport. After consideration of the developer’s further responses, we wish to reiterate our original submission of 27th February 2019 along with the following comments.
Flood Risk and Seismic Activity:
We remain concerned at the reliance on the provisions on the Reservoirs Act and the confidentiality surrounding that. We would wish to draw the Reporter’s attention to the recent publication of an independent review report in February 2020 by Professor David Balmforth following the partial failure of the Toddbrook Reservoir in August 2019 (copy attached). It is stated there that it is possible for ‘the reservoir and its owner to be compliant with the legislation without the reservoir necessarily being safe’ and, among the recommendations, that ‘there is a systematic review of how the current Reservoirs Act and the associated Regulations and Guidance are implemented.’ We would request that the Inquiry has regard to the Balmforth Report and its recommendations in the context of this project.
Traffic and Transport:
Whilst we are pleased with the progress that has been made between the Applicant and the Highland Council in agreeing planning conditions and other legal agreements to regulate these matters, success will depend on collaboration and agreement among the parties during the project implementation stage. It is welcome that the Applicant has committed to the establishment of the Community Liaison Group but this will come with considerable demands on time and resources of the Community Councils involved, which we would request that the Applicant acknowledges through grants or other subsidy being made available.
We would also wish to point out that Scottish Water are in the process of finalising a planning application for water extraction from Loch Ness. If consented, this could result in both developments overlapping, with potentially serious impacts on the road network and, in particular, on traffic on the B862.
Planning involvement by the community
Any member of the public is entitled to comment on any planning application, whether to support, object or make neutral comments. Whilst normally it might be expected that you would have some sort of interest in the application (perhaps because it is near your home or may affect premises or facilities you use) this is not a prerequisite (though there are rules as to the nature of comments that can be made).
The Community Council, whilst being happy to consider representations from members of the community on any planning matters, would also encourage people to consider submitting comments in their own right via the Highland Council website. The link for this (and for advice and guidance on the process) is:
https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/180/planning_-_applications_warrants_and_certificates/143/planning_permission/4
Red John Public Local Enquiry to commence.
From [email protected]
In this case, a virtual hearing is to take place. The sessions will begin at 10 am on Monday 24 August 2020. The public inquiry is estimated to run for 3 days, with hearing sessions 1 (i and ii) taking place on Monday 24 August 2020 and hearing session 2 taking place from Thursday 27 August to Friday 28 August 2020.
Any person wishing to observe the live proceedings should contact the case officer at the e-mail address above to discuss arrangements. Alternatively, a recording of proceedings will be available to view via the following link: https://dpea.public-i.tv/core/portal/home.
Fish Farm’s planning status queried
The CC has responded to the latest Planning Application by Mowi to relocate the position of the fish cages nearer to the village. Our representation is as follows.
“DECC would like to point out that the current Planning Permission (09/00685/FULIN) for the operation of this fish farm is restricted by Condition 7 to the original applicant, Bridge of Faillie Smolts.
We enclose a letter dated 14th January 2016 from the Team Leader to Marine Harvest to this effect and informing them of the need to remedy this breach of planning control and that a further planning application would be required. We consider that this breach requires to be remedied before any further consents are granted.”
This application is still being considered and we are awaiting a response from the Planning Department, and once received we will post it on the website.
Highland Council issues caution to swimmers
After seeking information regarding discharges into Loch Ness, the CC received the following reply from the HC’s Environmental Health Department.
“I note that a resident has informed the Community Council that they have had eye, and nasal irritation after swimming in the loch. The Bathing Water Profile for Dores Beach identifies the principal risks to water quality at Dores beach arises from agricultural run-off, combined sewer overflows and treated sewage effluent. There is a risk that water pollution may occur after heavy rainfall and bathing is not advised during or 1-2 days after heavy rainfall due to the risk to bathers’ health from water pollution. “
The CC is still awaiting a response from SEPA regarding discharges from the Fish Farm.
Covid-19 Community Hardship fund
DORES AND ESSICH COVID-19 HARDSHIP FUND
The Scottish Government has made funds available to local communities in order to help to offset some of the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the Dores and Essich area the funds are being administered by the Dores Community Development Trust in consultation with the Community Council.
It has been decided that one of the uses to which the funds will be put is the creation of a hardship fund to assist those in the community whose financial welfare has been affected by the pandemic and for whom other sources of assistance may not be available or sufficient. Grants from the fund will be in kind, not cash, and may take the form of items such as food parcels, fuel cards or essential clothing for children.
The fund will be administered by a sub-committee of three people and any applications to the fund will be treated in strictest confidence and not made known outside the sub-committee. The members are Ella MacRae, Chair of the Community Council, Louise Robertson, head teacher at Aldourie School and one of the directors of the Development Trust, and Colin McPherson, a member of the Community Council and a resident of Scaniport.
It is intended that the process of considering applications will be relatively informal
and non-bureaucratic.
Anyone who wishes to apply for a grant from the fund should contact one of the sub-committee members whose details are below.
Ella MacRae Tel: 07713257416 or 01463 751219; email: [email protected]
Louise Robertson Tel 07734469367; email: [email protected]
Colin McPherson Tel: 07730027384; email: [email protected]
Applicants should please provide the following information:
• Name
• Address
• Phone no
• Email address
• Employment status
• Number in household: Adults/Children
• If requesting a food parcel, any food allergies
• Details of request and reasons why an award should be made
The latest Information is also available of other help that may be available on the Highland Council Website https://www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus