MINUTES of FAIRLIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL - 1 December 2008  

PRESENT: D Telford (Chair), S Graham (Secy), I Hunter (Treas), A Massey (Mins),
R Holmes, T Murdoch, J Riddell, Sgt McGrath (Police), Councillor E Marshall, C Corral (L&MWN), J Mc Fie (Fife) and 8 residents.
APOLOGIES: K Gibson (MSP) and PC McCormick who sent Seasonal Greetings to FCC.
November Minutes-proposed SG and seconded TM.

REPORTS:
POLICE: There have been 25 incidents over the last 4 weeks including:
3 Road Traffic Offences reported; 1 vandalism; 1 theft; 1 theft of a car wheel and tyre;
1 male reported for alleged possession of a controlled drug; a number of Fixed Penalty tickets were issued for using a mobile phone whilst driving and 3 for not having a Road Tax disc.

A number of residents reported various disurbances in the area where they lived and Sgt McGrath had a short meeting with them at the close of CC business.
Sgt McGrath raised concerns, shared by FCC, about the closure of the A78 on Sunday 7 December. He agreed to contact Amey to put these points to them and see if secure, safe procedures could be put in place.

SECRETARY: NAC Minutes and Planning Applications received - nothing relevant to Fairlie; various reports from the NHS; As intimated this is SG's last meeting as Secretary though he is staying on as a FCC member.
TREASURER: There should be news of the Fairlie Community Trust's application for Charitable Status in the next few days.

AOB:
TRAFFIC and PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS: A resident outlined the steps he had taken to contact various officials and bodies about risks and dangers on the A78 within the village, and informed them of measures that he felt would improve safety on the road.
DT commended his efforts and pointed out that Tom Devine, of Transport Scotland, was considering the matters raised at last month's meeting and would report back soon.
FIFE PROJECT: A new "Maquette" had been approved by the Group and Tom Allan the monumental sculptor. It was also satisfactory for casting. Fresh approaches will be made for funds - this time enclosing a photo of the yacht.
PROPOSED COALFIRED POWER STATION: JR had met representatives from Peel Holdings and the Danish company DONG. It was pointed out to them that there is no local source of coal; that there are no "carbon capture" facilities nearby and that many people live at the same height as their proposed chimney. Scotland is not flat like Denmark. DONG are willing to meet FCC-JR will arrange this.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Arrangements were made for the 10 December event.
HUNTERSTON: RH reported that BE ltd were setting up a separate "Stakeholders" group from BN ltd.
TENNIS CLUB FINANCES: There was no information available - CC said it should arrive soon.
NEW SECRETARY: Rita Holmes has offered to take the Secretary's position - FCC are very pleased to accept her assistance.                                                                                                                                            

NEXT MEETING 5 JANUARY 2009 

MINUTES of FAIRLIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL 3 NOVEMBER 08

PRESENT: D Telford (Chair), S Graham (Secy), A Massey (Minutes),
R Holmes, T Murdoch, J Riddell, C Corral (L&MWN), J McFie (Fife),
R Gilchrist (Organic Growers), K Gibson (MSP), PC S McCormick,
T Devine (Transport Scotland) and around 20 villagers.
APOLOGIES: I Hunter (Treas), and Councillor A Gallagher.

POLICE REPORT: There were 48 incidents over the last month including:
4 crimes of drug related driving; 1 Road Traffic offence; 2 vandalisms and a number of Fixed Penalty tickets issued. PC McC informed FCC 5 new officers would be serving the North Ayrshire area soon. If he was not available for a CC meeting, we would have a Sergeant or Inspector instead.

TRANSPORT SCOTLAND: DT welcomed Tom Devine from TS and invited him to respond to the questions previously submitted to him.

He could not direct heavy traffic to avoid Fairlie since the A78 was a trunk road.

He thought repairs at the Causeway would be impossibe without closing the road. It was pointed out that there was no diversion available and TD agreed to take this into consideration.

TD acknowledged the many restrictions, defects and lacks but said a Bypass was not being considered at present or in the near future.

TD noted concerns about road surfaces, narrow pavements, the illegal width at the Traffic Lights, the obstructions on the pavements that block prams and wheel-chairs, the amount of standing water because of poor cross-fall and the large puddles, resulting from inadequate drains, which resulted in pedestrians being soaked by passing vehicles.
TD also noted that village life was restricted by the above.

TD was informed that many lorries were delivering coal to Clydeport through Fairlie from open-cast mines in Fife. JR pointed out that while we expected coal to arrive by ship and leave by rail and small coaster this was a very surprising and unwelcomed development. TD was unaware of this and said he would investigate.
TD was surprised to hear that the traffic island at the north end of the village had been unlit for over 2 years. AM agreed to forward a letter confirming this. AM also gave TD 2 photos or the Causeway area.

DT thanked TD for his coming and looked forward to hearing from him.

NEXT MEETING 10 NOVEMBER

CONTINUATION of FAIRLIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL's MEETING of 1 November,
on 10 November 2008.

PRESENT: D Telford (Chair), S Graham (Secy), A Massey (Mins), T Murdoch
and J Riddell.

OCTOBER MINUTES: Proposed TM and seconded JR.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: NAC minutes and Planning Applications - none relevant to Fairlie;
Licence applications from Fins and the Kelburn Cafe;
NAC has stopped any further development of Southannan;
An NHS Seminar on Health and Partnership is taking place on 12 Nov 08;
A seminar about Planning meets in Irvine on 15 Nov 08 - JR will try to go;
The North Coast Area Committee meets on 13 Nov 08 - TM will attend;
Following an invitation from sI to use its website FCC decided to post Minutes and other information there;
An invitation to a Firth of Clyde Forum entitled 'The Clyde in a changing climate' was declined - the cost was £50.

TREASURER: DG requested an update on the progress of seeking Charitable Status for the FCT.

AOB
FIFE PROJECT: C McDowell reported that a new 'Maquette', made by J McF, had been approved by the group. It would now be taken to Edinburgh to assess suitability for casting. Funds were gathering slowly both for the Fife project and the Shore Footpath.

FAIRLIE TENNIS CLUB: SG was instructed to write for the promised information about their financial position so that FCC's loan to them could be reviewed.

KAIM HILL WIND FARM MEETING of 10 October: SG has sent a letter to NAC
detailing the objections raised there.

XMAS LIGHTS: SG will contact Fairlie Primary School and the Village Hall to book a suitable date for this event.

POST of SECRETARY: SG intimated that he would resign as Secretary at the AGM but will remain on the Council.

CLOSURE of the A78 on Sunday 30 November: Amey will be repairing the road around the Causeway. A diversion will be in place.

AGM: It was decided to hold this at the start of the December meeting.

NEXT MEETING 1 DECEMBER 2008

A Massey