Highland Council

Highland Councillor News from Councillor Margaret Davidson

The story of my travails on South Loch Ness and Stratherrick and Foyers can be summed up in 6 words

Roads Roads Roads

Bridges Bridges Bridges

Not entirely true of course and I’ll come to that, but they loom large

The Roads….all the roads on South Loch Ness are terrible. That is a given. But we have to change it. Over the last 6-9 months we have been raising the profile of the road conditions with the director of Tec services Neil Gilles, and indeed having him out for a drive round on very midgy evening in July. Quote from Neil “some bits are okay”. However we made the points necessary and my hope is that there will be provision to invest in all South Loch Ness Roads in the new capital plan. I was pretty confident earlier this year, but as we hear that public sector finance will be severely squeezed over the next 5 years….then I am less sure. However we will keep up the pressure and fingers crossed

Anyway we helped the maintenance team find South Loch Ness this year and we have had a good few miles of surface dressing and some patching.

There has been a good deal of discussion about timber extraction and the problems it caused and leaves behind. Let me or your Community Council know when there is a problem. I think we need to have this as a topic at one of our ward forums and talk it out

Bridges….. Let’s start with Lower Foyers. We have spent some time bringing this to the attention of Highland Council both bridge engineers and the director and chairman. John Laing the Chairman of Tec’s came with me to receive the petition from the folks in Lower Foyers and I reckon every one of them had signed it. We now have to keep it on the agenda and again wait for the Council’s new capital programme.

The Old Wade Bridge at Whitebridge is powering along. John Townsend has been doing very well and the Highland Council solicitor Forbes Rennie has been outstanding. Do support the company. The next moves of course will be hunting the money to do the job.

And then someone said to me there was another old bridge at Inverfarigaig. Oh Help!!

Now what else has been on the go?

Glenlia. It has been a real treat to work with the new residents group at Glenlia. There is no shortage of ideas and it will be good to consult with residents and start getting things done this autumn/winter.

Again in Foyers, I hope to call a meeting in the autumn to discuss signage, parking, and other matters to improve the visitor and indeed local experience in Foyers. Let me have your ideas and help me identify all the problems. I will bring Destination Loch Ness and Graeme Ambrose (from Inverfarigaig) along to help us with this one.

Leader Money. This is European money that is to help community development. Bring out all of your best ideas. I hope to see it used for play areas in Foyers and Gorthleck.

There is fresh talk about the prospect of a village hall in Foyers. That could be the most important project we take forward. Let’s not loose the discussion.

Housing. I am delighted to see Albyn Housing Association moving fast at last on a new social housing build in Gorthleck. I am sure those houses will be wonderful and improve life for the people who go into them. The next steps will be to discuss housing need in Foyers and Inverfarigaig.

You will see me around over the autumn and often with the new Ward 13 Manager, Louise McCaul who is a star.

All the best

Margaret Davidson Highland Councillor Aird and Loch Ness

Margaret.davidson@highland.gov.uk

01463 861424 mobile 07818015689

Abriachan Nurseries. Kilianan Loch Ness Side Inverness IV3 8LA