Community Council Meeting

The meeting opened with the Annual General Meeting.  Robert Francombe was elected Chairman and John Hepburn is Vice Chairman.  Both the Secretary and Treasurer will retire as soon as replacements are found.  The Community Councillors remain as last year.

This was followed by a presentation from SSE regarding the Wind Farm at Langhope Rig.  The works to Martins Bridge should be completed on the 22nd July.  Construction of the site will then begin during August/September and continue for 12-14 months.  This will include delivery of concrete involving 60 plus loads per turbine.  Signs will be erected through the valley giving notice of the dates of the concrete pouring days.  Each lorry will be fitted with a tracker to check speed and the cabs will be numbered to aid identification in case of problems.

The Community Councillors were insistent that local residents should be issued with a telephone number to contact SSE to report problems.  SSE agreed to this request. 

Turbine delivery will commence in the spring of 2014 with a ‘trial run’ in September 2013 to check the route.  Due to problems with the route through Denholm the turbine blades have been reduced and the turbines are now 1.6 mw and not 2.3 mw as originally planned, although the turbine height remains the same.  Works on the grid connection will start in the autumn; no planning permission is required for this aspect of the development.  The route will be via Todrig – Whitslade – Ashkirk and will be overhead and underground.   

A Common Investment Fund meeting will be held at the end of August which will give information about the application procedure and eligibility.  Priority will be given to projects closer to the Wind Farm.  SSE will also meet local businesses to see if they are able to provide services. 

The Traffic Management Plan was approved by Scottish Borders Council in late June.  Robert Francombe expressed surprise as the CC was not consulted and did not receive a copy of the plan. 

SSE suggested forming a liaison group with local community representatives to hold regular meeting with minutes available to the public.

The state of the B711 was drawn to the attention of the SSE representatives.  It is understood that SBC are investigating. 

After this presentation the CC meeting continued.  SSE are not installing fibre optic cables due to the cost and nor are Scottish Water so the valley will not be able to benefit from broadband via this route.  Councillor Ron Smith said that production of a map showing coverage of high speed broadband across the Borders is imminent and more information should be available by the end of the summer and ‘no-one would be disappointed by coverage across the Scottish Borders’.

The planning application for the eco village at Craik is pending.  Details are available on the planning website; there is no opportunity to make comments at present but the consultation replies are visible. The difficulties continue with the removal of the log cabin on the site.

Ian Robson is to be the CC representative for the Timber Transport sub-group. 

The CC will submit an objection to the Barrel Law wind farm planning appeal.

The A7 Action Group will give a presentation at the next CC meeting in September

The school bus is now only travelling as far as Deanburnhaugh.  Residents have been lead to believe that this is a public service.  No explanation and no warning of the change of route was given.

The next meeting will be held at the Forman Hall, Roberton on Monday 2nd September at 7.30 p.m.