More updates, issues and events from around the ward. Please get in touch to discuss any issues or concerns you may have. Margaret.

1. WARD UPDATE 8th March 2012
Parking metres in Glen Affric came up at Glen Urquhart Community Council on Monday evening.
They decided to support the businesses and community in Cannich in their protest about the arrivals of the
machines.
I had an e-mail today from Pierre Lebrun from Shenval, a frequent visitor to Glen Affric and he says
Dear all,
I have been to Glen Affric today again and FCS has made a further move with a new
notice which reads as follows:
From 01/04/12 a Pay and Display system will operate at this car park.
Parking payments are important, helping us maintain these facilities and forest trails
for all to enjoy.
(List of charges shown ranging from £1 per car for 1 hour to £8 per coach/minibus)
Have a great visit and thanks for your support.
Then the small print in a single line: "In fairness to all users, we will be enforcing this
parking charge"
The notice ends with "For further info and season tickets, please contact 01463
791575"
So there we have it:
It looks like if support is not offered in the form of paying the charges asked,
enforcement is threatened but not expanded upon.
Is the Commission bluffing, knowing it does not have a strong justifiable case?
Despite two specific written queries on whether the charges will be either compulsory
or voluntary, I have not yet received an official reply from FCS answering my
questions.
I wrote to FCS highlighting my concerns about several issues of FCS's own making. Non
users of facilities who are unwilling to pay (hill walkers and their likes who have no
time for urbanised countryside and locals walking their dogs or out with the family for
an afternoon stroll) face the prospect of either being bullied or having to go back to
Cannich as the only place where sensible free car parking can be had.
Regards, Pierre
I have written to Simon Hodge - director of Forest Enterprise to seek a meeting with a delegation of people from
Glen Urquhart and Cannich, they want their opportunity to say why Glen Affric is different and why they do not want
charges.
I think there are 3 main issues
 The legality of what they are doing…but they will resist that tooth and nail as they do it many places
 The appropriate of doing it in Glen Affric…and that is where we have the main chance we must make a clear
case for why not glen Affric and take it to our meeting
 The really bad mannered disregard for the communities they work in. We might get an apology
there….maybe
Article in Courier
GREAT NEWS
Glen Urquhart has been allocated 1.5 Million pounds over 2 years for a new
Medical Centre in Drum.
Fantastic news! This is a credit to the community in Glen Urquhart for the
fact they never let go the tail of this one and a lot of recent lobbying has
paid off.
Following our meeting about a month ago, I have a summary of the things
people said they wanted to see being delivered locally.
I am thinking a new green field site and extra space might cost more than 1.5 Million, but it is a great start, and now
we can start the conversations with new NHS manager for the area - Nigel Small.

2. ON MONDAY THIS WEEK:
I had the real pleasure of house warming at Strathpeffer where we have built eight new council houses.
The Council has started a programme of new council housing in recent years and
we have plans for over 700 more. Great News
On Tuesday I was at a house warming again at new council houses in Nairn
These were on the site of the old Corse nursing home and they are designed for
the over 60s.
Lovely inside and that unmistakable smell of new house as you go in
Mr and Mrs Webster have a great new home and were very kind to greet us all.
WEDNESDAY WAS THE LAST HOUSING AND SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE EVER
I started the meeting by thanking the staff and the two outstanding directors Bill
Alexander and Steve Barron for their unflagging work and all of the staff for an
excellent 5 years work.
I was given a lovely bunch of flowers by the staff, which was very nice
5 years of progress and achievement in housing and social work and am very proud
of the part I have played in it.
You can watch the full Webcast on the council website
FINALLY
Invermoriston car park at the Millennium hall is in a shocking state.
People are turning their ankles and cars are scraping through the crater in the car
park.
I have reported it now more than once, and I hope I can very soon take a photo of me
standing by a patched car park.