Author: BaCC Secretary

Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

Monday 5^th October 2026 in the Village Hall, Cleish at 7:30pm

Present:

• Charles MacLaren
• Sean Gordon
• Simon Jenkins
• Jes Bunce
• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Cllr Dave Cuthbert
• Cllr Willie Robertson
• PC Ben Samson

Apologies:

• Cllr Neil Freshwater
• Cllr Richard Watters

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the previous meeting.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

From 3^rd August 2026 (last report) there have been approximately 31 calls to Police from the Cleish and Blairadam area and 13 crimes recorded on Police systems, 9 of which relate to Road Traffic offences. 

Crimes of note

05/10/2026 – Theft (Gairneybank, Kinross): Theft of copper pipes from driveway.

• Copper pipes returned and subject to live investigation 

Traffic

Community officers are aware of regular areas where there are complaints about speeding in and around Cleish and Blairadam. These have all been added to the speeding matrix and the police will continue to make efforts to carry out speed checks across the area during patrols.

04/08/2026 – Causing serious injury by dangerous driving (B996 between Kelty and Fruix)

• Dangerous driving and crash, and causing witness to sustain a broken sternum
• 1 person charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal

10/08/2026 – Careless driving (B9097 near Junction 5)

• Driving through a road closure at a RTC and damaging a cone
• 1 person charged and issued with a conditional offer (ticket) 

10/08/2026 – Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, no seatbelt, fail to change address on licence (B996 at junction with B9097)

• Pulled out of the junction and collided with another vehicle, causing injury to occupants
• 1 person charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal

09/09/2026 – Driving using mobile phone (B996 near Kelty)

• 1 person charged and issued with a conditional offer (ticket) 

Roads Policing Officers have also been doing checks on the M90 with 1 ticket being issued for speeding. In addition to this, 3 reports were made to the Procurator Fiscal for speeding offences and 2 for drivers having no insurance.

Police Community Team

Community Police Email Address – TaysideCommunityPolicePerthandKinross@scotland.police.uk.

Community Speed Watch

Milnathort CC and PC Samson are trying to set up a meeting with the areas interested, to move this initiative forwards and create a plan. At present the interested areas are Glenfarg, Portmoak and Fossoway. Vetting is currently on hold until the plan in place.

Financial Update

Current state of accounts shows a balance of £325.91, with recent outgoings for the Community Council Hall rental for CC meetings, and bank charges.

Kinross High-School Update

This was postponed until the next CC meeting due to the School Captains not being available to be present.

Planning

Under the current PKC guidance, any objection by the Community Council automatically refers an application to the Planning Committee; otherwise, it requires 6 objections from separate households to refer an application.

Applications Pending

• 26/00821/FLL – Siting of residential caravan (for a temporary period) (in retrospect)
  • Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB
  • The Community Council has objected to this application.
• 26/00812/FLL – Erection of 4 dwellinghouses and associated works (renewal of permission 23/00425/FLL)
  • Land 45 Metres South Of Hillcrest Maryburgh
• 26/00544/FLL – Erection of a chalet, storage shed and 2 hard-standing caravan pitches
  • Land 150 Metres North East Of Log Cabin, Blairfordel Farm, Kelty, KY4 0HP
• 25/01748/FLL– Formation of 7 residential caravan pitches with ancillary facilities buildings, septic tank, ancillary touring pitches, vehicle parking and access, erection of stable building and associated works (in part retrospect
  • Land 180 Metres North Of Hawthorn Wood Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0JH
  • The Community Council have objected to this application
• 24/01873/FLL – Siting of three residential caravans with ancillary buildings forming two pitches, installation of septic tank, access and car parking (in part retrospect)
  • Land 275 Metres East Of The Willows Blairforge Kelty KY4 0JD
  • The Community Council are objecting to this application
• 26/00619/FLL – Erection of chalet, storage shed/Workshop and formation of 2 hardstanding caravan pitches (in part retrospect)
  • Land 90 Metres North Of Log Cabin Blairfordel Farm Kelty KY4 0HP
• 26/01103/FLL – Erection of replacement dwellinghouse and associated works
  • Templeton Farm Cleish Kinross KY13 0LS

Enforcements

• 25/00002/ALUNDV – Alleged unauthorised erection of a garden building
  • Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB
  • Enforcement Notice Issued
• 26/00001/UNAUSE – Alleged unauthorised use of garden ground for commercial purposes and land engineering
  • Borrowdale Blairadam Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JG
  • Formal Enforcement Notice Served
• 26/00257/UNAADV – Alleged unauthorised advertisement
  • Land 20 Metres South Of The Forge Blairforge Kelty KY4 0JD
• Blairforge – Concerns were again raised about the continued lack of enforcement by PKC of the numerous planning violations which have been allowed to proceed un-checked over the last several years.
  • The residents and CC are again requesting an update from PKC and the Elected Local Councillors.

Sustainability Group

The Community Council is continuing to participate in in the Sustainability Group, with both local wind farms proceeding towards completion dates around 2035. The Sustainability Group is also investigating the organisational structures and governance models which would be necessary for such a group to be able manage community funding

Village Updates

Blairadam

• Broken Drain Grating in Main Street – Was reported to PKC via the Council Portal, but the roads department declined to replace it as the pieces of the grating had not yet fallen into the drain. This response has been escalated to the elected Councillors.
• Tabernacle Hall – Concerns were raised relating to the fire safety of this building, and those concerns caused this month’s CC meeting to be relocated to Cleish Village Hall. It is hoped that CC meetings will be able to resume in the Tabernacle Hall next year once the fire safety concerns have been addressed.

Cleish

• Silted Drains – A completely silted drain in Borland was reported on the PKC portal, but the case was closed stating that the blocked drain was not a road safety issue. This has been escalated to the elected Councillors.
• Core Paths & Walking Groups – One of the items highlighted in the Cleish and Blairadam Community Action Plan (CAP) was the development and maintenance of the many walking paths in our area. This will be discussed at the next CC meeting.

Next CC Meeting

It was agreed to hold the next Community Council Meeting on Monday 7^th December 2026 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall, Cleish.

Minutes of AGM of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

7:30pm, 5^th October 2026 – Village Hall, Cleish

Present:

• Charles MacLaren
• Sean Gordon
• Simon Jenkins
• Jes Bunce
• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Cllr Dave Cuthbert
• Cllr Willie Robertson

Apologies:

• Cllr Neil Freshwater
• Cllr Richard Watters

Chairman’s Report

It has been my privilege and pleasure to serve as Chair of Cleish and Blairadam Community Council for another year. I wish to thank all of the Community Councillors for their continued diligence, support, guidance and for the time and effort that they give freely to our local Community. It is with regret that we see our secretary Sean Gordon retire from the CC this year, and we offer our thanks for his sterling work and invaluable advice on matters pertaining to Blairadam and in all matters technological.

I would also like to thank our elected Councillors for their full and conscientious support. I know their job often thankless, however their continued support for our community is much appreciated and they all have my thanks.

My thanks also go to all those members of the community who attend our meetings, read our notices and minutes and participate in the ongoing discussions.

We would like to encourage these and other members of the public to join the Community Council and have your voice heard.

I wish you all success in your endeavours for the coming year.

Sincerely, Francis Principe-Gillespie, Chair, Cleish and Blairadam Community Council

Treasurers Report

The audited accounts for 2026 were presented, with the year-end CC bank balance at £321.66

The audited accounts will now be submitted to PKC.

Resignations

The Community Council Secretary S. Gordon resigned

Appointment of officers

The following roles were appointed:

• Chair – Francis Principe-Gillespie
• Vice-Chair – Charles Maclaren
• Treasurer – Jes Bunce

New Community Council Members Needed!

The Cleish and Blairadam Community Council is now at the minimum allowed number of members, and is looking for new members who would be interested in joining the Community Council to help represent your area.

If you are interested in joining, or finding out more, please contact the Community Council at: cleishandblairadamcc@gmail.com

Date of next meeting

The next AGM will be held in October 2027, with exact date and location to be announced closed to the time.

Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

Monday 1st June 2026 in the Tabernacle Hall, Keltybridge at 7:30pm

Present:

• Charles MacLaren
• Sean Gordon
• Simon Jenkins
• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Jes Bunce
• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Cllr Richard Watters
• Cllr Neil Freshwater
• PC Ben Samson
• PC Ashley Duncan

Apologies:

• Cllr Dave Cuthbert

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the previous meeting.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Correspondence

• The CC received an invitation to attend a demonstration of the Headstone Safety Programme inspection process, which will be held at Orwell Churchyard, Milnathort, KY13 9YQ on Thursday 4^th June, from 10:00am.

Resignations

After the previous meeting Fred Whalley announced he was standing down from the Community Council after many years of service to the community. The Community Council members expressed their thanks to Fred for his efforts and support over the many years of service.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

From 6^th April 2026 (last report) there have been approximately 26 calls to Police from the Cleish and Blairadam area and 6 crimes recorded on Police systems (3 for Road Traffic offences).

Traffic

Community officers are aware of regular areas where there are complaints about speeding in and around Cleish and Blairadam. These have all been added to our speeding matrix and we will continue to make efforts to carry out speed checks across the area during our patrols.

• 07/05/2026 No insurance, no MOT and driving under the influence of drugs (B996 at the junction of the B9097, between Kinross and Kelty)
  • 1 X reported to the Procurator Fiscal

Roads Policing Officers have also been doing speed checks on the M90 with 8 tickets being issued for speeding and 2 for drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving. In addition to this, 13 reports were made to the Procurator Fiscal for speeding, 1 for driving with no insurance and 1 for drink driving.

To make the Police aware of regular speeding issues, please email TaysideCommunityPolicePerthandKinross@scotland.police.uk , visit our “contact us” page or phone 101 to provide full details.

Police Community Team

Community Police Email Address – TaysideCommunityPolicePerthandKinross@scotland.police.uk.

Financial Update

Current state of accounts shows a balance of £425.91, with recent outgoings for the Community Council WordPress site, and Hall rentals for CC meetings.

Planning

Under the new guidance, an objection by the Community Council automatically refers an application to the Planning Committee; otherwise, it requires 6 objections from separate households to refer an application.

Applications Approved

• 25/01331/FLL – Siting of a residential caravan (in retrospect)
  • Land 150 Metres North of Benview Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0HR
• 26/00374/FLL – Erection of stable block and formation of hardstanding (in retrospect)
  • Land 140 Metres West Of The Birks Blairadam Kelty KY4 0HZ9
• 26/00291/FLL – Extension to dwellinghouse
  • Gairney Bank Filling Station Gairney Bank Kinross KY13 9JZ
• 26/00444/CLP – Alterations (proposed)
  • 20 Main Street Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JH

Applications Pending

• 26/00704/PNA – Erection of agricultural building
  • Land 160 Metres North West Of Craigton House Cleish
• 26/00544/FLL – Erection of a chalet, storage shed and 2 hard-standing caravan pitches
  • Land 150 Metres North East Of Log Cabin, Blairfordel Farm, Kelty, KY4 0HP
• 24/01873/FLL – Siting of three residential caravans with ancillary buildings forming two pitches, installation of septic tank, access and car parking (in part retrospect)
  • Land 275 Metres East Of The Willows Blairforge Kelty KY4 0JD
  • The Community Council are objecting to this application
• 26/00443/LBC – Installation of replacement windows and doors
  • 20 Main Street Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JH
• 26/00531/FLL – Erection of 4 dwellinghouses and associated works
  • Land 70 Metres West Of Woodlands Maryburgh Kelty KY4 0JE
• 25/01748/FLL– Formation of 7 residential caravan pitches with ancillary facilities buildings, septic tank, ancillary touring pitches, vehicle parking and access, erection of stable building and associated works (in part retrospect
  • Land 180 Metres North Of Hawthorn Wood Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0JH
  • The Community Council have objected to this application

Applications Refused

• 26/00213/FLL – Erection of ancillary accommodation unit
  • Station House Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JA

Enforcements

• 25/00002/ALUNDV – Alleged unauthorised erection of a garden building
  • Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB
• 26/00001/UNAUSE – Alleged unauthorised use of garden ground for commercial purposes and land engineering
  • Borrowdale Blairadam Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JG
• Blairforge – Concerns were again raised about the continued lack of enforcement by PKC of the numerous planning violations which have been allowed to proceed un-checked over the last several years.
  • The residents and CC are again requesting an update from PKC and the Elected Local Councillors.

Sustainability Group

The Community Council is continuing to participate in in the Sustainability Group, with both local wind farms proceeding towards completion dates around 2035.

Village Updates

Blairadam

• Broken Drain Grating in Main Street – This will be reported to PKC via the Council Portal.

Gairney Bridge

• Speeding Vehicles – There have been multiple reports of vehicles speeding through Gariney Bridge, particularly at the weekends when a large proportion of the passing vehicles are travelling in excess of posted sign limit – as indicated by the speed warning display at the start of Gairney Bridge. This issue has been reported to Police Scotland.

Cleish

• Fly-tipping – The recent fly tipping incident near Cleish was cleared up within a day thanks to the PKC Fly Tipping team!
• Cleish Village Trust – A Community meeting will be held on 11^th June to discuss the purchase of the church. The purchase of the church is proceeding, but the Trust are still negotiating with the Church of Scotland in relation to parking and access to the existing car park.

Next CC Meeting

It was agreed to hold the next Community Council Meeting on Monday 3^rd August 2026 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall, Cleish

7:30pm, 6^th April 2026 – Cleish Village Hall, Cleish

Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

Present:

• Charles MacLaren
• Sean Gordon
• Simon Jenkins
• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Fred Whalley
• Jes Bunce
• Cllr Neil Freshwater

Apologies:

• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Cllr Richard Watters
• Cllr Dave Cuthbert

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the previous meeting.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

From 1^st February 2026 (last report) there have been approximately 23 calls to Police from the Cleish and Blairadam area and 4 crimes recorded on Police systems.

Traffic

• 20/02/2026 – Driver fail to wear a seatbelt (B9097 at junction with M90)
  • 1 x issued with a conditional offer (ticket)
• 24/02/2026 – Driver with no insurance (Hatchbank Road, Gairneybank)
  • 1 x issued with a conditional offer (ticket)
• 27/02/2026 – Careless driving (B9097 near Loch Leven Equine Practice) (vehicle pulled out into the opposing carriageway and collided with another vehicle)
  • 1 x reported to the Procurator Fiscal
• 08/03/2026 – Open door of motor vehicle whilst on road so as to injure or endanger any person (Cleish Hill) – Open door of motor vehicle causing victim to swerve and fall off motorbike causing injury
  • Subject to live investigation

Roads Policing Officers have also been doing speed checks on the M90 with 7 tickets being issued for speeding and 1 for careless driving after a driver failed to observe stationery traffic and collided with another vehicle.

To make us aware of regular speeding issues, please email TaysideCommunityPolicePerthandKinross@scotland.police.uk, visit our “Contact Us” page or phone 101 to provide full details.

Police Community Team Activity

New Community Police Email Address – The Police Community Team email address has changed – Previously there were 10 email addresses for community Police in Perth & Kinross and this has now been streamlined to one: TaysideCommunityPolicePerthandKinross@scotland.police.uk.

School Talk – 26th February PC’s Samson & Duncan attended Cleish Primary School and held a talk about drugs, alcohol and vapes. The students engaged well and we hope they learnt something useful.

Drainage

Cleish

The gullies in Cleish, particularly in the Borland area, have now been thoroughly cleaned, along with the gullies in the village of Cleish. The Community Council would like to commend the level of effort, and the quality of the work carried out by the PKC personnel!

Financial Update

Current state of accounts shows a balance of £559.21

The CC are still paying ongoing bank charges to Bank of Scotland which are in excess of £60 per year, so the CC plans to move the account to RBS.

As agreed at the previous CC meeting the CC have restarted the subscription to the APRS (Scotland’s Countryside Charity) [https://aprs.scot] at a cost of £40.

The subscription to Parish On-Line mapping service has also been renewed at a cost of £60, as this has proved to be a useful tool when creating local plans etc.

Rental of Tabernacle for the previous meeting has also been paid – £40

The CC has also purchased a laptop for use by the CC members, and to support the virtual meetings and secretarial work, at a cost of £199.

Kinross-shire Committee

CC agreed to rotate the attendees to this committee to ensure that each CC member can attend.

Planning

Under the new guidance, an objection by the Community Council automatically refers an application to the Planning Committee; otherwise, it requires 6 objections from separate households to refer an application.

Applications Approved

• 25/01331/FLL – Siting of a residential caravan (in retrospect)
  • Land 150 Metres North of Benview Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0HR

Applications Pending

• 26/00444/CLP – Installation of replacement windows and doors (proposed)
  • 20 Main Street Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JH
• 26/00291/FLL – Extension to dwellinghouse
  • Gairney Bank Filling Station Gairney Bank Kinross KY13 9JZ
• 26/00374/FLL – Erection of stable block and formation of hardstanding (in retrospect)
  • Land 140 Metres West Of The Birks Blairadam Kelty KY4 0HZ
• 25/01748/FLL– Formation of 7 residential caravan pitches with ancillary facilities buildings, septic tank, ancillary touring pitches, vehicle parking and access, erection of stable building and associated works (in part retrospect
  • Land 180 Metres North Of Hawthorn Wood Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0JH
  • The Community Council have objected to this application

Enforcements

• 25/00002/ALUNDV – Alleged unauthorised erection of a garden building at Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB
• Blairforge – Concerns were again raised about the continued lack of enforcement by PKC of the numerous planning violations which have been allowed to proceed un-checked over the last several years.
  • The residents and CC are requesting an update from PKC and the Elected Local Councillors.

Local Place Plan

The registration of the Cleish and Blairadam Local Place Plan is proceeding, as reported in the previous minutes. The CC received a request for clarification on two points in the plan, relating to additional parking in Keltybridge and the actual routes of local paths. The CC has responded with the requested information and the Local Place Plan has been submitted for registration.

Sustainability Group

The community council continues to participate in the Sustainability Group, and attended the meeting recently held in Glenfarg Village Hall on Thursday 19^th March. Among the outcomes of this meeting was a continued commitment to the aims of this group and a desire to stay engaged with the group. However, it was recognised that that the level of commitment necessary to do justice to our participation in this important activity would mean that we need to recruit members of the local community who have the skills and the bandwidth to devote to representing Cleish and Blairadam’s interests at the Sustainability Group.

If you are interested in in helping, please contact the Community Council.

Village Updates

Blairadam

• Pavement Parking – The problem with inconsiderate residents parking on the pavements and rendering them impassible to foot traffic continues!

Cleish

• Cleish Village Fete and Classic Car Show will be held on May 9^th.
• Cleish Village Trust – Agreement has been reached with the Church of Scotland regarding purchase of the church but is currently awaiting agreement regarding the use of the Glebe for parking.
• Damaged Wall – A section dry stone wall has been damaged on the outskirts of the village, opposite the Telephone Exchange – the CC will investigate who is responsible for the repair of the wall and if any funding is available to help fund the repair.

Any Other Business

• Community Speed Watch – Milnathort Community Council are starting the Community Speed Watch program up again, but they are looking for participation and support from the surrounding communities. If anyone is interested in participating in this program, please contact the Community Council.
• Community Flyer / Newsletter – The question of whether the CC should restart the printed CC newsletter or produce some form of information flyer which could be distributed to the local community was raised. If you are interested in this, or want to offer support, please contact the Community Council.

Next CC Meeting

It was agreed to hold the next Community Council Meeting at 7:30pm on 1^st June 2026 at the Tabernacle Hall, Keltybridge