Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

7:30pm, 3^rd February 2024 –Tabernacle Village Hall, Keltybridge

Download the minutes as a PDF document by clicking on the button below:

Present:

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

Apologies:

• Margaret Traylor
• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Cllr Richard Watters
• PC Samson

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

Cllr Cuthbert took an action at the previous CC meeting to speak to the PKC roads department and the PKC department responsible for the maintenance of graveyards in relation the poor state of repair of the road into the Cleish cemetery. PKC is looking into the problem, as the road is jointly owned meaning that the other owner needs to be involved.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

No crimes of note since the last CC meeting in December 2024.

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.

Community officers PC Samson and Duncan have been carrying out speed checks in Gairneybank and Gairneybridge following complaints from residents. During their checks no drivers have been issued with tickets or been reported for any offences. Checks will continue in accordance with the Police speeding matrix.

Community Team Activity

The Police Community Team often post on their Twitter page @PSOSPerthKin with updates on what they are doing out and about in the local community under #KinrossCPT. Please feel free to follow them! 

The Police Community Team are aware of the recent report of fly-tipping in the Maryburgh area which PCs Samson & Duncan went to assess. This was thereafter passed on to the council’s fly-tipping team and local officers were made aware for passing attention. 

Drainage

Keltybridge

• Recently heavy rainfall highlighted (again) the flood risk to a property on the main street, and the PKC gully clearing team responded quickly and cleaned all the nearby drains.

Cleish

• Road gulleys West of the village are not being cleaned out, despite being reported to PKC multiple times. The policy of the council is to maintain a scheduled gully cleaning approach and will only respond to out of schedule drain cleaning events if there a risk of flooding to a property. If there is risk of flooding to a property residents are encouraged to report the problem via the PKC portal and make clear the risk to property flooding in the report.

Financial Update

• The accounts have audited by PKC, and the CC have now received the end-of-year top-up from PKC
• The Bank of Scotland have this year started to charge a monthly fee for Treasurer’s accounts such as the one used by the Community Council. The CC will investigate to see if we can find alternative free banking services.

Planning

The following planning applications have been added or updated since the previous Community Council meeting.

Applications Refused

• 24/00703/IPL – Residential development (in principle), Land 140 Metres North East Of The Bungalow Benarty Road Kelty
  • This is the second application for this site which has been refused.

Applications Pending

• 24/00938/FLL – Formation of seven residential caravan pitches each with ancillary facilities building, septic tank, ancillary touring pitches, vehicle parking and access, erection of one stable building and associated works – Land 180 Metres North Of Hawthorn Wood Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0JH
  • This has also been reported to PKC Planning Enforcement as work appears to have started before permission has been granted.

Planning Enforcements

• 25/00002/ALUNDV – Alleged unauthorised erection of a garden building at Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB.
  • A large residential cabin has been erected without planning permission.
• 24/00123/LAND – Land adversely affecting amenity at Blairfordel Farm Kelty KY4 0HP
  • Enforcement notice issued

Blairforge Planning Enforcement

• Concerns were again raised in relation to the enforcement of planning decisions by PKC, and in particular the lack of progress on enforcement of the planning violations at Blairfordel Farm which appears to be leading to the unconstrained growth of a settlement where there are increasing numbers of structures without planning consent.
  • The CC understand that PKC will be issuing a decision on this enforcement in the near future.

Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan

The Community Council has been granted funding to help with the development of a Community Action Plan to cover Cleish and Blairadam. This work will feed into the Local Place Plan for Cleish and Blairadam, which is a crucial way through which the local residents can make their views and priorities for development known. 

The Local Place Plan is an important means for residents to make known their wishes and to help influence the wider PKC Local Area Plan. 

Community Enterprise Scotland has been engaged by the CC to help arrange community engagement sessions and to develop the Community Action Plan. As this works progresses the Community Council will be providing regular updates to the community.

Sustainability Group

Representatives of the Community Council attended a meeting of the Sustainability Group at Cleish Village Hall, where Dunning joined the group of Community Councils, and the Memorandum of Understanding was signed by all the CC who make up the Sustainability Group.

Village Updates

Blairadam

• Fly-Tipping – Sometime during the early hours of 13^th January a large amount of building and domestic waste was tipped in Maryburgh, at the side of the road to the North of the settlement and scattering across the road itself! 
  This is one of the worst incidents we have ever seen in this area. The incident was reported to PKC’s dedicated Fly Tipping team, who quickly removed the waste and will conduct forensic analysis on the waste to determine if the source of the waste can be found and those responsible prosecuted. 
  In response, the Community Council is also exploring options for the installation of CCTV to deter or capture any future incidents, so we’d welcome the views of the community on this idea. 
• Pavement Parking – There is an on-going problem with vehicles parking on the pavements in Keltybridge and forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads.
  • Perth & Kinross Council has announced that the pavement parking ban will be enforced from January 2025.

Cleish 

• Cleish Church, Associated Cottage and The Glebe – A SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) has been established in Cleish to investigate the community interest in acquiring the Church, Cottage and Grounds for community benefit. This group will begin canvasing local opinion and starting to investigate the options for funding.
• Missing Road Markings at Junction of B9092 and B996 – The Give Way markings at this junction have now been totally worn away making it very difficult for drivers to determine where the junction is. This is particularly dangerous at night!

Upcoming CC Meetings

Please note the change of venue for the April CC Meeting – this will now be held at Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall due to a booking conflict.

The Community Council proposes meeting on the following dates* for the remainder of 2025:

• Monday April 7^th, at 7:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.
• Monday June 2^nd, at 7:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.
• Monday August 4^th, at 7:30pm in Cleish Village Hall.
• Monday October 6^th, at 7:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.
  • The AGM will be held directly after this meeting
• Monday December 1^st, at 7:30pm in Cleish Village Hall.

* These dates may change during the year, but suitable notice will be given on any changes.

Virtual / On-line CC Meetings

The Community Council will continue to offer the option for people to join the meeting remotely, although we are changing from using Zoom to Microsoft Teams as that is a much more cost-effective option.

As of the April 2025 CC Meeting, the Community Council will be moving to Microsoft Teams for the on-line meeting. Details of how to join the virtual CC meeting will be published in the normal way, and if you are interested in attending virtually, please e-mail the CC Secretary for details (cc-sec@blairadam.net) 

8:30pm, 2^nd December 2024 – Cleish Village Hall

Present:

• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Charles MacLaren
• Fred Whalley
• Sean Gordon
• Jes Bunce
• Cllr Dave Cuthbert

Apologies:

• Margaret Traylor
• Cllr Willie Robertson
• 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 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 and our thanks that Margaret steps down from the Community Council. She has been valued voice of the community and has given a huge amount of her time to community issues. We wish her well in all her future endeavours and she has the entire communities’ thanks. 

Our role as members of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council is simply ‘To represent the views and wishes of the residents within the environs of Cleish & Blairadam’.  This has been interesting this year with many challenging planning issues from wind turbines to enforcements. Whilst there have been many opposing points of view, these views are always welcomed, and it remains our role to reflect those views in a balanced manner. 

I have really appreciated the full and conscientious support of all our local elected Councillors. I know their job is a difficult one and can seem to go un-thanked. Their continued support for our community is however very appreciated and they all have my thanks.

Last and most important 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.

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

Treasurers Report

The Audited Accounts for 2024 were presented, and showed a balance at the end of financial year of £225.58

Resignations

• Margaret Traylor resigned after 7 years as Treasurer for the CC.
• Fred Whalley announced his intention to stand down at the next AGM in 2025 but will continue to serve on the CC until that time.

Appointment of officers

The following officers were duly appointed:

• Chair – Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Vice-Chair – Charles MacLaren
• Secretary – Sean Gordon
• Treasurer – Jes Bunce
• Planning – Fres Whalley

Date of next AGM

The next AGM of the Cleish & Blairadam Community Council will be held on Monday October 6^th, 2025 at 8:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall

7:30pm, 2^nd December 2024 – Cleish Village Hall

Present:

• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Charles MacLaren
• Fred Whalley
• Sean Gordon
• Jes Bunce
• Cllr Dave Cuthbert

Apologies:

• Margaret Traylor
• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Cllr Neil Freshwater
• Cllr Richard Watters
• PC Samson

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

Covered in the relevant sections of the meeting

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

• 19/09/2024 – Vandalism (Main Road, Maryburgh):  Windows were smashed windows using stones or similar – this crime is subject to live investigation
• 26/09/2024 – Drink driving & no insurance (M90 between Junction 5 & 6), 1 Person reported to the Procurator Fiscal
• 11/10/2024 – Vandalism (Main Street, Keltybridge): Damage wing mirrors of vehicle by unknown means – this crime is subject to live investigation
• 13/11/2024 – Intended theft (a farm cottage, Blairadam): Person found to be within the curtilage of a property where the circumstances reasonably inferred that they were there to commit theft – 1 person reported to the Procurator Fiscal

Broadband Update

Blairadam Area

Keltybridge now has 100% coverage for Full Fibre Broadband with every house able to order a Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) service. This includes The Tabernacle Hall which had a Fibre service installed during September.

There are 3 properties in the wider Blairadam area which are still not Fibre enabled. These properties are on the Western side of the M90 motorway and are covered by the Scottish Government R100 Program which is due to be completed by June 2026.

Drainage

Keltybridge

• The long-standing problem with sewage leaking onto the main road near to the entrance to Middleton Park has finally been successfully resolved. The Community Councillors extended their thanks to the Elected Councillors for their efforts in escalating this problem to a successful conclusion.

Cleish

• On-going problems with the road to the graveyard, with flooding resulting in sections of the road surface being washed away, leaving a rough and unsafe surface for what is the primary means of access to a graveyard which is in active use.
  • Cllr Cuthbert took an action to enquire with the roads department and the PKC department responsible for graveyards to see if anything can be done to repair the access road.

Financial Update

• The accounts have been prepared and submitted for audit.

Planning

The following planning applications have been added or updated since the previous Community Council meeting.

Applications Pending

• 24/01744/FLL – Erection of replacement garage, Mawmill House Cleish Kinross KY13 0LN
• 24/01612/LBC – Alterations at Cleish Primary School Cleish Kinross KY13 0LR
• 24/01555/LAW – Installation of gate and alterations (proposed), Cleish Primary School Cleish Kinross KY13 0LR
• 24/01565/LBC – Installation of replacement windows, The Haughs 7 Main Street Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JH
• 24/01566/LAW – Installation of replacement windows (proposed), The Haughs 7 Main Street Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JH
• 24/00703/IPL – Residential development (in principle), Land 140 Metres North East Of The Bungalow Benarty Road Kelty

Applications Approved (Screening Opinion re: Environmental Impact Assessment)

• 24/01408/SCRN – Erection of an agricultural building for free range egg production with Temporary Managers Living Accommodation and Vehicular Access, Parking and Drainage Infrastructure – Land 300 Metres North of Mawmill Farm Bungalow Cleish Kinross KY13 0LN

Applications Refused

• 24/01233/FLL – Erection of a dwellinghouse, Land 20 Metres South of Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB

Prior Notification

• 24/01289/PNA – Erection of agricultural building, Land 270 Metres North Of 10 Blairfordel Steading Kelty KY4 0HP
• 24/01288/PNA – Erection of agricultural building, Land 260 Metres North East Of 10 Blairfordel Steading Kelty KY4 0HP

Planning Enforcements

• 24/00123/LAND – Land adversely affecting amenity at Blairfordel Farm Kelty KY4 0HP

There are a number of other outstanding enforcements in the local area, and the CC will contact the PKC Planning Enforcement team for an update on the status of these enforcements as some of them have been outstanding for a considerable amount of time.

Blairforge Planning Enforcement

• Concerns were again raised in relation to the enforcement of planning decisions by PKC, and in particular the lack of progress on enforcement of the planning violations at Blairfordel Farm which appears to be leading to the unconstrained growth of a settlement where there are increasing numbers of structures without planning consent.

Wind Turbines

The 2 applications have been submitted in the local area are currently undergoing revisions with a view to them being presented at the same time to enable the overall impact to be evaluated.

Local Place Plan

The Community Council has made an application funding to help with the development of a Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan to cover Cleish and Blairadam.

The Local Place Plan needs to be completed by the end of 2024, and given the importance of this plan in making know the wishes of the residents of Cleish and Blairadam as part of the wider PKC Local Area Plan.

Village Updates

Blairadam

• Notice Boards – The Community Council extended their thanks to Margaret and Peter Traylor for undertaking the renovation of the notice board in Keltybridge. The Community Council voted to provide fund to cover the cost of materials for this work (£54.94).
• Pavement Parking – There is an on-going problem with vehicles parking on the pavements in Keltybridge and forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads.
  • Perth & Kinross Council has announced that the pavement parking ban will be enforced from January 2025.

Cleish

• Cleish School – The Community Council is in discussions with PKC Planning and Education departments with a view to ensuring that the signage is more appropriate for the listed building, and for the village setting.
• Cleish Church – The last full church service at Cleish Church under the existing structure will be held on 29^th December 2024.

Next CC Meetings

The Community Council proposing meeting on the following dates* in 2025:

• Monday February 3^rd, at 7:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.
• Monday April 7^th, at 7:30pm in Cleish Village Hall.
• Monday June 2^nd, at 7:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.
• Monday August 4^th, at 7:30pm in Cleish Village Hall.
• Monday October 6^th, at 7:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.
  • The AGM will be held directly after this meeting
• Monday December 1^st, at 7:30pm in Cleish Village Hall.

* These dates may change during the year, but suitable notice will be given on any changes.

Download meeting minutes as PDF below:

Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

7:30pm, 16^th September 2024 – Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall

Present:

• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Charles MacLaren
• Fred Whalley
• Sean Gordon
• Cllr Neil Freshwater
• PC Samson
• PC Duncan
• Sgt. Craig

Apologies:

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

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

Covered in the relevant sections of the meeting

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

• Since the last CC meeting there have been 30 calls to the Police, with 8 crimes recorded – majority of which were traffic incidents.
• 18^th Sept – Person charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal for failing to provide a specimen after a traffic stop on the M90 at Junction 5.
• 18^th Sept – Assault at Benarty Road where one person was reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
• Speed checks were carried out in the area, particularly at Gairney Bank.
• 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 patrols.
• Roads Policing officers have been carrying out speed checks on the M90 at junction 5 which has resulted in drivers being stopped and reported for a variety of offences.
• B9097 Junction – 5 vehicle collision resulting in one minor injury and 2 people being issued with fixed penalty notices.
• Speed Watch is being coordinated locally by the Milnathort Community Council, with multiple people trained to use the equipment.
• Local resident supplied speeding statistics which had been gathered at the speed warning sign at the 40MPH limit at start of Gairney Bridge. These showed a common disregard for the speed limit, and the details were passed to the police.

Co-opting a New Councillor

As agreed at the previous Community Council meeting a new community councillor (Jes Bunce from Keltybridge) was formally co-opted on to the Community Council.

Broadband Update

Blairadam Area

Keltybridge now has 100% coverage for Full Fibre Broadband with every house able to order a Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) service. This includes The Tabernacle Hall which had a Fibre service installed during September.

There are 3 properties in the wider Blairadam area which are still not Fibre enabled. These properties are on the Western side of the M90 motorway and are covered by the Scottish Government R100 Program which is due to be completed by June 2026.

These properties are notionally covered by Voneus which took over from Broadway in the area, this means that these properties are considered to have a “superfast” broadband connection available even though the Voneus website states that the company is not able to actually deliver that service.

Drainage

Keltybridge

• On-going problem with sewage leaking onto the main road near to the entrance to Middleton Park, and directly adjacent to the place where the school busses pick-up and drop-off. We had an update from PKC Environmental Health that they had attended the site and now needed to engage a drainage contractor to identify the source of the leak, but they did not expect that work to happen in the near future.
  • Cllr Freshwater took an action to escalate this issue with the PKC Environmental Health department, as little visible progress has been made in resolving this issue since it was originally reported to PKC Environmental Health.

Financial Update

• The accounts are being prepared for the end of year audit.

Planning

The following planning applications have been added or updated since the previous Community Council meeting.

Applications Pending

• 24/00703/IPL – Residential development (in principle) – Land 140 Metres Northeast of The Bungalow Benarty Road Kelty
  • This is the second application for this site, after the first application was refused.
• 24/00938/FLL – Formation of seven residential caravan pitches each with ancillary facilities building, septic tank, ancillary touring pitches, vehicle parking and access, erection of one stable building and associated works – Land 180 Metres North of Hawthorn Wood Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0JH
  • The Community Council has Objected to this application.
• 24/01233/FLL – Erection of a dwellinghouse – Land 20 Metres South of Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB
  • This is the second application for this site, after the first application was refused.
  • The Community Council has Objected to this application.

Applications Approved

• 24/00734/FLL – Change of use of land to form extension to garden ground – 8 Abbot’s Wynd Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JS
  • Approved, but permitted development rights have been removed from the section of land that lies out with the village boundary.

Applications Withdrawn

• 24/00941/FLL – Erection of 5 dwellinghouses formation of vehicular access and associated works | Land 90 Metres North of Nivingston House Cleish Kinross KY13 0LS

Prior Notification

• 24/00917/PNA – Erection of agricultural storage building – Land 300 Metres East of Grianan Blairforge KELTY KY4 0JD
• 24/00946/PNA – Erection of agricultural storage building – Mawmill Farm Cleish Kinross KY13 0LN
• 24/01089/PNF – Formation of forestry track and upgrading of existing track – Land 780 Metres South Of 1 West Mains Cleish Kinross KY13 0LW

Planning Enforcements

• Site North of 31 Keltybridge – Referred to Planning Enforcement due the lack of compliance with conditions specified in the planning approval for 29 & 31 Keltybridge
• 24/00123/LAND – Land adversely affecting amenity | Blairfordel Farm Kelty KY4 0HP
  • Enforcement Notice Issued.

Tree Preservation Orders

• No progress so far from PKC in relation to tree preservation orders in relation to the woodland at Nivingston House.
  • Cllr Freshwater took an action to follow this up with PKC Planning.

Blairforge Planning Enforcement

• Attendees again expressed concern that the multiple planning violations at Blairfordel Farm are not being enforced despite subject to a Planning Enforcement Notice (24/00123/LAND).
• Concerns were again raised in relation to the enforcement of planning decisions by PKC, and in particular the lack of progress on enforcement of the planning violations at Blairfordel Farm which appears to be leading to the unconstrained growth of a settlement where there are increasing numbers of structures without planning consent.
• Concerns were again raised about the perceived lack of equal treatment of residents by Perth & Kinross Planning Enforcement. The commonly held view still being that Planning Enforcement discriminate against lawful settlements by aggressively pursuing “soft” targets for planning violations while allowing more “difficult” cases like Blairfordel Farm to go unchallenged. Such an approach makes a mockery of the planning process in Perth and Kinross where individuals are apparently able to ignore planning regulations with impunity.
• Residents of Blairforge who attended the meeting raised serious concerns about the lack of support from PKC during the planning mediation process with some Blairforge residents reporting being intimidated and no longer feeling safe in their own homes.
• It was again highlighted that PKC Planning had been aware of these planning violations from very early on in the illegal development of this site, and the lack of early effective enforcement by PKC Planning Enforcement has directly resulted in the sprawling illegal development that we now see.
• There seems to be little that the residents Blairforge can do in this situation to ensure that PKC Planning Enforcement is applied in an unbiased manner.

Wind Turbines

2 applications have been submitted in the local area, with one going to the Scottish Government because it is over 50MW in size, and the other going to PKC because it is below the 50MW threshold.

Sustainability Group – Representatives from the Community Council will attend the next Sustainability Group meeting at Glenfarg.

Local Place Plan

The Community Council is seeking funding to help with the development of a Local Place Plan to cover Cleish and Blairadam.

The Local Place Plan needs to be completed by the end of 2024, and given the importance of this plan in making know the wishes of the residents of Cleish and Blairadam as part of the wider PKC Local Area Plan.

Village Updates

Blairadam

• Roads – Concerns about visibility at the Junction at Blairforge due to growth on the verges – previous work did not clear the vegetation far enough back to ensure a safe level of visibility at this junction.
• Notice Boards – The Community Council has requested the assistance of the Kinross Men’s Shed to help refurbish the noticeboards in Keltybridge and Blairforge, both of which are in need of repair.
• Pavement Parking – There is an on-going problem with vehicles parking on the pavements in Keltybridge and forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads.
  • Perth & Kinross Council is currently reviewing how the Scotland-wide ban on pavement parking will be enforced in our area.
  • Cllr Freshwater took an action to share the current PKC plans.
• Speeding – There have been multiple reports by residents of vehicles speeding through the 20mph zone in Maryburgh.

Cleish

• Cleish School – Still outstanding work regarding the agreed replacement of the sign at the school with one more in keeping with the local area.
  • It is not clear what the timescale is for this work as a Listed Building Consent application to cover this work has still not been received.
  • Cllr Freshwater took an action to follow up.
• Junction of the B9097 & B996
  • The road markings at this junction are in a very poor state of repair meaning that traffic at the junction cannot easily see where the edge of the junction is – particularly in the dark.
  • The overgrown verges are impeding visibility in both directions at this junction, particularly overgrown Broom bushes which are blocking sightlines.

Next CC Meeting

The next Community Council Meeting is on 2^nd December, at 7:30pm in Cleish Village Hall.

Download meeting minutes as PDF below:

Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

7:30pm, 8^th July 2024 – Cleish Village Hall

Present:

• Fran Principe-Gillespie
• Fred Whalley
• Sean Gordon
• Cllr Neil Freshwater

Apologies:

• Margaret Traylor
• Charles MacLaren
• Cllr Dave Cuthbert
• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Cllr Richard Watters
• PC Ben Samson

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

3 actions which were covered in the relevant section of this meeting

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

From 22^nd April 2024 (last CC meeting) there have been 26 calls to Police from the Cleish and Blairadam area and 4 crimes recorded on Police systems.

23/04/2024 – 24/04/2024: Theft of motor vehicle (Templeton, Cleish) – Steal a Ford Transit Connect van via true key. This crime is subject to live investigation

11/06/2024: Theft by housebreaking (Mawmill, Cleish) – Intruders used metal ladder to scale onto first floor roof enter the building via skylight and into communal bathroom, once within enter various room ransacking each in turn, taking items from each before egressing via rear porch door leaving it ajar. This crime is subject to live investigation

Traffic Update

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.

Roads Policing officers have been carrying out speed checks on the M90 at junction 5 which has resulted in drivers being reported for speeding, no insurance and dangerous driving offences.

Correspondence

None received.

Co-opting a New Councillor

With the decision of Margaret Traylor to step down from the role of CC Treasurer later this year, the membership of the CC would drop below the minimum number of members needed, so the CC has decided to co-opt an additional member to the CC.

The meeting unanimously agreed to co-opt a new member Jes Bunce of Keltybridge to the Community. The co-option paperwork will now be submitted to PKC’s Community Council team and the Mr. Bunce will officially be co-opted at the next Community Council meeting in September.

Broadband Update

Keltybridge Area

The final phase to connect the remaining 13 properties in the Blairadam area is progressing well, with 6 of the remaining properties already connected. Openreach has committed to complete the remaining work by September this year. The Tabernacle Hall now has an installed Fibre Broadband line and although this is yet to be activated by Openreach. It is hoped that it will be commissioned in time for the next Community Council meeting which is due to be held at the Tabernacle Hall in September.

Drainage

Cleish

There are on-going flooding problems in Cleish, and in particular into the cemetery. This flooding appears to be linked to a drainage problem in the fields to the South of the main road through Cleish.

Keltybridge

The road gully has now been repaired and is draining as expected, however Keltybridge is still experiencing intermittent problems with sewage flowing onto the road near Middleton Park. Scottish Water have attended the scene and confirmed that the problem is not related to their sewers. The problem has been raised with PKC Environmental Services, but we are still awaiting a response.

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 Pending

• 24/00941/FLL: Erection of 5 dwellinghouses formation of vehicular access and associated works – Land 90 Metres North Of Nivingston House Cleish Kinross KY13 0LS
  • Representatives of the Community Council will meet with the developer to discuss this application.
• 24/00734/FLL: Change of use of land to form extension to garden ground – 8 Abbot’s Wynd Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0JS
  • The Community Council has raised concerns about this application given that the ground lies outside the settlement boundary of the village. The CC is requesting that no development should be permitted on this land beyond the conversion to garden space.
• 24/00703/IPL: Residential development (in principle) – Land 140 Metres North East Of The Bungalow Benarty Road Kelty

Applications Approved

• 24/00513/FLL: Extension to dwellinghouse – 4 Middleton Park Keltybridge Kelty KY4 0GZ
• 23/01695/FLL: Erection of a dwellinghouse – Land 15 Metres East Of Borrowdale Blairadam Keltybridge
  • A number of planning conditions were applied to this approval due to the proximity to a listed building, and the prominence of the site in relation to the entrance to the village.

Agricultural Applications Notified

• 24/00946/PNA: Erection of agricultural storage building – Mawmill Farm Cleish Kinross KY13 0LN
• 24/00917/PNA: Erection of agricultural storage building – Land 300 Metres East Of Grianan Blairforge KELTY KY4 0JD
• 24/00248/PNA: Erection of an agricultural storage building – Ardgairney Farm Kinross KY13 0LG
• 24/00130/PNA: Erection of an agricultural building – Land 140 Metres South East Of Bonny Brae Cleish Kinross KY13 0LS Cleish

Planning Enforcement

PKC Planning Enforcement has been referred to the PKC Scrutiny Committee because of apparent disparities in how the Enforcement Team operates and how it chooses to enforce particular cases.

The Planning Enforcement Charter will be reviewed by the Scrutiny Committee in September, and this will be the opportunity to provide input into the way in which the Planning Enforcement Team operates. The current PKC Planning Enforcement Charter can be reviewed here: https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/24042/Planning-Enforcement-Charter-2024-Our-Approach-to-Planning-Enforcement

Village Updates

Blairadam

• Attendees expressed concern that the multiple planning violations at Blairfordel Farm are not being enforced despite already subject to a Planning Enforcement Notice (24/00123/LAND).
  • Cllr Freshwater noted that the Planning Enforcement team have entered into a mediation process with the residents who are impacted by the enforcement notice.
• Concerns were again raised in relation to the enforcement of planning decisions, and in particular the lack of progress on enforcement of the planning violations at Blairfordel Farm which appears to be leading to the unconstrained growth of a settlement where there are increasing numbers of structures without planning consent.
• In addition, concerns were again raised about the perceived lack of equal treatment of residents by Perth & Kinross Planning Enforcement. The commonly held view still being that Planning Enforcement discriminate against lawful settlements by aggressively pursuing “soft” targets for planning violations while allowing more “difficult” cases like Blairfordel Farm to go unchallenged. Such an approach makes a mockery of the planning process in Perth and Kinross where individuals are apparently able to ignore planning regulations with impunity.
• It was noted also that the conditions of planning consent for Numbers 29 & 31 Keltybridge have not yet been fulfilled. Specifically in relation to the restoration and re-wilding of the area of land to the North of 31 Keltybridge where a condition was included in the planning consent.
  • The CC agreed to again write to PKC Planning Enforcement to request that they investigate why the developer has not complied with the conditions in the planning consent.
• Cllr Freshwater raised the question of cleaning and maintaining the historic “County of Kinross” sign which is at the entrance to Keltybridge village.
  • CC member agreed to contact the owner of the land where the sign is located to confirm that they are amenable to the sign being cleaned and maintained.

Cleish

• Verges around the village need to be cut to improve visibility.
• Thanks to Cllr Watters recommendation the Community Payback Team visited Cleish and painted the railings at the cemetery, and benches in the village.
• The new school sign has still not been removed and replaced, despite agreement with PKC to do so.

Any Other Business

• Local Place Plan – With the deadline for submission approaching, it was suggested that the CC takes the lead in helping to develop a Local Place Plan for the Cleish and Blairadam area. As noted in previous CC meetings, creating a Local Place Plan for Cleish & Blairadam, which reflect the views of the community is the most effective way that a local community can express their vision for the future of their local area as the council is required to take into account any existing Local Place Plan when looking at planning applications, and when they develop the next Local Development Plan.
• The Local Place Plan for Cleish and Blairadam would need to be submitted by January 2025 to be considered as part of the next PKC Local Development Plan which will run from 2027 to 2037.

Next CC Meeting

It was agreed to hold the next Community Council Meeting on Monday September 16th, at 7:30pm in the Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.