Extraordinary General Meeting of the Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

Held as a virtual meeting on Monday 24th November at 7.30pm

Attendees

• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Francis Principe-Gillespie
• Charles MacLaren
• Sean Gordon
• Jes Bunce
• Simon Jenkins

Apologies

• Cllr Richard Watters
• Cllr Dave Cuthbert
• Cllr Neil Freshwater
• Fred Whalley

Welcome

Cllr Willie Robertson welcomed the attendees and the elected members then convened the new sitting of the Cleish and Blairadam Community Council.

Francis Principe-Gillespie was elected Chair of the Cleish and Blairadam Community Council and took over chairing the meeting.

Roles

The members of the Community Council were then elected to the following roles:

• Francis Principe-Gillespie – Chair
• Charles MacLaren – Vice Chair
• Jes Bunce – Treasurer
• Sean Gordon – Secretary/Data Controller
• Fred Whalley – Planning
• Simon Jenkins – Member of the CC

Dates for 2026 CC Meetings

The following dates and locations were agreed for the 2026 meetings of the Community Council:

• Monday 2^nd February at the Tabernacle Hall in Keltybridge (7:30pm)
• Monday 6^th April at Cleish Village Hall (7:30pm)
• Monday 1^st June at the Tabernacle Hall in Keltybridge (7:30pm)
• Monday 3^rd August at Cleish Village Hall (7:30pm)
• Monday 5^th October at Tabernacle Hall in Keltybridge (7:30pm)
• Monday 7^th December at Cleish Village Hall (7:30pm)

AOCB

Pavement Parking: There is an ongoing problem with pavement parking in Keltybridge, and the CC undertook to investigate options for additional parking spaces in Keltybridge.

Accounts: The accounts of the Cleish & Blairadam Community Council for 2025 have been audited and accepted by PKC, so the Administrative Grant will be paid into the CC bank account later this month.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed.

Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

7:30pm, 6^th October 2025 – Tabernacle Hall, Keltybridge

Present:

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

Apologies:

• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Cllr Richard Watters
• PC Ben Samson

Previous CC Meeting

Matters Arising

At the last meeting the CC raised concerns about the lack of road markings at B9097/B996 junction, these road marking have still not been repainted.

Cllr Freshwater took an action to raise this with the PKC Roads Department.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

From 4^th August 2025 (last report) there have been approximately 23 calls to Police from the Cleish and Blairadam area and 12 crimes recorded on Police systems (9 of these relate to Road Traffic offences).

Reported Crimes since last CC meeting:

17/08/2025 – Causing death by driving without a licence and insurance (B996 Kinross to Kelty road)

• Subject to live investigation

24/08/2025  – Fail to stop / report RTC (Access road to Blairforge)

• Subject to live investigation

01/09/2025 – 02/09/2025 – Theft by opening lockfast motor vehicle (Chance Inn Farm)

• Subject to live investigation

Traffic

Community Police 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 they will continue to make efforts to carry out speed checks across the area during patrols.

Recent complaints about speeding in Maryburgh which have also been added to the matrix.

Local officers and also Roads Policing officers have been carrying out speeding checks in the area, notably at Gairneybank, Gairneybridge and Lochran. These have been detailed below. As well as this, Roads Policing officers have also been doing checks on the M90.

25/08/2025 – Speeding (Gairneybank / Gairneybridge), 57 MPH in a 40 MPH zone:  1 x issued with a conditional offer (ticket)

25/08/2025 – Speeding (Gairneybank / Gairneybridge), 50 MPH in a 40 MPH zone:  1 x issued with a conditional offer (ticket)

25/08/2025 – Speeding (Gairneybank / Gairneybridge), 50 MPH in a 40 MPH zone: 1 x issued with a conditional offer (ticket)

25/08/2025 – Careless driving (B9097 at its junction with J5 M90), Pulling into the path of another vehicle and causing a collision:  1 x issued with a conditional offer (ticket)

13/09/2025 – Driver failure to wear seatbelt (B996 at Lochran):  1 x issued with a conditional offer (ticket)

13/09/2025 – Speeding (B996 at Lochran), 62 MPH in a 40 MPH zone: 1 x charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal

13/09/2025 – Speeding (B996 at Lochran): 62 MPH in a 40 MPH zone: 1 x charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal

Correspondence

Closure of Black Road causing traffic and safety issues

Black Road in Kelty is currently closed for major sewer works and is forecast to be closed for the next 5 months. Traffic has already started using the narrow road through Maryburgh and Keltybridge as an alternative way in and out of Kelty to the B996.

Multiple residents have expressed concern that much of the new traffic passing through Keltybridge and Maryburgh as a result of this road closure is traveling in excess of the posted 20mph speed limit.

This road is a school bus route where young children wait for the school bus and cross the road to and from the school bus. In addition, we have dog walkers, cats, red squirrels, deer and other local residents regularly using the road, which does not have a pavement for much of its length. As a result, they are required to walk on the carriageways, making the speeding and increase in traffic even more dangerous.

When the speed limit through Keltybridge and Maryburgh was reduced the plan was that ‘shared space’ signs would be put up reminding drivers to be aware that there would be pedestrians, horses or cyclists sharing the road but to date nothing has happened.

One option raised by the local councillors was to use the Local Speed Watch initiative, where local residents are trained to use speed detection devices and can report speeding to the Police. This has been successful in other areas, and the local efforts are being coordinated by Milnathort CC.

The CC will write directly to the Head of Roads at PKC to share their concerns and those raised by a number of local residents regarding this increase in traffic and speeding. The issue will also be raised with the Scottish Water coordinator in charge of the road works on the Black Road.

Inconsistent speed limits around Green Acres and Gairney Bridge

The Community Council received a number of representations from local residents concerned about the inconsistent application of the 40MPH speed limit around Lochran, Green Acres and Gairney Bridge. While the addition of the 40MPH speed limit through Lochran and Green Acres has been welcomed, a number of residents expressed concern that the speed limit had not been extended to join up with the existing 40MPH speed limit at Gairney Bridge. Meaning that the junctions between the B996 and the B9097 remain at 60MPH, despite the fact that these two junctions are the major accident hot-spots on this road.

Cllr Freshwater will raise this issue with the PKC Roads Department, and the CC will write directly to the Head of Roads at PKC to share their concerns and those raised by a number of local residents.

It was also noted that some the 40MPH speed limit signs have moved since they were installed, such that two of the signs are not readable from the road.

Drainage

Cleish

Blocked gullies are being reported, but the Council’s reporting system prematurely closes these requests, citing that the gully cleaning is “on the schedule”, but does not provide a clear timeline which is highly frustrating for residents reporting problems, but undoubtedly improves the PKC Roads Departments efficiency metrics!

A useful improvement to the reporting system would be to allow the gully cleaning schedule to be viewed by members of the public.

Financial Update

The CC bank balance at year-end is £88.26, with the final accounts prepared and ready for audit. Once the audited accounts have been approved, the CC bank account will receive the annual administrative top-up funding from PKC.

The Community Council still intends to move away from Bank of Scotland due to their increased fees; however, this move will be postponed until the top-up funding is received.

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

• 25/01416/CLP – Installation of replacement windows (proposed) at 20 Main Street Keltybridge
• 25/00333/FLL – Renewal of permission 21/02257/FLL (Erection of salesrooms, workshops, formation of parking, access road and associated works; erection of replacement domestic stables, storage building and associated works) at Land 90 Metres North Of Nivingston West Cleish

Applications Approved

• 24/01751/FLL – Change of use from agricultural land to form extensions to storage facility including erection of 5 buildings containing 36 storage units, formation of bund, hardstanding and associated works (in part retrospect) at Fruix Farm Gairneybridge
• 25/00441/FLL – Erection of an agricultural building for free range egg production with separate manure store building, siting of residential caravan (for a temporary period), formation of vehicular access and associated works at Land 300 Metres North Of Mawmill Farm Bungalow Cleish Kinross KY13 0LN

Community Action Plan

The Cleish & Blairadam Community Action plan is now out for consultation until 29 October 2025. Documents are publicly available and can be found here: CAP and LPP – Cleish and Blairadam Community Council

Village Updates

• On-going pavement parking problems, particularly in the section of Keltybridge where the road is at its narrowest.
• Forestry office at Blairadam has been confirmed as closed, with all services and personnel moved to rented offices at Halbeath.
• Cleish Village Trust – To date, pledges from the local community have matched the value of the church building and fundraising ongoing. The trust is also awaiting the outcome of funding decisions from Architectural Heritage Trust. The plan is still to try to purchase the church, glebe and cottage, but that will be dependent on the ability of the trust to raise the necessary funds.
• The successionist Church monument in Gairney Bridge has become overgrown and is in a generally neglected state. Cllr Freshwater took an action to investigate the monument’s ownership and who is responsible for the maintenance.
• Scottish Woodlands are planning to undertake work on the forest paths around Cleish, including some which form part of the Core Path Network.

Next CC Meeting

2025 is the year of the Community Council Elections in Perth & Kinross, so the next Community Council meeting will be the EGM where the new Community Council will be convened.

This will be a short meeting and will be held as a Virtual Meeting – details of this meeting can be found on the CC website – https://cleishandblairadam.org.uk/

Following the EGM, the dates for the new Community Council meetings will be announced.

Virtual / On-line CC Meetings

The Community Council uses 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)

CC Web Site

All information relating to the activities of the Community Council are published on our web site – https://cleishandblairadam.org.uk/ where you can also subscribe to receive updates whenever any new information is published on the site.

Minutes of AGM of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

7:30pm, 6^th October 2025 – Tabernacle Hall, Keltybridge

Present:

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

Apologies:

• Cllr Willie Robertson
• Cllr Richard Watters
• PC Ben Samson

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.

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 hope in the next few months to complete the Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan and see that document become a reference for the next Local Development Plan. We also hope to improve communications with the community and encourage new members to join the Community Council.

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 accounts for 2025 were presented, with the year-end CC bank balance at £88.26. The final accounts will now be submitted for audit.

Minutes of Meeting of Cleish & Blairadam Community Council

You can download the meeting minutes in PDF format using the link below:

7:30pm, 4^th August 2025 – Virtual Meeting

Due to the bad weather forecast on the day of the meeting, it was decided that in the interests of safety the Community Council Meeting would take place as a virtual meeting.

Present:

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

Apologies:

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

Previous CC Meeting

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Matters Arising from Previous Minutes

• An action was taken by Cllr Freshwater to investigate reports that the Blairadam Forestry Depot would be closing. Cllr Freshwater committed to follow up.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

Since the last CC Meeting there have been approximately 31 calls to Police from the Cleish and Blairadam area and 2 crimes recorded on Police systems.

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 Police speeding matrix and they will continue to make efforts to carry out speed checks across the area during patrols.

Roads Policing officers have been carrying out speed checks notably on the M90 whereby they have reported numerous drivers for offences including speeding, having no insurance and drink driving.

26/06/25 – Roads Policing officers were on patrol in Gairneybank when they stopped a vehicle which had no MOT. The driver was issued with a conditional offer (ticket) for this.

30/06/25 – Roads Policing officers were on patrol in Cleish when they stopped a vehicle which had no MOT. The driver was issued with a conditional offer (ticket) for this.

Correspondence

The CC received correspondence from a local resident raising concerns about the works being carried out on the Black Road to widen the cycle & pedestrian path. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the width of the carriageway, and in conjunction with the fact that the old (now off-centre) road markings have not been removed has made this section of road more difficult to navigate, with several near-misses being reported.

This section of the roadway falls under Fife Council, so Cllr Freshwater took an action to raise the issue with the relevant person in Fife Council Roads Department.

Financial Update

After paying invoices for Hall rentals, the closing balance was £87.76, with one invoice outstanding for hall rental.

Due to the current state of the Community Council funds, the decision was taken to postpone renewing membership of the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland until the next financial year.

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. Cllr Robertson took an action at a previous CC meeting to contact the PKC finance organisation for advice on how Community Councils can avoid bank charges. This has been done, but we are still waiting for a response from PKC Finance.

Planning

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

New Applications

• 24/01751/FLL – Change of use from agricultural land to form extensions to storage facility including erection of 5 buildings containing 36 storage units, formation of bund, hardstanding and associated works (in part retrospect)

Applications Approved

• 25/00595/LBC – Installation of gates at Cleish Primary School Cleish Kinross KY13 0LR

Applications Pending

• 25/00441/FLL – Erection of an agricultural building for free range egg production with separate manure store building, siting of residential caravan (for a temporary period), formation of vehicular access and associated works at Land 300 Metres North Of Mawmill Farm Bungalow Cleish Kinross KY13 0LN
• 25/00333/FLL – Renewal of permission 21/02257/FLL (Erection of salesrooms, workshops, formation of parking, access road and associated works; erection of replacement domestic stables, storage building and associated works) at Land 90 Metres North Of Nivingston West Cleish

Applications 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 at Land 180 Metres North of Hawthorn Wood Benarty Road Kelty KY4 0JH
• 25/00433/FLL – Siting of residential caravan (for a temporary period) (in retrospect) at Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB

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.

Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan

The Community Action Plan (CAP) has been reviewed by the Community Council and will soon be available for public review. As part of the consultation process the CAP will be shared with all the adjacent Community Councils to allow them the opportunity to comment.

The CAP gathered a lot of good information from the local community which will be extremely helpful when the Local Place Plan for Cleish and Blairadam is developed later this year.

One area for improvement identified in the CAP was the fact that the core paths in our area are not in a good state of repair and are not well known.

Village updates – Cleish  

• Cleish Church, Associated Cottage and The Glebe – A SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) has been successful in their Right to Buy application to acquire the Church, Cottage and Grounds for community benefit. The SCIO is currently fundraising for assets that are likely to be available in the short term. 
• Drainage – PKC Roads will attend Boreland soon to clear the gully there in an attempt to address the going drainage problems in that area. If this cleaning does not resolve the problem, the council will consider installing a larger storm gully to more quickly remove the surface water.

Any Other Business

Cycleways and Pathways

Concern was raised by a resident about the lack of footpaths and cycle pathways on the B996 North of Blairforge. These have been identified as areas for future improvement by PKC; however, the works are currently very low in the prioritisation list. This is disappointing, as the pedestrian and cycle links from Blairadam to Kinross are non-existent, with the B996 being very dangerous for both foot and cycle traffic.

Lack of Road Markings at Junction of B9097 and B996

Concerns were again raised about the lack of road markings at this junction – it is a clear safety issue, as traffic approaching from the B9097 has no clear indication of where the junction is. This problem will only get more dangerous as the winter months approach and the nights are darker.

The problem has been raised with PKC roads, but no action has been taken yet – The CC will monitor the situation to see if it is resolved, and if not it will be escalated with PKC Roads.

Your Community Council Needs You!

3 members of the current Community Council will be standing down this year, and without sufficient members there is a danger that the Community Council will fold, so we need new members to keep the Community Council running!

The Community Council is an important organisation that represents our community, so it is important to ensure that it keeps running and continues to represent our community.

The Community Council elections will be held in November this year – if you are interested in helping represent your community, please take a look at the PKC Community Council website – https://www.pkc.gov.uk/communitycouncils, or e-mail the Community Council at – cleishandblairadamcc@gmail.com 

 

Upcoming CC Meetings

The next Community Council meeting will take place on Monday October 6^th, at 7:30pm in the Tabernacle Hall, Keltybridge.

• The Community Council AGM will be held directly after this meeting

Virtual / On-line CC Meetings

The Community Council uses 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)

CC Web Site

All information relating to the activities of the Community Council are published on our web site – https://cleishandblairadam.org.uk/where you can also subscribe to receive updates whenever any new information is published on the site.

7:30pm, 7^th April 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 Willie Robertson
• Cllr Richard Watters
• Cllr Neil Freshwater

Apologies:

• Cllr Dave Cuthbert
• PC Samson

Previous CC Meeting

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

Crime Prevention & Police Report

The following crimes were recorded since the last CC Meeting:

Theft by housebreaking (farm on B996 near Blairadam) – (10/02/2025 – 11/02/2025)

• By forcing open steel door and stealing items from within.
• Subject to live investigation

Wilful Fireraising (unclassified road between Coldrain and B9097) – (16/02/2025)

• Set fire to rubbish dumped at the side of an unclassified roadway
• Subject to live investigation

Attempted housebreaking with intent to steal (Cleish) – (23/02/2025)

• Smashed rear patio glass and attempted to enter the property
• Subject to live investigation

Theft by housebreaking (barn, Ardgairney, Cleish) – (26/03/2025 – 27/03/2025)

• Entered barn using true key, stole black Suzuki quad bike
• 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 Police speeding matrix and they will continue to make efforts to carry out speed checks across the area during patrols.

• On 05/02/2025 local officers from Kinross responded to a call at Hatchbank Road, Gairneybank, Kinross whereby a male was traced in a vehicle. Enquiries revealed this male did not have insurance for the vehicle. The vehicle was seized by Police and driver was reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

• On 12/02/2025 roads Policing officers responded to a call on the unclassified Cleish to GairneyBank road following a road traffic collision. A 42-year-old female driver was reported to the Procurator Fiscal for careless driving.

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!

Financial Update

• After paying invoices for Parish Online and CAP the closing balance was £371.81
• 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

1. 24/01233/FLL– Erection of a dwellinghouse, Land 20 Metres South Of Hillview Kinnaird Blairadam Kelty KY4 0JB
   • Application refused, and review dismissed by Local Review Body.

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.
• 25/00268/FLL – Erection of 5 dwellinghouses, formation of vehicular access and associated works, Land 90 Metres North Of Nivingston House Cleish Kinross KY13 0LS
  • The Community Council has sumitted a holding objection, as there was detail missing from the application and the CC is awaiting further information on the application.
• 25/00333/FLL – Renewal of permission 21/02257/FLL (Erection of salesrooms, workshops, formation of parking, access road and associated works; erection of replacement domestic stables, storage building and associated works), Land 90 Metres North of Nivingston West Cleish

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.

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 Community Council has facilitated a number of consultation sessions in Cleish and Blairadam and should be able to report at the next CC meeting on the findings of the Community Action Plan consultation.

Sustainability Group

Representatives of the Community Council attended a meeting of the Sustainability Group at Glenfarg Village Hall, where work continued to develop the constitution and operating principles for the Sustainability Group.

The Sustainability Group also issued a response to the Scottish Government paper on community benefits and wind farms.

Village Updates

Blairadam

• 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.
• Middleton Park Residents Dumping Rubbish – It was reported that a number of residents on the North side of Middleton Park have been dumping rubbish over the back fence into the woodland behind, and onto the public path which passes behind this fence. The issue will be referred to the owner of the wooded area.

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. The group us currently awaiting valuations on the church and cottage.

Any Other Business

Sharing Community Activities – A recent meeting of the Kinross Committee raised a question about how best to keep the community up to date with the activities and plans of the Committee and Community Councils.

• A challenge has been highlighted with the use of Facebook to publicise activities where posts are not being seen by all members of the community because Facebook is not promoting those posts into users feeds unless the organization pays for this. As a result, organisations cannot guarantee that everyone who follows them will see all the posts they share!
• The Community Council is looking for suggestions on how best to reach the community to provide regular updates on our activities.

Upcoming CC Meetings

The next Community Council proposes meeting will take place on Monday June 2^nd, at 7:30pm in Keltybridge Tabernacle Hall.

Virtual / On-line CC Meetings

The Community Council uses 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)

CC Web Site

All information relating to the activities of the Community Council are published on our web site – https://cleishandblairadam.org.uk/ where you can also subscribe to receive updates whenever any new information is published on the site.

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.