Dunning Community Council Meeting 6 November 2023

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St Paul's Church
  1. Welcome: The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that the members would move quickly through the first 6 items on the Agenda so that Planning Matters could be discussed as soon as possible. Those present were: Neil Johnston (NJ) – Chair, John Stockley (JS) – Vice-Chair, Ann Myles (AM) – Treasurer, Colin Young (CY) – Secretary, Tony Fitzpatrick (TF), Amanda Howie (AH), Ally Dewar (AD), Lori Corbet Mann (LCM), Councillor Keith Allan (KA), Councillor Crawford Reid (CR) and members of the public numbering 82.
  2. Apologies: Councillor Steven Carr (SC)
  3. Update from Police: No officers were available to attend but members continue to receive the Local Area Commander’s Bulletin every week by email.
  4. Minutes of the meeting of 2nd October: These were agreed and signed by the Chair.
  5. Treasurer’s Report: Copies had been circulated to members prior to the meeting and AM detailed the latest income and expenditure. These were agreed.
  6. Matter arising from the Minutes:
    1. 40 mph Cycling & Walking Friendly routes – ongoing as SC unavailable.
    2. Old Garage Wall – the landowner has been made aware of the small breach in this wall and will look into it.
    3. Bus timetable and volunteer car service – TF explained that there was a lot to consider and information was being gathered for discussion at a later date.
  7. Planning Matters:
    1. Application for an agricultural shed at Mosshead Farm.
    2. Application for a Switch Room at Findony Farm – Approved.
    3. Application for a dwelling house 200 metres North of The Lofts – Approved.
    4. Application for a 104 metre wind turbine and ancillary works at Findony Farm (See supplementary information annex for full comments)
  8. Roads Matters: CR reported that the proposed new junction at Shinafoot with the A9 had been successfully appealed to the Scottish Ministers despite the objections by local Councillors. Unfortunately, unlike Dunning, the residents of Auchterarder had not got together to raise their concerns.
  9. Correspondence: CY reported that the Craighead Windfarm would be holding a Consultation Event in Dunning Village Hall on 15th November between 3.30 and 7.30pm.
  10. Meeting Attended:
    1. AD reported that he had attended the meeting of the Pavilion Core Group that had discussed ongoing maintenance and other related matters.
    2. AD reported that he and JS had met with the Sports Administrator for PKC Schools and that the After-School Sports Club would start to meet at 3pm from 9th November onwards. This was hailed as a great success by members.
    3. TF gave details of the Steering Group for the Village Hall project and that the next step was to visit North Muirton where a similar venture had been very successful in taking over a building previously managed by LiveActive.
  11. Councillors’ Reports: Nothing further to report.
  12. Any other business:
    1. CY reported that a local businessman had secured the services of a tradesman to clean up and repoint the War Memorial but that he didn’t want any contribution for this work. Given that the War Memorial is a very central location in the village and its importance for so many families, he requested that the CC contribute £100 to the cost of this work. This was agreed.
    2. AM stated that plans for the Over 80s Christmas Lunch were coming together and JS was still seeking  Santa to hand out gifts.
    3. AH asked about progress on the proposed parking restrictions in the village and KA said he would obtain an update and report back.                                                                                                                       Action: KA     
    4. TF reported that the Village Questionnaire was in the process of being printed with the information going out on social media as well as a leaflet drop to every house with the request for some to be placed in the Bowling Club and the Pavilion along with collection boxes.                                                                                                                Action: TF
    5. A question was asked if the proposed wind farms in the Ochils were likely to have funds available for charities in the village and CY indicted that the answer might be forthcoming at the Craighead Consultation Event on the 15th.

 

The next meeting will be held on Monday 4th December at 7.30pm in the Church Hall.

Supplementary Information

Findony Farm Wind Turbine

The Chair explained how to make comments by using the PKC Planning Portal and the direct email to  developmentmanagement@pkc.gov.uk by midnight on 8th November. Thereafter, people could make their comments to the DCC via their website and comments would be collated prior to the DCC making a submission before the 17th November.

KA explained that it was critical that individuals make their own comments and not to use a petition as this would only count as a single comment.

LCM explained that Dunning Folk & Friends Facebook already contained the details of how to comment but urges people to read the ‘supporting document’ on the application as this gave a clear summary of the proposal. There was the question of how the surplus electricity would be used as the National Grid was incapable of absorbing it at the present time, and could it be diverted to the village?

AD reported that wind turbines only operate at about 20% of their potential so there would be little chance of any excess being available to others.

Comments were made about the ‘industrialisation’ of the area, the problems on the roads and the less than transparent developments that had affected villagers.

While parking restrictions in the village were in the consultation stage, there was still likely to be congestion at some locations.

A question was asked in regard to the application for a single large wind turbine when 3 locations had been identified that would have allowed for 3 smaller turbines to be installed with far less impact on the community and the feeling was that it was appropriate to support business but not at any cost.

KA explained the process of determining the application and that 6 objections would result in the application being placed in front of the Planning Committee of 15 members. If refused the application could appeal to the Local Review Body of 3 separate Councillors for a decision. If refused the applicant could then appeal to the Scottish Ministers. A refusal at this stage would be final. Members of the public who had registered an objection would have the chance to make representations to the Planning Committee, as would the applicant. Members of the public rarely had opportunity to influence the Local review Body or the Scottish Ministers.

LCM reported that, early in 2023, a member of the public had requested a consultation with the applicant about future developments but this had been rejected. The applicant did provide information that a wind turbine might be installed but, until a formal planning application was lodged with PKC, the Community Council could not make any comment or raise the matter at its meetings.

A question about neighbour notification was asked but KA and CR explained that, as this was the responsibility of PKC officers they had to adhere to the ‘broken planning system’ that only required them to notify dwellings within a relatively small number of metres from the boundary of the application. CR urged people to complain to PKC about this limited notification of such a large application with a structure of such a height that it would affect the entire village.

A member of the public reported that the Scottish Land Commission was making it a requirement that landowners consult with locals about future land use and developments but that this was not yet in legislation – hopefully late 2023/early 2024.

Comments were made with regard to the size and proximity to the conservation area and the listed building with requests that the applicant should have provided details of how the wind turbine would appear from various locations in the village.

It was suggested that, if a presentation had been made to the residents, then a lot of the currently unanswered questions might have answered and the applicant might have gained more support for the application.

It was suggested by a member of the public that, if the single large wind turbine was going to produce more electricity than the plant required, then could Plan B be instigated for a smaller wind turbine.

A relative of the applicant asked if a list of the 10 most important questions could be provided to him, he would seek to obtain answers before the closing of the period for comments on 8th November and this will be considered.

At this point, questions and comments concluded and the Chair asked if those wishing to leave could make their way outside and await further developments while the Community Council finished the agenda for the evening.

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