Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council

‘Floreat Oxtona!’ – ‘Let Oxton Flourish!’

Minute

Meeting of Monday 27th July 2009

7:30pm Oxton War Memorial Hall

Present: Iain Robinson, Hugh Sloan, Douglas Slight, Malcolm Edgar, Geordie Dun, Jim Harris Angus Glennie, Patricia Glennie, Sandra Templeton, Edna Hill, George Gilchrist.

1. Welcome by Iain.

2. Apologies –, Cllr. Nicholas Watson, Cllr. John Paton-Day, Cllr. David Parker, Ann Reid

4. AOB

Rowantree Wind Farm Proposal

Last week a letter and some proposed details of the Rowantree wind farm was received by Angus and Patricia Glennie from RWE npower renewables. This highlighted the positioning of two turbines within a few hundred metres of their house.

Patricia pointed out that the size of the development was up to 30 turbines and would be around the 4th largest development in Scotland. She highlighted that there are now currently 3 major sites around the Oxton & Lauder area and enough is enough, surely this area of the Borders has more than done it’s bit for wind power. There are some super scenic areas and these are now ruined by the sight of windmills everywhere. With this proposed development there would basically be a continuous ribbon of windmills from Dunlaw right round the hill ridges to Haulkburn near Galashiels. HS asked what options can be pursued to object the proposal in light of the previous Toddleburn objection going to Public Enquiry and still been given the go ahead. Angus responded that although the challenge was lost the last time it should not deter objections and challenge this time round. The CC agreed to doing what it could to raise awareness of the proposed plans and gain wider community opinion. There was a leaflet put in the shop by a group called Scottish Borders Against Windfarm Saturation (SBAWS), JH suggested that these could be distributed more widely in the community. There is a public exhibition in the hall in Oxton on the 5th Sep which should be publicised to gauge community concern. The issue should be also raised at the "A Conversation with Scotland" meeting in the Melrose Corn Exchange which Alex Salmond is attending by any of the community going along. Also raise with Jeremy Purves , Scottish Borders Council and SNH.

3. AGM Process.

4. Election of Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council.

The following were re-elected;

Chairman – Iain Robinson. Proposed Douglas Slight, Seconded Malcolm Edgar

Secretary – Hugh Sloan Proposed Iain Robinson, Seconded Geordie Dun

Treasurer – Remains vacant till next meeting. Proposed that the position is taken up by Jim Harris once co-opted to the CC.

Jim Harris was proposed by Iain Robinson and seconded by Douglas Slight to be co-opted on the CC. A Notice of Motion shall be included in the next meeting agenda.

Malcolm Edgar, Douglas Slight, Geordie Dun remain as committee members.

5. Business.

a) Minutes of 29th June 2009 adopted. Proposed DS, seconded ME.

b) Floral Display/SB Local Projects.

There has been no response from Craig Blackie, SBC to review our proposed projects for the village. IR to pass on contact details to ME and prompt David Parker to chase up.

c) Toddleburn Windfarm Funding.

The Scottish Communities Foundation are due to conduct a community profile in the first instance in order to understand the current community’s needs. JH noted that he had seen a SCF representative in the village conducting some sort of survey. HS to contact SCF to find out what process they are following.

d) Planning Applications.

Skene Group Ltd, Soutra Quarry – Extension to present site. It was noted that this is a big increase in size of the quarry but visually there doesn’t look as if there will any change to the horizon. DS noted that there may be an increase in HGV traffic. ME noted that at the quarry’s lifetime it was to be flooded and made into a loch. Apart from this there were no further comments.

e) Correspondence received during July.

By email

By Royal Mail