Strawberry Tea

This year’s Strawberry Tea attracted a fantastic turnout of over 60 people and was much enjoyed, according to the feedback we received on the day.  There was a lovely buzz in the hall and lots of connections and re-connections being made with some very enjoyable conversations going on.

Here are some photos, and in case you are wondering, we think Fran is laughing at something Alan (seated) said!

Many thanks to all our bakers and helpers who make it happen.  And thanks also to those who came to join us on a very hot (sometimes uncomfortably hot) day.

Kenmore Church – Public Meeting Thursday 24 July, 7pm

Following the Church of Scotland’s decision to sell the kirk, the Kenmore and District Community Council will hold a public meeting on Thursday 24 July in Kenmore Church at 7pm.

Before considering a purchase of the church they wish to ask people in our community what they think; try to answer any questions; and to gauge practical support to convert the church into a functioning and flexible community space.

The meeting will be the start of a two-week consultation process. More details will follow.

Background

The Church of Scotland (CoS) has decided that, due to falling congregation numbers, it intends to close and sell Kenmore Church. Many similar Church of Scotland churches across Scotland are also being sold. 

This will come as a serious disappointment to all of those in the area, not just our churchgoers – the kirk is very much part of the village and its life and is a special place for many of us.

Worried about the future status of the kirk and being keen not to lose such a precious asset, the Kenmore Community Council approached the Kirk Session to try to explore options to protect the building for community use for the future should a sale take place. Their approach was warmly met, and they have been offered the purchase of the kirk on an exclusive basis for a limited period. The details of a sale, including price, are yet to be firmed up.

Clearly, such a move would present opportunities to retain the kirk as a valuable community space for now and into the future, but it also brings financial and management risks which need to be properly assessed.

The CC has formed a small working group to prepare a feasibility report which will look at all the key issues involved. They are fortunate to have a recently prepared building condition survey and the pro bono assistance of McKenzie Strickland Architects, for which they are very grateful. Their report is linked below.

Possible sources of funds and advice are being researched as well as lessons learned from other communities’ experiences of taking over former religious buildings.

Taking the kirk on as a non-denominational community space would require significant commitment and support from the community. 

The Community Council considered the Feasibility Report at its meeting on July 10 and voted unanimously to carry out a public consultation on the purchase.

Feasibility Report – full

Feasibility Report – Executive summary

Architect’s Report 

In the meantime, if you have any questions, or wish to make your views known, please contact: Kenmore and District Community Council: info@kenmore-and-district-cc.org.uk  or the Kirk Session: lorimer.gray@gmail.com

Resource Hut Recycling Update

As reported in our last edition,the Air Home and Laundry Programme, through which the Resource Hut recycled laundry products, has ended. Many thanks to everyone who managed to beat the deadline and take laundry products in for recycling. They were all packaged up by the recycling team and an impressive total of 3.35 kg of fabric conditioner sheets and trigger heads was sent back for recycling. Good result!

That programme may have closed, but another one has opened up. You can now recycle all spectacles and sunglasses in the Resource Hut. They will be returned to companies and opticians who will check and repair them before sending them to overseas countries in need. But please, please, no spec cases – depending on the materials, these can be recycled in your PKC bin or returned to your optician.

So why not clear some space in your cupboard by recycling your old specs and at the same time, changing someone’s life by giving them a chance to see more clearly?

Community Council Elections 2025

Local elections for new Community Councillors are due to be held later this year. The Glen Lyon and Loch Tay Community Council is already 2 representatives short and as two of the remaining Councillors are retiring this year, it will be 4 members short (out of a total of 6 members). The vacancies are: 1 for Glen Lyon, 1 for Fortingall and 2 for Fearnan.

If you care about the area you live in and want to make a difference, then this is a chance to get involved with your local Community Council. Community Councils are voluntary organisations that have a role in law to represent the views of their local community on issues such as planning applications.

They act as a voice for their local area. Their specific role can vary according to their local area’s needs. If there’s a hot topic which gets your neighbours talking – a proposed housing development, maintenance of local footpaths or improving local facilities – then this is something in which the Community Council could get involved. The item above on the future of Kenmore Kirk and the CC’s role in that is a prime example.

Community Councils must represent all people in the area without prejudice. Therefore, they should be non-party political and non-sectarian; represent a full cross-section of the community and encourage the involvement of the whole community; be proactive in consulting and engaging with local residents.

Their role is to ascertain and express the views of the community to local authorities and other public bodies, and to take action which appears to be in the interests of its community. They can complement the role of the local authority but are not part of local government. They should form a positive working partnership with the local authority – therefore they must be informed on the council’s policies, and keep the council updated on their activities.

Could you (yes, you!) be a Community Council member?

Community Councils need people from a range of backgrounds to get involved.

The only specifications are that candidates and their seconders must be over 18 years of age and resident and on the Electoral Register for which ever sub-area they wish to represent.

Community Council members bring their enthusiasm, experience and commitment to the local area to discuss the issues and get involved in shaping their community.

Elected Community Councillors will also get the opportunity to receive training and support in managing meetings, and the legal processes around areas such as commenting on planning applications.

Unless volunteers can be recruited, the Glen Lyon and Loch Tay CC could lapse.  This would be very detrimental in terms of our ability to represent our views to PKC and other statutory bodies.  There would be no statutory consultee on planning or the Local Development Plan; no one to sort out problems around road closures; no one to push for road improvements or footpaths; no one to keep track of Planning Enforcement issues; no dissemination of information from PKC or any other statutory bodies and fewer consultations in which the community can have a say. 

The timetable for the CC Elections is:

Notice of Election August 28^th. From this point, candidates can be nominated

Close of Nominations September 25^th. (If there are fewer than 50% nominations for the vacant CC positions, closure will be extended to October 6^th).

A Poll will be required if there are more nominations than vacancies, and if required, notice will be given of the Poll which will take place on November 6^th. Counting of votes November 7^th – 10^th.

If you would like to discuss the role of the CC in more detail and the process for becoming a candidate, or for being a seconder of a candidate, contact Sue Dolan Betney on chair@glenlyonandlochtaycc.org.uk