Appin and Lismore Interpretative Strategy Implementation Project.

Minutes of Steering Group meeting held at Appin Co-op  11th October 2006.

Present:

Pauline  Dowling - representing Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor (PD)

Mary Gregory - representing Appin Historic Society (MK)

Stephen Austin - representing SNH (current Chair) (SA)

Marina Curran-Colthart, - representing LBAP, A&B Council. (MCC)

Tony Perkins -co-opted Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor (TP)

Elain Robertson- co-opted A&B Councillor (ER)

Max Bigham - SUSTRANS (guest)

Apologies:     Amanda Currie- representing Lismore Community Council

Item 1 Feedback from partner organisations.

PD reported that Comann Eachdraidh and Lismore Community Council had not made any progress on giving the strategy further consideration as both bodies were focussed on other matters namely the museum and also transport links etc to the island. The steering committee agreed to note that work on the Lismore museum and transport links were important in terms of the strategy and would bring benefits to the whole area. The steering group do not consider that  Lismore is not being proactive with regards the strategy and wish both the Community Council and Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor success with the projects that they are currently focussed. The committee requested that PD gave this feedback to the island.

MG reported that she had not attended any meetings of the Appin sub-groups since the last meeting but that the sub-groups had been making progress on projects and that she would give an update at the next meeting.

(chair comment - AG was not at this meeting but could Appin sub-groups please submit reports in time for next meeting re progress and any grant aid required to take their projects forward - see action point 1 from July meeting)

MCC reported that visit Scotland had indicated that they would be happy to fund 50% of the start up costs for a web page (£1250) for the Appin and Lismore area as part of a promotion drive for the area. Visit Scotland would also be happy to hold open day for the area on Lismore to stimulate business opportunities for visitor services. £34000 was also available for 4 gateway information boards and visitor guide to the area.  The committee agreed that we would be grateful if MCC could find out more info on the match funding required and also what influence/representation VS would have in return for their grant aid on the web site, boards and publication. It was also agreed that to try and make an application by the November 2006 deadline would not be possible but that we should potentially apply for this next year. MCC indicated that she was happy to find out further information but that someone from the community would have to step forward to run with this initiative as it was not part of LBAP remit to take further forward.

(chair comment - Subsequent discussion with MCC came up with idea of building in funds in the grant aid to pay someone locally as a "consultant" to take this project forward. I think the idea of generating local employment opportunities like this to implement parts of the strategy as and when they get taken forward is preferential to either the steering committee getting bogged down or parachuting in a project officer-it also adds another dimension to the strategy helping to underpin the local economy - will discuss further at next meeting).

ER  requested that copies of the strategy be sent to various key people and  committees in A&B Council and partnership groups such as Community Planning.

Action Point 1: SA send copies of strategy to ER and MCC

Item 2. Oban to Fort William cycle route.

Max Bigham (MB) of SUSTRANS attended the meeting to update us on progress of the Oban to For William cycle route. Agreement has been made in principle with all the landowners from Oban up to the northern boarder of Argyll and  a planning application will be submitted in due course. The route identifies local cycle routes around Appin and Lismore which are the same as those identified in the A&L Interpretative  Strategy. As such the steering committee urged SUSTRANS to consider supporting and working with the steering group to set up and publicise the local cycle routes as soon as possible. MB explained that SUSTRANS feel that the whole route for which the planning application is being made needs to secure funding before any sections or circular routes are taken forward. The committee however feel that work on the route needs to start somewhere and that as Appin and Lismore have a strategy in place which is supported by the community and endorsed by the local councillor that this is the most sensible place to get things rolling and that the ground up support via the strategy for such routes merits input from SUSTRANS. MB requested that the committee write to SUSTRANS formerly making such a request so that he could then discuss this further with SUSTRANS and make a response.

Action Point 2. SA (as chair) -write to SUSTRANS on behalf of the committee and request  help and support with starting work on the local cycle route projects.

Item 3. Logo

There have been no further entries to the logo competition although a couple of folk had said they would enter. It was decided to abandon the competition, seek ideas from those who had expressed an interest and also build-in logo design into the brief for future interpretative contracts including, potentially, the existing contract for the draft leaflet design. Once we have a selection of, hopefully at least, three potential logos (all of which being acceptable to the committee) these will be circulated to the community for a ballot on which logo to use. This will help reconnect the community with the strategy and give them ownership over the logo. This posting could also include a single side  A4 update sheet just to let people know how things are progressing and how they can get involved re the strategy.

Action Point 3. ALL to promote the need for logo designs and to forward submissions to MCC ASAP.

Item 4. Template Leaflet.

MCC reported that the consultant had completed, but not submitted, the draft leaflet.

The draft will be presented at the next meeting.

Date of next meeting: 10:30 am Appin Coop, 17th January October 2007