Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust’s directors have prioritised and are progressing the following five projects. Other projects may arise at some future time.
1. Renewable Energy
This project is our main focus and priority.
Its success will determine our future and our ability to carry forward the projects we currently have under way.
Crucially, we have to generate income and this is the most likely set of projects to do so.
Within the area boundaries of Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust lies Ardintoul Forest, owned by the Forestry Commission. It is an area most likely to generate Renewable Energy.
Having obtained Community support by means of a ballot, we have closely consulted with the Forestry Commission and have received massive support from them in our quest to discover the possibility of Renewable Energy from Ardintoul Forest. It is our intention to acquire parcels of land within Ardintoul Forest.
We have also received both proactive, solid support and funding from Community Energy Scotland.
We commissioned a Renewable Energy Audit and in November 2007 a Renewable Energy Audit Report was produced by Atmos Consulting.
It concentrated on Ardintoul Forest as this was the most likely area to generate various forms of Renewable Energy within the GADT boundaries.
This report indicated that there that there were viable prospects of Hydro Power and Wind Power.
In January 2008 a well attended public meeting was held in Glenelg and Arnisdale Community Hall at which Atmos Consulting presented the findings of the Audit.
It became clear that the Trust should pursue both Hydro and Wind power.
Many meetings, consultations and site visits have been held since that time and we are now at a stage where we have installed water flow monitoring equipment for the hydro (Courtesy of Dundee University). We are awaiting a visit from a specialist Hydro Engineer in order to establish if the hydro scheme can be justified on a cost/revenue basis.
This needs to be carried out as initial estimates would indicate that up to £500k might be required to put in place the infrastructure etc for this part of the project.
We have gained Planning Permission to erect a Wind Monitoring mast which was erected in Spring 2009. The eventual erection of wind turbines will probably present a lesser problem than that of the hydro scheme as access will be close to an existing forestry track.
If these 2 projects proceed then the generated electricity will be fed into the grid via the 11Kv line to the Nostie Power Station. We have commissioned a Grid Connection survey at a cost of approx. £5,000.
Preliminary indications are that the 2 projects would create income of over £100k gross per annum.
In order to attract funding based on reliable data it will be necessary to gather information for at least one year and thorough consultation with SNH, RSPB, SEPA and other bodies will be essential.
Perhaps a realistic timescale for this is 3-5 years and at this stage there is no certainty that either project will prove viable or possible.
2. Quarry Jetty
In January 2005 a storm demolished the Jetty at Quarry, Glenelg. Since that time the Community Council has unsuccessfully tried to achieve funding so that the Jetty could be rebuilt.
At the end of November 2007, the Trust were approached by Tony Usher, Harbours Manager, Highland Council to find out if we would be prepared to contribute funding towards the re-building of the Quarry Jetty and eventually to take ownership of it.
The directors agreed and committed to raising 50% of the original estimated total funding of £40,000.
In a short space of time, the community in general and a few generous individuals donated well in excess of £20k. This was a truly astonishing result.
At this point, Highland Council indicated that the original budget was short by 50% and that the estimated cost had risen to £60k. Highland Council basically said that the project would have to be abandoned as HC would not be able meet the over spend.
The Trust’s directors agreed to raise our contribution to £30k and the project was back on track.
The Army Engineers 52nd Armoured Squadron very kindly provided the manpower.
It seems that the revised cost estimate has also been exceeded, but Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust will only be required to provide the promised £30k. Highland Council has been very supportive in helping to see this project through to a conclusion.
A Company, Quarry Jetty Limited has been incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust. This will assist the Trust in operating and maintaining the jetty as a separate entity to the main work of the Trust. In due course we will be seeking some members of the community to become directors of this company.
There is still a small amount of work to be carried out to complete this project
3. Football Field, Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and Children’s Play Area
In April 2007, Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust acquired ownership of the Football Field under a generous arrangement provided by David Huntington and Family of Scallasaig, Glenelg.
This is an on going project with work yet to be carried out on renovating, draining and re-seeding the pitch and re – Jigging the Children’s Play Area.
The All Weather MUGA was completed earlier in 2008 and it is providing our youngsters and a few older stars with a useful addition to the facilities of the Football Field. It certainly is being well used.
Funding raised for the MUGA totalled approximately £58,000 with contributions from Highland Council, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Sports Scotland, Scottish Football Association and UEFA.
A very successful Family Event is held annually at which the local children enjoy themselves.
4. Land Acquisition for Affordable Housing, House Plots, Day Care Centre and Offices for GADT
The Trust’s directors are still progressing the possibility of acquiring a parcel of land adjacent to the Glenelg Health Centre.
The intention is to provide 4 Affordable Housing units, 2 plots of land to be made available for grant aided purchase for house building and some form of Day Care Centre as well as permanent offices for GADT.
We are working closely with Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association and are awaiting outline costs for raising the site level to permit acceptable drainage and sewerage run off.
5. Community Registration of an Interest in Land at Corrary
On August 14th 2009 the Scottish Ministers confirmed that they had accepted the Trust’s application to register an interest in the land at Corrary and that it had been entered in the Register of Community Interest in Land. Should this land be put on the market then the Trust will be notified and would then have 6 months in which to raise funds for its purchase. Work on sources of funding has begun, with assistance being given by the Community Land Unit. The map shows the land boundaries.
6. Additional Information
TOTAL Oil and Gas
Back in April 2006, the Trust’s directors noticed in the Media that TOTAL had commissioned a gas field in the North Sea called “Glenelg”. This had come about after TOTAL had gained permission from our Community Council to use the name.
The Trust wrote to TOTAL asking if they might be prepared to “invest” in one of our projects. TOTAL responded, saying that they would be pleased to provide manual assistance for any of our projects, but that they were unable, at that time, to contribute in any financial way.
In Spring 2007, we received a letter from TOTAL asking if we would be prepared to let their Aberdeen Office place a proposal for funding before their main board in London. The directors of course agreed.
The TOTAL board of directors agreed to allocate a sum of £50,000 to GADT over 3 years. £10,000 to March 2008 and £20,000 to March 2009 and £20,000 to March 2010.
This has provided a massive financial boost to our efforts and has enabled the directors to confidently commit to projects in the knowledge that we have financial resources available.
