Kirkcowan Community Council – Minutes of Meeting on 21st April 2025
1. Committee Members In Attendance John Drysdale (Chair), Mary Harkness (Sec), Jim Rae, Mary Mackenzie, Andrew Gladstone, Kath Googe (Minute Sec)
Public Attending Alix Smith, Kevin Dean, Charlie Marshall, Lynn Marshall.
Apologies for Absence Robert Drysdale, Hazel Matthews, Cllr Richard Marsh
2. Minutes of the previous meeting were circulated earlier. MH proposed and JD seconded, committee agreed they were correct.
3. Police Report Police report received – nothing to report.
However from1st May Police Scotland no longer attending CC meetings but holding online Zoom meetings with all area CCs invited to attend. First one will be on 27th May at 7pm
4. Notified Public Concerns The speed sign on Newton Stewart Road is still out of service pending replacement.
5. Reports and Updates
Treasurer –
No 1 Account £368.14
No 2 Account £12,527.89
Income None
Expenditure £20 Hire of Hall
£4.25 Bank service charge
KCDT – Nothing to report.
Footpaths – AG reported that Community Payback will be strimming the footpaths again this year. (Teapot Lane and Church to Dickie Wood)
Committee agreed in principle to mowing of the railway path and through the 2 field paths. Last year cost was £300. AG will obtain 3 quotes for the work.
Jenna Morra Wood – The new riverside path has been cleared, and volunteers are working on removing branches and roots. There is a very wet area that needs draining. Some large rocks could be repositioned at the same time. Committee agreed that JR will meet on site with AG and the same contractor to arrange and organise the work.
Welcome to Kirkcowan Sign on Station Road. Alan Wright approached regarding attaching the sign, when made, to the stone dyke – £178 quoted.
Quote from Galloway Granite for making the sign £300. Committee agreed that AG should arrange for this installation.
6. Elected Members Report None present, no report received.
7. Correspondence
a) Bus Shelters The lights in the shelters are not working. SWTrans have added Kirkcowan to the list of 1000 shelters that need cleaning, but it will be some time before it is done. It was suggested that CREPL funds be used to contract with a local exterior cleaning company.
b) Generator It is agreed that the school may use the generator for their event provided they cover costs of petrol etc.
c) Shennanton Windfarm Turbines If approved, the turbines will be transported via the M74 and A75.
d) Artfield Forest Windfarm There is a public meeting in Kirkcowan Hall on 25th June from 10.00 am to 13.30 to give a presentation of the updated plans.
e) Access to the park This has been resolved for the School Fayre
f) Insurance for the Generator This is due for payment 21st June.
g) Blair Hill Windfarm The KCC objection has been acknowledged.
h) Kilgallioch Traffic Management (Turbines) As proposed A77, A75 then the A 714. Blasting again on 24th April. The junction with the A714 at Newton Stewart is being altered, and the bridge parapet at Bargrennan will be taken down and reinstated afterwards.
i) Online survey relating to GP Services AG agreed to complete this on KCC behalf.
j) Ballgreen Rates The rates department of D&GC have sent a demand for Tarff Rovers football pitch £797. Agreed to be returned to the department as “not known at this address”.
8. CREPL, Airies and Balmurrie Fell Community Benefit Funds
CREPL pays up to £3,500 direct to the KCC, Airies and Balmurrie Fell transfer the benefit funds to KCDT via D&GC
9. AOCB
Litter Pick – 9 bags of rubbish collected from the verges around Kirkcowan. Many thanks to the volunteers.
Rest Garden – Request from Lynn Marshall for the Rest Garden by the church to be mown this year. (Last year it was not done.) Committee agreed to get quotes for this work – AG to action. Mowing not to take place until bluebells have seeded.
Union Flag – Flying Days (Kevin Dean) 22nd April and 1st – 11th May for VE Day.
Request for Suggestions for future expenditure:
- Replacement of flower boxes as all 14 are deteriorating.
- Cleaning of Bus Shelters.
- A litter bin at the Johnstone Bridge end of Jenna Morra Wood.
Meeting Closed 20.18.
Next Meeting 19th May at 7pm – AGM followed by Ordinary Meeting