SUTHERLAND ACCESS PANEL Minute of the meeting held on Monday 24th June 2002 at 11:00 am in Lairg Parish Church, Church Hall. Present: Denise Carroll Maggie Coupland Andy Dawson Christian Goskirk Anne Keatinge Carl Lemkes Gerry Lemkes Nick Lindsay Martin MacLeod Shirley McHardy Monica Mouat John Sutherland 1. WELCOME & APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Ann Lynch and Sandra Peterkin. 2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING ITEM 3.2 "Raigmore Hospital - should read signs. Subject to the above alteration the minutes were approved. Proposed by Gerry Lemkes and seconded by Ann Keatinge. 3. MATTERS ARISING 3.1 Access Issues * Ferrycroft Centre (Lairg) - Shirley has written to Mr McLaughlin outlining the concerns of the Panel with regards the parking at the Centre. Mr McLaughlin forwarded the letter to Mr Graham Nicolls. To date no response has been received from Mr Nicolls. A number of suggestions were made regarding the parking by the panel. These will be passed on. * Lairg Community Centre - Mrs Walker was invited to attend today's meeting. 3.2 Planning Applications * Granny's Heilan Hame - Shirley contacted the architect re the concerns of the Panel. A reply outlining ramp gradients and confirming level access flooring in the shower area has been received. * Skerray Tearoom - a letter was received from Keith Bowman enclosing the "Draft Relaxation Direction". Copies of Mr Bowman's letter had been sent to panel members who were aware of the project. A response with any concerns from the Panel should have been made within 14 days. It was agreed that despite the 14-day time period having lapsed the Panel would write to the Building Control Department outlining its concerns over the building and the lack of suitable access. Shirley is to do this ASAP. 3.3 DRC It was noted that the DRC had held its Roadshow in Brora at the end of May. This had not been particularly well attended but had been informative and helpful none the less. 4. PLANNING APPLICATIONS * Royal Bank of Scotland (Tongue) - Plans were received for alterations to the Bank Building at Tongue. These were passed to a Panel Member for comment - no concerns were noted. * RSPB - Plans for the alteration of an existing house to provide office accommodation for the RSPB staff at Forsinard were considered. It was felt by the Panel that the lack of toilet facilities on the ground floor was unacceptable. 5. ACCESS ISSUES * Doll Hall - It was reported that the committee are to seek funding to provide disabled access and toilet facilities. * Highland Council Service Points - An access audit of all Highland Council Service Points is to be undertaken. It was suggested that this information could if it possible be added to the Panel's Access Audit. It is anticipated that the audit will be complete by the end of the year. * Golspie Swimming Pool - It was reported that the "Ducking Seat" used to lower people into the pool is currently unusable. This will be checked up. * Rosehall Hall - Does not have disabled toilet facilities. * Ardgay Hall - The access ramp and toilet facilities have now been completed. * Private Clubs & Organisations - it was noted that Education, Transport and Private Clubs will be exempt from the DDA for the time being. 6. AOCB 6.1 Scottish Executive - Golspie Main Street Shirley had received form the Scottish Executive a reply to her January 2002 letter stating that the remedial works proposed by BEAR Scotland will not be considered a priority. As this is a Trunk Road issue Nick was unable to offer any assistance. Nick agreed to follow up on the Disabled Parking signage at Dornoch Post Office and Golspie Fountain Road Car Park and Brora Co-ops. There followed a discussion regarding the Blue Badge Scheme and parking in Inverness. Shirley is to make available information on parking in Inverness to those who requested it. Shirley to contact Mr Fisher, Senior Traffic Warden at Inverness to see if the above information could be disseminated direct from Inverness to Badge holders. It was suggested that the Panel write to Shop Mobility Scotland expressing concern at the number of cars parked on the pavement outside their port - a - cabin. 6.2 Highland Access Panels A meeting of the Highland Access Panels took place in Inverness last week however due to our panel receiving notification of the meeting at a late stage no one from Sutherland Access Panel was able to attend. 6.3 CHIP Shirley read from the newsletter of CHIP an article regarding Access to National Trust Facilities anyone wishing more information should contact 0870 458 4000. 6.4 Caithness Community Care Forum Shirley and Christian had been invited to attend a meeting of the Caithness Community Care Forum to discuss the setting up of a Caithness Access Panel. 6.5 Finance The Panel's Bank Balance currently stands at £5,368.97 7. DONM The next meeting of the Sutherland Access Panel will take place on Tuesday 27th August at 11:00am in Ardgay Hall.