Tuesday, 23 November 2021

The new community action plan for Stratherrick and Foyers was launched on Friday 19^th November 2021 at the Wildside Centre at Whitebridge, close to the south-east side of Loch Ness.

Foyers and Stratherrick are very fortunate in having a steady income to fund community projects resulting from agreements with the operators of local windfarms and hydro schemes which produce clean, green power for the grid.

Kirsty Balfour, Chair of the Trust, accepted the new plan from Nick Wright, of Nick Wright Planning.  Nick’s Team has been involved for over six months in gathering information and opinion on the next stages of the Trust’s work.  Kirsty said ‘The Trust must use the community’s money to make a big difference to life and prospects for our local population.’

Kirsty added ‘We have numerous issues facing our scattered community.  We want Foyers and Stratherrick to have the facilities and services which make it the best possible place to live, work and raise a family.  The plan includes actions to improve housing and housing supply, to support our local voluntary groups, to enhance care opportunities and protect our natural environment.’

The launch was attended by over 30 members of the community, many of whom had taken part in the work to produce the plan.   The Plan is available online and will be posted out to members of the community over the next few weeks.  Read it here

Nick Wright said ‘I am delighted with the level of engagement from so many people in the Foyers and the Strath to get to this point.  The Action Plan has come out of collaboration and the sharing of information, hopes and aspirations for a stunning part of Scotland.   A printed copy of the plan will be provided to every household in the district. When it comes to the future development of Stratherrick and Foyers, we all now have a strong song sheet – or even a song book -   from which everyone can sing!  

Over the past five years the Trust has purchased land and buildings, including the Wildside Centre at Whitebridge, which hosted the launch.  Kirsty Balfour said ‘For over thirty years the Wildside Centre was an abandoned outdoor centre which the community has totally revitalised in the last two years.  It operates as a cosy, welcoming venue for Galas and even a recent wedding.  Community groups also use the centre and our local volunteers at ‘Soup to Go’ have tackled isolation and appetite at the same time by running a weekly soup run from the premises during COVID-19.  The Trust’s AGM also takes place here next week.’ 

Presentations from Nick Wright, Kirsty Balfour, Gareth Jones (Vice Chair) and Tony Foster (Trust Manager) also revealed the intention to continue the Action Groups established during the process, initially facilitated by Nick Wright, and a committment to engage in a pro active way with funding being accessible to each group and community volunteers actively involved.

2026

February (2 stories)

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