Chair appointed for Lochaber Committee

The new chair of the Lochaber Committee is Councillor Andrew Baxter who represents the Fort William and Ardnamurchan Ward of The Highland Council.

He received unanimous support when the Committee met today (Friday 23 June) in Lochaber House, Fort William.

Cllr Baxter said: “I look forward to working with all Lochaber Members over the next few years and welcome the newly elected Councillors. I hope they enjoy their term, and together I am determined to make Lochaber even more relevant in local government. The Council has made a commitment to devolve powers to local areas, and we have a responsibility to seize those powers to the Lochaber Committee and make it happen.”

Other appointments made by the Lochaber Committee were the appointment of 2 Members to Lochaber Local Access Forum

The Council has a statutory duty under Section 25 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to establish Local Access Forums for its area. There are currently six Local Access Forums in the Highland area which advise on matters in relation to the exercise of access rights, the existence of delineation of rights of way or the drawing up and adoption of the Core Path Plan. In addition, they also offer and give assistance to parties in terms of the resolution of any disputes in this respect.

Cllr Ben Thompson and Cllr Niall McLean were appointed to the Lochaber Local Access Forum.