Plans to develop historic Scottish Highland glen viewpoint sees majority oppose
The meeting heard concern about there being a lack of consultation before the plans were submitted.
Plans to develop a lay-by looking out over a loch shaped like Scotland have been voted against by a majority of those living in the area.
The proposals include building a visitor centre, cafe, and shop with car and coach parking at the Glen Garry West viewpoint, about 30 miles north of Fort William.
The lookout, which is one of two in the area, including the “east” viewpoint, is best known for its views over Loch Garry. From the right angle, the body of freshwater is said to look like a map of Scotland.
The application has been lodged by Black Sheep Management Services (BSMS), a hospitality company that owns a string of hotels and holiday accommodation in the area and on Skye.
As of Wednesday morning, there were 13 public responses on the Highland Council planning portal, including from local businesses, which are all unanimously in opposition.
About 125 people attended a meeting on Monday to discuss the plans, which are under consultation. Attendants said among those in the room, there was “almost unanimous opposition” to the development.
The Scotsman was told BSMS representatives said in advance of the meeting they were unable to attend. However, the company has proposed to hold its own information session for residents early next month.
Former Highland councillor Dr Michael Foxley, who chaired the public meeting in Invergarry, said: “There was a very big turn-out for a small community in the middle of winter.
“There was certainly almost unanimous concern about - or opposition to - the viewpoint proposal.
“The meeting heard concerns over the size of the project, the effect on water supply and sewage systems, the level of traffic on the roads, the possible damage to neighbouring businesses.
“There was also unhappiness about a precedent that could be set. Can anyone just buy a lay-by at a viewpoint and turn it into a private commercial enterprise?”
Dr Foxley said there was widespread concern about a lack of consultation prior to the plans being submitted.
He said: “Projects like this nowadays nearly always have a pre-application consultation, where the plans are discussed with the community and that can help avoid a lot of later difficulty.”
The Glengarry Community Development Trust (GCDT), a community company with more than 60 members and which manages land and funds for the area, previously told The Scotsman it only first heard of the plans when they were published on the planning portal.
One resident at Monday’s meeting said there had been plenty of opportunity for BSMS to discuss its plans for the viewpoint during “a lot of consultation over the Community Action Plan for Glengarry.”
Some of those in attendance, however, showed support for the viewpoint plans, saying the site needed to be redeveloped and that it could bring jobs to the area.
The meeting comes as tensions were already running high between BSMS and the local community after a bizarre surge in applications to become members of the GCDT.
With a block of applications and the proxy vote system, concern has been raised that long-term decisions for the trust could end up being steered to suit an individual’s or individual organisation’s aims.
Public consultation on the viewpoint plans is due to finish on December 15.
Representatives of BSMS were contacted for comment.
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