Assynt community councillors voice anger over go-ahead for 'eyesore' 20m television mast at Lochinver harbour and call for rethink
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Angry north-west Sutherland community councillors have slammed Highland Council over a “ridiculous” decision to grant planning consent for an "eyesore" 20 metre high television mast opposite a hotel at Lochinver harbour.
Members of Assynt Community Council, who are bitterly opposed to the new site chosen for the mast, claim their views have been brushed aside.
And they are querying why councillors did not hold a site visit before giving the go-ahead to the controversial application at a virtual meeting.
Assynt Community Councillor Alex Dickson said at the group’s last meeting: “This was granted by Highland Council on Highland Council land and we have had no opportunity to meet with anyone on site to discuss the matter.”
An existing mast belonging to Arqiva Ltd currently sits on top of the harbour’s old ice house building which is in line for demolition.
The telecommunications company applied for planning consent to locate a new "slim lattice mast", along with a cabin and cabinet in a fenced compound, measuring 0.01 hectares, at Culag pier opposite the Culag Hotel.
Assynt Community Council objected on visual grounds, claiming Arqiva had chosen the “easiest and cheapest” option and that there were other, less intrusive locations nearby where a new mast could be erected.
Seven objection in total to the application were received from nearby householders and businesses.
But the application was supported by planning officials and approved by members of the North Planning Applications Committee at its meeting in December.
Assynt Community Council has since sent a protest email to planning officers demanding a rethink.
Secretary Phil Jones wrote: “It is difficult to express politely how angry the local community councillors feel about this ridiculous decision.
"There appears to have been no attempt by Highland Council to further explore the reasoning behind our objections to Arqiva’s plans or to contact Assynt Community Council and discuss the alternative options.
"Clearly Arqiva have chosen the cheapest solution for replacing the existing mast which is currently attached to the defunct ice plant. But replacing one intrusive eyesore with a new one seems perverse.
"There are other options that might well cost Arqiva more financially, but we feel they should be given due consideration in order to protect the aesthetic appeal of the village as a tourist destination.
"We therefore request Highland Council’s planning department look more sympathetically at the valid objections already raised by all parties concerned and arrange to attend a site meeting with representatives of the local community so they can see for themselves the negative impact this planned installation will have."
Highland Council said: “All correspondence received from third parties and the community council were summarised and presented in the report of handling to the committee.
"The concerns raised were acknowledged by the members in their consideration of the matter. Following a debate committee were minded to agree to the recommendation and approve the application.
“There was no motion or request for a site visit in this instance. Site visits can and have been undertaken by the committee when deemed appropriate as was the case with the recent Busgate application at Raigmore by the South Planning Applications Committee.”
North, west and central Sutherland councillor Hugh Morrison, who sits on the planning committee, said: “The mast was a bit of an issue. The recommendation was to grant it, although I wanted it moved closer to the breakwater. "It has been granted and hindsight is a great thing."
