Concern after access path blocked in Golspie

A Golspie resident has publicly voiced her concerns after her neighbour blocked off a historic access path from the A9 to the village’s seafront.

Karen Sutherland raised the issue at a meeting of Golspie Community Council on Monday evening.

She said that she had also spoken to Matt Dent, the Highland Council footpaths officer, and Lesley Cranna, a local resident who sits on the Sutherland Local Access Forum.

Highland Council is now understood to be informally consulting the public on the footpath in an attempt to gather evidence of its usage in order to determine whether it constitutes a right of way.

Mrs Sutherland told community councillors that her neighbour had bought a property known as the old British Legion building from Sutherland Estates with the intention of incorporating it into their home.

The British Legion Building is located close to Seaforth House care home at the northern end of the village.

A path runs from the Main Street, past Mrs Sutherland’s property, around the side of the dilapidated building and onto the seafront.

However, a Heras fence has now been installed at the side of the building, preventing access to the seafront.

A notice has been put up next to the fence which reads: “This area is now closed to the public, as we’re in the process of changing from a commercial building to a residential house. Thank you for respecting our privacy.”

Mrs Sutherland said that she had lived in her home for 34 years, during which time the path had always been there and had never previously been blocked off.

She said: “The Legion building is still a commercial building at the moment, and they have not applied for planning permission or a change of use, so there is no reason to stop anyone walking past.”

The community council heard that, as a result of the barrier, people were now starting to walk along the side of nearby Lovat House, a retirement housing complex situated beside Seaforth House, to access the sea front from the Main Street.

It was felt that this increased footfall was invading the privacy of Lovat House residents.

Community council chairperson Henrietta Marriott said that questionnaires for members of the public to fill in regarding the route were available at Golspie Service Point.

Cllr Richard Gale, who was present at the meeting, said that evidence gathering was an important part of establishing whether the path was a right of way.

“Just saying it is a right of way, does not mean it is a right of way,” he said.

A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “There is no formal consultation being undertaken, however, forms are available within the community and these have been designed to collect evidence of the claimed public right of way within Golspie.

“Hard copies are available from the Golspie Service Point and forms have also been distributed to the Community Council.

“Members of the public can also request a form directly from the Caithness and Sutherland Outdoor Access Officer directly by e-mailing matt.dent@highland.gov.uk.”

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