Concern new units will 'crowd out' Dornoch Retail Park
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Dornoch Area Community Council has agreed to seek a meeting with a local businessman to discuss revised plans for two new units at the town’s retail park, which it is feared will cause “overcrowding”.
John Murray, whose daughter Nicole runs the Spar Store at the park, has lodged a planning application for the new units on a site currently used as an outside storage area behind the store.
A previous application was withdrawn.
Papers submitted to planners state: “There is currently a high demand for business space in central Dornoch and little rental opportunity for businesses.
“These units, located in an already identified business area, would seek to meet this demand both for business and the public in the longer term.”
The planning application was discussed by the community council at its meeting earlier this month when members were told that the town’s museum Historylinks, sited next to the business park, had concern about overcrowding and would be objecting to the plan.
Treasurer Jerry Bishop, a museum trustee, said: “The trustees of the museum have met again and we do not believe the new plans have addressed our issues and will be reinstating our objection.”
Chairman Patrick Murray said: “My own conclusion is that the plans have not changed and we are in a similar situation as we were last month. It is too much development in a too small area and is inappropriate for a town like Dornoch. We have not objected in any way but are just drawing attention to what appears to be valid objection to this.”
However community councillor Genevieve Duhigg said: “Just saying ‘this is what we do not like’ is not that helpful to someone trying to build a business in the town.
“I don’t disagree with the position we are taking but could we make contact with Mr Murray to see if there is something we find acceptable? We could ask Historylinks to join us as they are the main objectors.”
She added: “We probably need to look at the retail park as a whole.”
The meeting agreed to approach Mr Murray.
