Coul Links opponent MSP Ariane Burgess says best way to help Sutherland communities is to build homes – not 'golf courses on protected nature sites'
Green MSP Ariane Burgess has said that the best way to help communities in areas such as Sutherland is by building more homes - not golf courses on protected nature sites.
Ms Burgess is an opponent of Communities 4 Coul's plan to build a world-class golf course at Coul Links, near Embo. After the development was granted planning consent, she urged the Scottish Government to call it in.
Speaking on a panel at the Rural Housing Scotland conference in Aviemore last week, she said: "Communities and businesses in Sutherland are rightly concerned about the significant fall in Sutherland but the answer is to create homes and long-term sustainable work - not more golf courses."
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Ms Burgess led the Greens’ work on the National Planning Framework 4 through Parliament.
She said: “The policies in the National Planning Framework and local development plans are key to protecting our most special places for nature and people from inappropriate development.
"However it’s clear communities are frustrated that these new policies are not always being followed through at local level.”
