Councillor ugers 'cool it' over glamping site
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A local councillor is trying to defuse conflict over a controversial tourism development at a north west Sutherland beauty spot.
Cllr Kirsteen Currie said “everyone should take a step back and cool down” over the proposed 18-pod glamping site close to Oldshoremore beach.
She was speaking as members of the north planning applications committee last week gave it the go-ahead despite 17 objections.
Kinlochbervie Community Council was among the objectors, stating the scale of the project was greater than envisaged and doubting the capacity of the developer to see it through.
But the plan garnered five letters of support and the backing of planning officials who said it accorded with policies.
Behind the scheme is Kinlochbervie native Alex Munro, who already has planning consent for a 32-bed hostel and a house in the vicinity. In addition he has another two developments in the pipeline – decisions are awaited on an application for a house and café and another two camping pods.
Tuesday’s committee meeting was told that permission had originally been issued for the glamping site in 2017 and work had started on the access road. But it later emerged that the wrong location had been given. Mr Munro was asked to re-submit the application and in the meantime workers downed tools leaving – in the words of one objector – a “scene of devastation” with unsightly earthworks.
The planning officer said: “We acknowledge a lot of concerns have been raised and representations about the way the site has been left. It is an unfortunate situation but we are where we are. The application is in accordance with planning policies.”
North, west and central Sutherland councillor Kirsteen Currie was fully behind the scheme.
She said: “I can see both sides and why the community are raising concerns and worries. The way things have progressed so far has not been ideal from anyone’s point of view.
“But I think it is a nice development. I am concerned about infrastructure – we have a lot of people visiting the area and don’t have the infrastructure. From this perspective I am happy with it in principle.”
She added: “Everyone needs to take a step back and find some common ground. We need to look on it on its merits. I would like to see everyone just cool it.”
Cllr Currie’s only concern was the fire risk from small, wood burning stoves to be put in the new pods.
The planning officer responded that environmental health officials had already picked up on the stove issue, although their concern was smoke pollution rather than the fire hazard.
