Dornoch crofter seeks to establish archery base on land
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A TENANT crofter in Dornoch is seeking planning consent to run a field archery business on part of her land.
Elizabeth Connell wants permission to change the use of 1.06 hectares of ground on Sydera Croft at Lonemore – to the south of Cyderhall Farm Cottages.
Her application was lodged with Highland Council last month and is presently under consideration.
In a paper submitted to planners, Mrs Connell states: “I would like to change the use of parts of field 10 and 11 of my croft to include business use as well as keeping the croft use...the field is part of my croft. I am the croft tenant.”
Mrs Connell’s husband, Kurt, runs Connell Outdoor Pursuits - a small activity tour business which offers personalised archery and clay sessions and driven 4x4 scenic tours as well as tailored activity tour packages and local fishing.
He is a qualified Archery GB instructor and has partnered with Highland Coast Hotels this year. He has been awarded funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the purchase of new equipment.
Mrs Connell told planners: “My husband is trying to expand his business and would like to run archery sessions on part of the field.
“He runs mobile archery at the moment but a permanent base would allow him to take more bookings.”
She added: “He will then be looking at employing someone to help.”
The application has been referred to the Crofters Commission as a statutory consultee.
The commission said it could not comment on the specific development but in general it was “supportive of developments on croft land where there is an operational need that will be beneficial to the croft”.
In its response, the commission stated that any proposed development should avoid using better quality land on a croft, should not restrict access to the croft and should not restrict its continuing cultivation.
