Durness visitor centre saved from closure

A remote tourist information centre around the booming North Coast 500 visitor route has been saved from closure at the 11th hour after its owner backed down over rent demands.

VisitScotland said last month that it could not agree to triple the length of the lease at Durness in Sutherland – with two jobs at risk.

Community leaders claimed the landlord was trying to cash-in on the popularity of the North Coast 500 drive route, which has seen a massive increase in tourists. Ironically visitor centres have never been more needed or popular.

Dorset-based businessman Michael Bonham Cozens said he bought the centre at Durness – and also the one at Lochinver – out of “sentimental” reasons after exploring the coast on a sailing trip.

He has owned the centres for 12 years.

But the move to seek a nine-year renewal for the licences was refused by VisitScotland, who say it was not in the taxpayers’ interest to commit to such long periods.

This week though, the tourism body said it had now agreed a four year deal over renting the Durness centre, and was “pursuing alternative accommodation” in Lochinver.

The old Durness lease ends this month and Lochinver’s term comes to a finish in May. A small part of the Durness building is leased to Highland Council for its ranger service.

Mr Cozens was seeking rent of £9500-a-year, rising to £11,500 per annum over the period of the lease for Durness and £12,500-ayear, rising to £15,000 per annum for Lochinver.

Inquiries at the Durness centre, which is directly on the North Coast 500 mile route, soared by more than a quarter last year.

Neil Fuller, a director of the Durness Development Group, said: “We are delighted that Visit Scotland has reached agreement.

“It has also saved two jobs. We were desperately worried, but it appears there has been a change of heart by the landlord over the length of the lease.

“The value and length of the lease seems to have increased in time with the popularity of the North Coast 500. We know the rent was £5800-a-year in 2014. Not many people locally would able to afford the new rent.

“Those centres are vital to the area. More and more people are coming, but were faced with having nowhere in the whole of north west Sutherland to help inform them centrally of what is available locally. Also a lot of community assets are in those buildings.”

Long-serving north west Sutherland ranger Donald Mitchell and his wife Valerie faced both losing their jobs because she is part of the Durness tourist information facility and there is a possible redundancy threat to countryside rangers.

A spokesperson for VisitScotland said: “VisitScotland is delighted to confirm that we have reached agreement with the landlord on a new four-year lease at Durness iCentre.

“This agreement is currently being finalised by our respective solicitors. We are pursuing alternative accommodation in Lochinver and we are in positive discussions with local tourism groups to ensure there is information provision in the area for the coming season.”

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