Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust manager refutes 'caravan site' speculation over Falls of Shin Visitor Centre
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Speculation that the area around the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre could be turned into a caravan site has been strongly refuted.
Conjecture over the future of the visitor attraction was sparked by an announcement last week that the facility was on the verge of being sold to the Pure Leisure Group.
The Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust, which developed the community owned centre, is in the last stages of negotiations to sell it to Pure Leisure, owners of Gledfield Estate.
The north Lancashire based company, which is owned by entrepreneur John Morphet and operates holiday parks across the UK, was recently granted planning consent to establish a 47-caravan park at Gledfield Estate.
Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust manager David Watson said that people had been “jumping to conclusions” that the Falls of Shin was also going to be turned into a caravan site.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the reformed Ardgay and District Community Council, held online last night, he said: “It is not (going to become a caravan site). It is to remain as is. It is going to be run as a cafe.
“The plan is that there is a young local couple who are interested in running it and John Morphet is purchasing it and supporting them and they will be managing it on his behalf.”
Mr Watson added that it would, in any case, be “almost impossible” to get any planning consent for any accommodation within the site other than parking motorhomes – an overnight stopover for campervans and motorhomes has been established at the Falls of Shin.
He reiterated: “It is not going to be turned into a caravan site.”
Mr Watson described the sale as “very complex” due in part to the conditions placed upon the Falls of Shin site by Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise - both of which helped to fund the development.
He said: “It will move on and be a site delivering what it should be delivering for years to come.”
