Local poll result shows majority backing for golf course at Coul Links
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Communities for Coul (C4C) says it now has a mandate to proceed with a planning application for a championship golf course at Coul Links after a public vote was overwhelmingly in favour of the development.
A poll on behalf of the community group was carried out in the fortnight leading up to June 11 by Civica, an independent provider of ballot and election services.
Some 4812 people registered on the electoral roll and living in the IV25, KW9 and KW10 postcodes were canvassed.
Voters were asked: "Do you support a community planning application for an environmentally sensitive, world-class golf course to be built at Coul Links, near Embo?"
C4C said the voter turnout was 44.4 per cent with 69.2 per cent in favour of pushing forward with the golf course plan.
A C4C spokesman said: “We are delighted with the result. The turnout was incredibly high for such a one-off event and is comparable to the turnout at local council elections and about 10 per cent higher than European Parliament elections.
He added: "When we launched in January this year, this was a milestone that we hoped to achieve. However, although we believed our cause had a majority of local support, we remained unsure of the outcome until the results were delivered.
"C4C now take this result as our mandate to move ahead with a new planning application for an environmentally sensitive, world-class golf course at Coul Links.
"We would like to thank supporters who donated to our campaign."
An analysis of the voting figures reveals the turnout in Brora was 38.3 per cent with 68.6 per cent in favour; in Golspie turnout was 39.1 per cent with 72.6 per cent in favour; turnout in Embo was highest at 66.5 per cent with 64.9 per cent saying yes; and in Dornoch 49 per cent voted with 68.6 per cent in favour.
