Scotland is famous worldwide for being home to some of the most majestic views known to man. It has beaches with white sand and turquoise waters that can compete with Caribbean islands, it has dramatic castles harking back to ancient times, it has breathtaking mountain ranges and spectacular lochs. So, when anyone considers tampering with the Scottish landscape, there’ll be plenty of people with something to say about it.
Case in point: a proposed new tourist attraction on the A87 road to Skye. Hotel and restaurant operator Black Sheep Management Services (BSMS) has submitted a planning application to the Highlands Council for a visitor centre, café, shop and car park just off the road, and locals aren’t best pleased.
The plot that BSMS wants to build its hub on is the Glengarry viewpoint, a popular lay-by that overlooks Loch Garry (a view often said to resemble the map of Scotland). People that live nearby have raised concerns about the impact it could have on the environment, traffic congestion and the footfall at Invergarry’s community hall, cafe and heritage centre.
More than 100 people gathered at a public meeting in Invergarry to voice their opposition to the plans last month. One resident told the BBC: ‘The fear within the community is that if there is a visitor centre and a café seven miles up the road people will go there and not come here, and then we might lose our hall that is so important to us.’
The proposal for the attraction says that visitors would have to pay for parking longer than 15 minutes, but members of the local community would have free access. BSMS promised that the development would create 50 jobs, deliver improvements to road safety and deal with the issue of litter and human waste at the viewpoint by providing managed toilets and litter collection.
A spokesperson for Black Sheep Management Services said: ‘The development of Glengarry Viewpoint will deliver meaningful investment in rural infrastructure, with minimal environmental impact and enhance the visitor experience, boosting local spend.
‘In addition to delivering a cleaner environment and addressing road safety issues, the development will also deliver local employment opportunities, both directly and via the supply chain. We are also providing local artisans with the opportunity to promote their wares in our visitor centre.’
The local community was given the chance to look at the detailed plans for the Glengarry visitor centre last Thursday (December 4). A decision is yet to be made on the planning application.
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