Approval recommended for 38-bay motorhomes and caravan park in Dalwhinnie
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Planners are recommending that plans for a touring motorhomes park and caravan site in Dalwhinnie are approved despite some opposition.
Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee will consider the application by Connor Fraser tomorrow when they meet in Grantown.
He is seeking full planning permission to form the 38-bay site along with 10 overnight parking spaces north of Birchview in the village.
The proposal is being supported by Dalwhinnie Community Council but there have also been lengthy concerns expressed over the proposed development.
CNPA planning officer Katherine Donnachie is recommending approval saying that the plans will support tourism in the area.
She states: “The proposal provides a serviced facility for motorhome and caravan users on the main A9 corridor.
“It also has the potential to support local employment and amenities in Dalwinnie by bringing visitors to the area who can use the existing facilities of the village.
“Subject to suitable conditions regarding landscape, finishes and tree retention the proposed development is considered to fit in satisfactorily to the local landscape.
“Any impacts on adjoining residents are capable of being satisfactorily mitigated and there are no servicing or flooding issues with the development which can be accessed and serviced to the satisfaction of the technical consultees.
“The new building are low key and located close to the existing filling station grouping here whereby visual impacts are limited.
“Biodiversity enhancements can be secured and there are no significant environmental impacts.
“Health and safety issues have been fully considered and do not raise any particular land use planning issues.”
A small site office, washing and toilet facitlies and bin collection area are proposed at the site located to the west of the A889 trunk road and by the village’s filling station
It currently comprises around 1.9 hectares of mixed grazing land and woodland, predominantly birch together with rough land.
The application was advertised and a total of 15 letters of representation from 10 individuals were made.
The objections include:
• the size of the development is out of character with small village and its services, will have adverse impact on tranquil and unspoilt character of area and change character of village.
• If the proposal leads to Dalwhinnie becoming a tourist spot, then there will be risks of another community with second homes and AirB&Bs rather than a place for people to live.
• Proposed screen fencing around site will have adverse visual impacts.
• Adverse impacts on natural habitat of wide range of wildlife using the site and the birch woodland.
• Increased traffic presents risk to pedestrians – there are also safety issues around the increased traffic which will occur at the forecourt and the use of the track serving Ben Alder Cottages which is heavily used by hillwalkers.
• Noise and air pollution resulting from large numbers of visitors who will outnumber current residents.
• Increased litter and fire risk from overnight stay holiday makers.
• Concerns regarding confusing nature of submitted plans which do not all match and show tracks that do not exist.
But Dalwhinnie Community Council has said that the proposal is a ‘no brainer’ for the village.
The watchdog states in its submission: “Our village is often forgotten or money for new and extra development and services distributed to destinations more attractive to tourists or where they are seen to be more economically profitable.
“Dalwhinnie’s location however should be seen as the gateway to the Highlands and its name itself means Meeting Place.
“With the main roads to the north, south and west from here, it will benefit from the fact it will catch a high percentage of people going to and from their Scottish Highland experience.
“Therefore this will hopefully help the village to offer more employment and opportunities to both permanent and seasonal employees.
“This in turn brings new residents and the chance for the village to remain, grow or have more local services for residents living here.”
The community council also said it could help rid the village of a messy problem: “One example of benefit is ensuring no excuse for chemical waste disposal into the surrounding area if we have facilities here in Dalwhinnie.
“Local residents are forever collecting rubbish, waste including human waste sometimes emptied from chemical toilets/porta potties - we’ve even found a full porta potti dumped at the side of the road near the distillery.
With the increase in tourists and especially those travelling in motorhomes, campers and caravans, we feel the infrastructure across the Highlands and national park is lacking to accommodate and facilitate such an increase…
“Scotland has some catching up to do with Europe and as a national park this should be a “no brainier” to assist with developing economies and infrastructure.”
The full 53-page reports can be read here.
