Aviemore pub toasts decision to allow beer garden by banks of the Spey
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The go-ahead has been given to a beer garden by the banks of the Spey in Aviemore but initially only on a two years basis so issues with road safety and access to the river can be monitored.
The amendment to the application by the operators of the Old Bridge Inn was approved after discussions lasting nearly two hours at the Cairngorms National Park Authority's latest planning meeting.
There is long-standing informal access for vehicles through the site to the River Spey which was Scotland's first ever river to be designated as a 'core path'.
It is one of the few local launch sites onto the river in the strath with canoeists and kayakers able to drive up with trailers and vans to the spot and nearly £25,000 was spent several years ago on improving the access point and making it safer in general.
However, the Old Bridge Inn leases the land and would not have been obliged to allow access for vehicles although river-goers would still be able to do so on foot under outdoor access rights providing they comply with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
As a result, there was much discussion on the best way forward with options on table including approval as recommended by CNPA planners, outright refusal of the beer garden application and a comprise.
In the end it was approval of permission for two years for the beer garden – proposed by member Xander MacDade – to see how the arrangements worked which won out.
An approved access statement forms part of the planning conditions.
Owen Caldwell, who runs the Old Bridge Inn, told the Strathy afterwards: "I'm really pleased with the outcome of the planning decision and especially grateful for the support of CNPA.
"For all of at the Old Bridge Inn, it's a really exciting challenge to go forward and create a site that offers a brilliant social space in the spring and summer months, as well as actively promoting this year round access point for river users which will now have a designated drop off/ loading area and signage promoting river access."
He continued: "We are very respectful of those who opposed the beer garden and were largely concerned about continued access to the Spey.
"However, we have every confidence this combination of interests can go hand in hand and the site will now serve a far wider group of people than previously.
"We do also acknowledge that at busy times parking can be an issue locally and this change will have some impact on that.
"In our view this is part of a far wider issue, however, which would continue to exist regardless of our beer garden which has been used historically as a small car park.
"We would now welcome Highland Council to explore ideas regarding traffic calming measures or designated parking provisions on Dalfaber Road."
Earlier in the planning meeting, Dave Craig, owner of the watersports business Spirit of Speyside, had spoken out against the application.
He said: "There are part of this application that I find quite appalling.... There are lots of chasms still in this application."
Mr Craig said there are are very few places river users 'can walk up to' and said there was no other access point to the Spey between Boat of Garten and Kincraig.
He told the committee that the access point for a designated core foot path was being lost.
Mr Craig said: "People are no longer coming to launch at Aviemore because they just can not gain access. They can not get down to the river and they can not get parked."
He continued: "One of my sadnesses here is that the applicants and even access people at the CNPA do not realise the amount of vehicles and trailers using this area and how long it takes to unload...
"Outdoor tourism in Scotland at a conservative estimate brings in £85 million and we are part of that and at the moment we feel we are not respected at all.
"If you were to approve this application – it might sound a bit silly but I really mean this – it would almost be like a reverse Robin Hood.
"What you would be doing is stealing from the public prior to Covid a very adequate parking area which allowed for access and families to be there.
"Now we have a corridor which is completely unrealistic (to use).
"You are robbing the public of an amenity and giving it to one business."
Two amendments were made at the end of the discussion – one was for outright refusal proposed by Bill Lobban but that was defeated in a run-off with Mr McDade's amendment by 9-6 votes.
There was then another vote this time with the winning amendment pitted against the motion to support approval as recommended by planner officers which was proposed by Derek Ross.
There were 11 votes in favour of the amendment against two for the motion with three abstentions.
Mr McDade had argued the consent for two years would serve two purposes: to allow the application to proceed but also to understand any issues that may arise and to allow improve measures for vehicle drop-offs and the pedestrian corridor to the Spey to be implemented.
He had said: "I think these are reasonable and proportionate and will encourage a long term solution for everyone wishing to use the area."
Mr Lobban has said the use of the area as a beer garden was incompatible with access and egress for river-goers and vehicles and posed a danger to children in particular.
A number of CNPA planning committee members pointed out that the Old Bridge Inn leases the land and ultimately could bar vehicles from using the site.
The seasonal beer garden plans by the business include the erection of a 10.5m by 6m grey coloured stretch tent which will house a timber bar.
There will also be picnic benches distributed around the site.
Recommending approval, CNPA planning officers had pointed out the site has been used in this way for over the last year or so, and this planning application sought to formalise the use.
The full planning report is available by clicking here.
