Estate route to be resubmitted
THE question "When is a hill track not a hill track?" is set to be answered early in the new year.
A plan to repair and improve an "existing hill road" on Balavil Estate by Kingussie has been met with some fierce opposition.
Objectors are contesting there is no such track and an entirely new application is therefore required.
Cairngorms National Park Authority planners had recommended the proposal should be approved by planning committee members when they met in Boat of Garten Community Hall on Friday.
Planners had admitted the track itself would introduce a new feature within an area of wild land.
But they said a high standard of construction could be delivered through conditions and the development complies fully with Local Development Plan policies. Members were recommended to "support a recommendation to repair and improve the existing track".
The proposed route is accessed via Balavil Farm.
Planners said it is marked as "a footpath and is an established route for estate vehicles though only some sections have been constructed in the past".
But direct protests were made to the CNPA's planning director Murray Ferguson to withdraw the application ahead of the meeting.
Parkswatch Scotland blogger Nick Kempe claimed the application has been wrongly described by the applicant and advertised incorrectly.
He along with the Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group and Dave Morris had urged for the applicant to re-submit it with an accurate description.
Planning committee members agreed to defer the bid.
A CNPA spokeswoman said: "It will be re-advertised with an amended description and open for public comment until January 10."
