New caravan and motorhomes park is approved for Highlands gateway
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Dalwhinnie businessman has won the right to provide a motorhomes and caravan site to tourists at what he aims to establish as ‘the real gateway to the Highlands’.
The green light comes after what Connor Fraser describes as ‘three long, long years’
Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee heard lengthy objections at their latest meeting at Grantown headquarters.
But after discussions, they decided to go with the planners’ recommendation to approve the formation of 38 bays and 10 overnight parking spaces north of Birchview in the village.
Related article:
Planners recommend approval for 38-bay caravan and touring motorhomes park in Dalwhinnie
“It’s been a long haul,” said Mr Fraser, who runs the village’s filling station beside the site, “but it’s been worth it and it will be a huge boost to Dalwhinnie, where quite frankly not much has happened in a long time.”
The village’s community council were fully supportive of the proposal and chair Jen Dickinson was quick to send her congratulations after the go-ahead.
The watchdog group had told the committee: “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.”
Mr Fraser told the Strathy: “We can now provide a decent waste disposal facility too for caravanners and campers.
“I have lost count of the times we have been asked where they can find proper chemical facilities and until now we’ve simply had to send them off to Ruaridh Ormiston’s place up there in Kingussie.”
CNPA planning officer Katherine Donnachie reported that the plans would support tourism in the area.: “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.
“Biodiversity enhancements can be secured and there are no significant environmental impacts.
Objectors had claimed the size of the development was out of character with the small village and would have an adverse impact on its tranquil and unspoilt character, risking “another community with second homes and AirB&Bs rather than a place for people to live.”
There were noise and air pollution issues, objectors claimed, with large numbers of visitors who would outnumber residents, increased litter and a fire risk.
But no vote was required when the committee was asked to decide.
