YOUR VIEWS: Highland Council motorhomes scheme is so far from being level playing field

A sustainable local economy is best achieved by the public sector supporting, facilitating, and encouraging local businesses to provide the goods and services we consume instead of using funds generated from these businesses to compete against them.

Donald Macdonald (letter “Ignoring obvious on motorhomes”, Strathy, October 3) appears to be unaware that caravan parks and campsites require planning consent; are regulated through local authority licensing and pay business rates; tax on their employees, vehicles and on any profit; plus, rates on refuse collection, water and sewer services.

They must charge their customers 20 per cent VAT.

In addition, a visitor levy will soon be imposed.

The weekly pass for motorhomes to park overnight on Highland Council carparks and use associated facilities ignores the site licence conditions imposed by the Highland Council on private sector campsites.

This includes a minimum distance between units, as well as the minimum toilet, shower, dish washing, laundry and waste management facilities required for the specified number of pitches.

Unmanned facilities such as public toilets, lay-bys and car parks suffer from vandalism as evidenced by the Kingussie public toilets, irresponsible discharge of the contents of chemical toilets and litter.

The local authority should consider funding a local business such as a petrol station, campsite or hotel to provide facilities for public use where staff can ensure the facilities are maintained to meet the standards required.

Local authorities depend on the taxes and rates paid by local businesses and their staff for their financial survival.

If they discourage local businesses through regulations, taxes and unfair competition, these businesses will close or not invest in the facilities required. Working with local businesses instead of against them is a better solution.

Jamie Williamson

Alvie Estate Office

Kincraig.

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In a right old mess

Regarding the Strathy front page (October 3), I’m pleased to see the success that the campaigners have had over the unnecessary requirement Highland Council imposed over Certificates of Lawfulness. It’s also great that the Strathy featured this campaign so often.

I was amused by the Highland Council spokesman’s quote that “It is, therefore, in an STL operators’ interest to engage with the council’s planning service.”

As we know, it was this engagement that resulted in this mess.

Can we, therefore, trust any planning advice from Highland Council planners?

There is another major mis-interpretation of the STL legislation which is still to be reversed.

This is the Scottish Government’s interpretation that small accommodation providers (calling themselves B&Bs or guesthouses) with planning permission to operate within Use Class 7 are required to have an STL licence, whereas larger, so-called hotels, with the same planning permission do not.

All accommodation premises operating with use Class 7 are legally identical, so either they all have to have an STL licence or they are all excluded from requiring a licence.

I have challenged Scottish Government and Highland Council lawyers on this issue. No-one has given me a legally sensible response.

Gordon Bulloch

Grantown.

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Why Scotland is lagging behind European rivals...

The answer to the question in Dick Webster’s excellent Strathy letter "Why do we lag so far behind in the UK” using his visit to Zell am See as an example is quite simple.

Although devolved, Scotland is still part of the UK and as such is controlled economically, socially and politically by Westminster, London.

In fact we would be less functional without devolution since the recent self seeking and incompetent Scottish Secretary of State’s have been useless.

If the Scottish people owned and controlled all the levers of power, in our rich and well endowed country, we could indeed be like Austria and other European independent nations.

In truth we are forced to spend more on weapons of mass destruction than on pensions, roads, ferries, housing, the NHS, all put together.

Dick these countries in Europe, similar to Scotland, have better infrastructure and ownership etc., because they are independent nations within the EU family of nations, in the largest free trade area in the world.

Grant Frazer

Newtonmore.

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Leaders need to treat rural poverty as a real problem in Scotland

Rural poverty is a pressing issue that often gets overlooked by urban-led governments.

The unique challenges faced by those living in our countryside must not be ignored.

In many rural areas, families struggle to make ends meet, with limited access to essential services, employment opportunities, and affordable housing.

The harsh reality is that rural communities experience poverty differently than their urban counterparts.

The isolation, lack of transport, and declining local economies further exacerbate the situation.

This isn’t just a statistic; it’s about real lives, real families, and a future that hangs in the balance.

We must demand that our leaders take rural poverty seriously and implement policies that address these specific needs.

Local initiatives, investment in infrastructure, and support for agriculture and small businesses are crucial.

It is time to ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live, has access to the resources and opportunities they deserve.

Let’s rally together to raise awareness and push for action.

Our rural communities are the backbone of our nation, and we owe it to them to fight for a brighter, fairer future.

Together, we can make a difference.

Alastair Redman

Port Charlotte

Isle of Islay.

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Gaelic should get full support and respect

Re the Kate Forbes’ column headlined ‘ Supporting the spread of Gaelic is long overdue’.

I do not speak or understand Gaelic but it is a language that should be respected, preserved and promoted.

If it is the mother tongue of many people then it should be taught and promoted.

Thomas Condie

Onrusrivier

Western Cape

South Africa.

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We need to do better at protecting animals at home and abroad

At next month’s UN Climate Change Conference COP29, world leaders will assemble to discuss how to tackle the climate crisis.

At SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), our goal is for the world of working animals to thrive and grow sustainably as part of the nexus between animals, people and the environment.

People have historically exploited animals and the environment while failing to appreciate the critical interdependency between them.

Sadly, the climate crisis is a result of that exploitation.

In the past year, countries where SPANA works – including Iraq, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zimbabwe – have experienced devastating climate-related events such as severe flooding, deadly landslides and prolonged droughts.

It’s clear that the climate crisis is having a catastrophic impact across the world and making life more difficult than ever for working animals and their owners.

The climate crisis is a fundamental threat to the health of animals, people and the environment.

When disasters strike, it’s usually the most vulnerable in society who are most severely affecte.

That includes all those in low-income countries where SPANA works.

Extreme events are increasing in frequency, intensity and scale.

That’s why SPANA ensures that those at risk are prepared – and that we are ready to act when needed.

We provide on the ground support, emergency feed and lifesaving veterinary treatment to working animals in need.

The threat posed by climate change to working animal welfare is only going to grow if we don’t act now.

With over 200 million working animals worldwide, SPANA’s work is essential in protecting these vital animals – the trucks, tractors, and taxis of rural communities.

Safeguarding and treating these animals isn’t just compassion.

It is essential to avoiding ecological and economic disaster.

That’s why SPANA is calling on world leaders to consider the protection and care of working animals in their COP29 discussions.

These animals are vital to sustainability.

Their welfare must be part of the global climate agenda.

Linda Edwards

Chief executive of SPANA

York House

Wetherby Road

Long Marston

York.

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