SCOTTISH Government ministers will decide the fate of the controversial Coul Links golf course planning application after Highland Council members overruled their own officials and gave the project the green light.
As one of the objectors, Scottish Natural Heritage, is classed as a statutory body, ministers are duty bound to ‘call in’ the application, and principal objectors and local MSP John Finnie have already called on the Government to act, citing the planning advice from council officials to refuse the application.
There were also more than 1,800 objections and a petition gaining over 89,000 signatures, and though many local people and politicians supported the plan which will create 250 jobs, there was also a local campaign group Not Coul, as well as the international IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and numerous national environmental groups.
The developers, however, have hailed the councillors’ decision to approve the course near Embo in Sutherland which they admit will affect protected nature sites which they have promised to care for in their plans.
US businessman Todd Warnock, pictuered, who is helping to lead the development, said: “After more than three years of thorough consideration of the project, we are excited to win such overwhelming support from the committee.
“The development has been comprehensively and fairly assessed by the two statutory bodies as well as the competent planning authority and we now look forward to bringing to Scotland the economic benefits of such a prestigious golf course.
“This major investment in a relatively remote part of the country has the significant support of local people and we thank them again for their help and encouragement.
“I would also encourage opponents of the golf course to now work with us to make the project a huge success.”
That cooperation is extremely unlikely. Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie said: “This is a disappointing but unsurprising decision by councillors who are too easily swayed by flimsy promises of jobs, regardless of the cost to an irreplaceable wild landscape and the nature and tourism that it supports. Coul Links is internationally important, and the proposal by American businessmen is reminiscent of the false promises from one Donald Trump in Aberdeenshire.
“I have repeatedly raised this issue in parliament, including with the First Minister. Many local people will be disappointed to see councillors effectively doing the developers’ bidding, and I urge Scottish Ministers to step in to ensure we do not allow another golf course in the wrong place.”
Jonny Hughes, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “Consenting these plans against the recommendation of council officials and against policies that are designed to ensure the protection of our natural heritage completely undermines the credibility of the planning process and creates future uncertainty for both local communities and developers across Scotland. We trust Scottish Ministers will now do the right thing.”
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