Rival Loch Ness plans will both go-ahead despite 'clutter' claim

Published on Monday 21 March 2011 14:35

TWO rival plans for tourist attractions on Loch Ness have both been given the go-ahead, despite fears over their impact on the iconic setting.

• The 2 million Brackla Harbour Project is one of two developments to be approved yesterday

Jacobite Cruises, which carries 100,000 visitors on the loch each year, was granted full planning permission yesterday for a 2.5 million project, including a visitor centre and caf, on the A82 road at Brackla, nine miles south west of Inverness.

The company claim to have outgrown existing facilities rented near the Clansman Hotel a few hundred metres away.

Minutes later Highland Council's Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey planning committee also gave permission in principle for a 2m project proposed by the Bremner family, owners of the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre in Drumnadrochit. This would include a caf, shop and jetties and moorings for small vessels.

Concerns had been raised over road access and the economic and environmental impacts of both sets of plans.

Councillor David Henderson failed in a bid to have a decision deferred for an assessment on the cumulative impact to be considered.

Donald Skinner, who runs the Loch Ness Lodge Hotel and monster exhibition centre in Drumnadrochit, also said the "unsightly clutter" on the side of the loch could destroy the integrity of the area.

He said it would open the lochside to "strip development" which could damage the area and take business away from the village.

But other local businesses backed the plans and said they would enhance the wider tourist-related industry and extend the length of stay of visitors.

Rod Michie, operations director at Jacobite, said: "We believe there is significant opportunity to grow and sympathetically develop tourism businesses around Loch Ness in the medium term.

"This exciting and attractive addition to the region's tourism offering will bring much needed additional jobs and investment into the local economy."

Mr Michie said the firm would provide a new turning lane from the busy A82 road costing about 300,000 and a waste water treatment plant costing several hundred thousand pounds.

In all, the project has to meet 54 conditions imposed by planners.

Nearly 40 conditions are also attached to the Bremner plans. Robert Bremner, who runs the business with brother David, said: "The increased number of visitors to Loch Ness has brought about a need for improved shore-side access to Brackla Harbour that is safe and direct, as well as additional car parking facilities and provision of catering and retail services."

"The 2m expansion will be an exciting addition to the tourism offer of Loch Ness, creating local job opportunities and long- term business opportunities for local operators."

Future plans

JACOBITE DISCOVERY PROJECT

Developers: Inverness-based Jacobite Cruises; cost - 2.5 million; area - 4 acres

Improvements: New harbour, reception area, car and coach park, visitor centre, including a restaurant

BRACKLA HARBOUR PROJECT

Developers: Bremner family; cost - 2 million; area - 1.5 acres

Improvements: New car and coach park, picnic area, caf, gift shop and mooring facilities for small craft