IT IS known as the Misty Isle, a place where the traditional, peaceful ways of rural life are celebrated.
Small villages served by local shops are still the norm on Skye, as it has been for generations.
But the fog of war has descended o1n the world-famous island over plans to invite supermarket giant Tesco to set up shop just outside the capital.
In what threatens to be the biggest dispute since the building of the Skye Bridge, property company Oatridge has submitted plans for a 30,000sq ft food hall, with Tesco named as its preferred developer.
But the plan, which promises more than 200 new jobs and millions of pounds of investment, has divided the island's shoppers from many shopkeepers and council planners.
Planning officials are recommending that councillors turn down the plan on the grounds that it will destroy the livelihoods of many long-standing businesses in Portree and other communities around the island.
They are backed by Portree Community Council, which says a new supermarket would suck customers out of the town centre, damaging its "viability".
The dispute reflects widespread concerns that the growth of national supermarket chains is speeding up the closure of smaller local shops.
Although the giant chains are now well established in most parts of mainland Scotland – Tesco alone has 124 stores – the islands have largely resisted so far. Skye has two small Co-op supermarkets – in Portree and Broadford – and a small Somerfield, also in Portree. Any islander wanting to buy goods from Tesco has to make the 240-mile round trip to Inverness, itself dubbed "Tesco town".
An Oatridge spokesman said: "We are at an advanced stage with Tesco. We think we have a very good site and Skye needs a mainline operator to provide better service to island consumers."
Last week councillors deferred a decision until next month, waiting for an assessment from planning officials.
The applicant's own retail impact assessment, says the report, suggests the proposed store has an estimated turnover of £16m.
"In summary, the report concludes that the available total convenience goods expenditure within the Skye catchment was £22m in 2007, rising to £23m in 2011. A store of the scale proposed will have consequences not only for the established retail centre of Portree but for the whole of Skye."
The Co-op has a 12,000sq ft store close to the new site and is now fighting for survival.
Spokeswoman Joanna MacKerracher said: "The Oatridge proposal for a 30,000sq ft Tesco store will dominate the retail provision in Skye and Lochalsh. Unquestionably, it would result in the closure of a number of retail businesses in Portree, Broadford and Lochalsh, to the detriment of the community as a whole. Instead of more choice, consumers would have less choice. It wouldn't just be Tesco town but Tesco island."
Donnie Macleod, who runs a pharmacy in Portree, said he was not against the opening of another supermarket but feared its effect on other retailers.
"What we would like councillors to do is look at how Tesco stores have affected other similar communities and weigh up all the consequences against the benefits."
The proposal does have supporters. Skye councillor Drew Millar, who is not on the planning committee and can speak out, estimates 85% of Skye residents are in favour of a Tesco store.
He said: "We have a situation now where, because of the lack of choice, people are willing to drive all the way to Inverness to shop at Tesco there and fill up their cars. At least if the Tesco was in Portree, those shoppers would be more likely to come into the town than they are now."
Hector Cormack, a local painter and decorator, said: "I think most women on the island would welcome them with open arms as they would like more choice.
"But the supermarket operator would have to strike a balance between competing with local businesses and putting them out of business."
The full article contains 669 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
