Site approval

The approval of plans to build 300 new homes and an industrial site at Kingussie (your report, 1 May) increases the disquiet felt by many that the Cairngorms National Park Authority is neglecting its statutory duty.

The approval was given by the National Park Authority before its consideration of Scottish Government Reporters' recommendations. The park authority is required to give reasons for not following any of the reporters' recommendations: no such reasons have yet been given.

Yet, the Reporters recommended rejection of the industrial site and stated that they had "serious reservations" that development of this "prominent" site could "ever be consistent with the policies of the park towards landscape and the built environment".

These recommendations were not mentioned during the planning meeting and are only referred to in one line of the park planner's report. The industrial site appears to have been approved without many board members being aware of the recommendation to reject.

ROY TURNBULL

Nethy Bridge

Inverness-shire