Battle over Culloden homes hits the streets
A PUBLIC protest against the controversial 16-house development a cannon shot from Culloden graves is to be staged at Highland Council headquarters in Inverness next week.
The controversial issue will be considered by Highland Council members at the south planning applications committee on Tuesday, where it is recommended for approval.
Members of the Group to Stop Development at Culloden (GSDC) plan to gather at 9.30am outside and display their 72,000 name petition to the media and councillors.
Campaigners against the development, Cairnfields at Viewhill, have been intensifying their fight with a leafleting campaign throughout Inverness.
The battle in 1746 resulted in the Jacobites under Prince Charles Edward Stuart being routed by the Duke of Cumberland’s government forces. More than 1000 were killed, mostly on the Jacobite side.
Protesters believe that Culloden is not only a battlefield but also a "sacred Scottish War Grave".
The house plan would be 400m from the battlefield enclosure which is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, but the bloodshed did not stop at the boundary fence, adds the protest leaflet.
This is the second time that a campaign has been mounted against housing there on the grounds that the proposed site is part of the battlefield and to build there would be a desecration.
A similar housing application was refused by councillors in 2014, but later approved on appeal subject to conditions which house-building firm Kirkwood says it has fulfilled.
The appeal reporter agreed with Historic Scotland that it was unlikely the proposal would have "any impact on the character and ambience of the battlefield".
A revised application was submitted this year by Inverurie based Kirkwood Homes who are buying the site from Inverness businessman David Sutherland.
The Culloden campaigners are also fighting a new application for 14 holiday lodges, a 100-seat restaurant and a shop at Treetops Riding Centre between the battlefield and Balloch.
Leading campaigner George Kempik, from West Lothian, said: "We only have a handful who are definitely planning protesting at Inverness, but that could grow. We will have all our names in 12 thick volumes."
Mr Kempik was angered by the name Cairnfields chosen by the developer, and added: "‘Cairn’ is an obvious reference to monuments on the battlefield. Are they mocking Scotland and her history by digging up the ground where battle conflict occurred thereby destroying any battle-related remains that lay there undisturbed since 1746? Have they considered Culloden Battlefield is a gravesite?
"We ask the directors of Kirkwood Homes how they justify their appalling disregard for the clear and emphatic opposition of building your houses at Culloden Battlefield by the general public, national and international groups, organisations, well known personalities and the global community of Scottish descendants and supporters of our efforts to Stop the Development at Culloden?
"The Group to Stop Development at Culloden, and the 72,000 signees of the petition to Stop Development at Culloden declare our intent to oppose, by all means possible, any planning application submitted with a view to building any houses on that part of Culloden Battlefield identified as the Culloden Muir Conservation Area and protected under the 2015 Culloden Muir Protection policy."
Mr Kempik added he thought that it was "shameful" that Historic Environment Scotland did not object to the plans.
