Black Isle EV charge hub, shop and restaurant plan still not winning over prominent community figures, after council objects to Highland Council
Critics of controversial plans for an electric vehicle charge hub, shop and restaurant on the edge of a Black Isle village have not been won over by changes to the proposals.
West Coast Estates wants to build the hub in North Kessock on open land that sits next to the roundabout motorists encounter immediately after they exit the A9's northbound carriageway.
It claims up to 100 jobs will be created.
But its proposals have proven very controversial locally, with residents citing numerous concerns - including the loss of green space, the competition the site will create with shops in the heart of the village, increased volumes of traffic, litter, and more.
In the wake of those criticisms the proposals were modified, with the layout of the site changing to move the two buildings away from a major underground gas main after the network’s operator raised concerns.
The eatery also underwent changes, with the original plan for a drive-thru element dropped entirely. The eatery will now be a sit-in restaurant only.
But these and other changes do not appear to have mollified local concerns.
And in comments submitted to Highland Council just before Christmas, Knockbain Community Council’s chairman, John Stott, confirmed that it is still formally objecting to it.
He said: “Knockbain Community Council have reviewed the amended application and can confirm that we stand by our comments previously submitted and wish to formally object to this application.”
Another prominent local critic has also not been won round by the changes.
Anne Thomas, who lives in North Kessock and is also the Highlands and Islands Green Party co-convenor, has also submitted fresh comments following the revisions.
She was one of the residents leading the pushback against the hub plan.
And the objections she cited originally remain.
In an objection submitted to Highland Council this month, she said: “I welcome that the drive-through element has been omitted, [but] the revised proposals do not resolve many of the issues I raised.
“I wish to register my continuing objection to this application. This is on the basis that these proposals remain in contravention of local and national policy and guidance and are of a quality and nature which will be detrimental to local amenity. They do not address concerns over increased traffic and the one crossing now provided is in completely the wrong place whilst the three active travel crossings remain unprotected with the likelihood of increased traffic making them less safe.
“The site is designated as park and ride, but there is no bus stop and little space for longer term parking. Though there is an EV charging station element, it is clear that the main element of these proposals is of an out of town retail/F&B type which cannot be considered sustainable development and in-line with the council's policy objectives around the climate emergency.”
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