'More needed to safeguard Culloden site'
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SOMETHING "more solid" than demonstrations and petitions is needed if Culloden battlefield is to be safeguarded against "unimaginable" development, a leading academic will argue at a commemoration event.
Professor Christopher Duffy will raise the issue of development near the historic site when he appears at a series of events centred around the latest anniversary of the battle.
He will give a talk entitled "Are we going to lose Culloden?" at the battlefield’s visitor centre on April 12 as part of a programme of commemorative events. His 45-minute session will look at what he describes, "as how we arrived at what once seemed unimaginable… the prospect of losing substantial parts of the battlefield of Culloden".
He added that while "demonstrations, petitions and other expressions of outrage have their place... we need something more solid … to tackle developers and their allies on their own terms".
His comments come amid controversy surrounding housing development close to the battlefield, with critics arguing that it could ruin the ambience of the mass grave site and also damage potentially vital archaeology.
Other events to commemorate the 272nd anniversary include a remembrance service on April 14 and a series of talks and tours between April 12 and 16.
Katey Boal, interim property manager at the National Trust for Scotland site, said: "We feel it is so important to commemorate the anniversary and to give people the chance to pay tribute to those who fell.
"e have organised a series of events which will give visitors the opportunity to hear expert speakers and also take part in our annual commemorative ceremony here at the battlefield."
For details visit www.nts.org.uk/Visit/Culloden
