New houses plan demo at Battle of Culloden anniversary weekend
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ANGRY opponents of a proposed housing development near Culloden Battlefield will stage a protest after the annual commemorations of the battle this weekend.
The protest, taking place this Sunday, is the latest move by people outraged by the plans to build 16 houses just 200 metres from the historic battleground, on the site of the old Viewhill Farm.
Planning approval has been granted by the Reporter for the Scottish Government.
Hopes had been raised that the development would not go ahead as planned when local businessman David Sutherland bought the contested land from Inverness Properties in January, stating his intention to use it mostly for farming.
Mr Sutherland, the former chief of the Tulloch group, insists that the new houses would be built on a part of the farm that would not be seen from the battlefield.
He has also said that he is willing to keep the door open for any discussions with the National Trust of Scotland, which owns the battlefield, about the development.
Sunday’s protest follows the annual events to commemorate the anniversary of the defeat of the Jacobite rebellion on April 16, 1746. The events include the National Trust of Scotland lecture on Friday – this year discussing the 1715 uprising – and Saturday’s remembrance service at the memorial cairn.
