Public vote for North Kessock bottle bank
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A Black Isle councillor has warned against a "Trump-like shenanigans"over the siting of a controversial bottle bank.
A long-running battle to have bottle banks on a picturesque pier – or not – took an unusual twist this week.
Highland councillors decided to put the siting of recycling bins in North Kessock out to a public vote – at a cost to the public purse– in spite of a 50-signature strong petition from residents asking for them to remain where they are.
A mediator has also been called in to work with both sides of the community.
The three-year-long battle on whether the recycling bins should go in a car park on the Beauly Firth waterfront or at Ferry Brae has divided the community - causing some to suggest opposing sides have turned to skulduggery to get their own way.
At Highland Council's communities and place committee, Councillor Gordon Adam, Black Isle ward and North Kessock and Charleston resident, said: "For three years, a handful of individuals associated with the petition have used fair means and foul to make sure that the bottle bank is removed from the site where it had been for over 20 years.
"The bottle banks have mysteriously disappeared overnight, cars have been parked in their locations, anyone trying to replace them is obstructed and often abused.
He continued: "It is important that the will of the majority is upheld, and equally important that those who lose a democratic vote accept that – we really don’t want any Trump-like shenanagins on the Black Isle."
The organiser of the petition, Douglas Morrison said: "I raised the 50 signature petition to have the bottle banks remain at Ferry Brae car park since they have been located there for the past 18 months without complaint.
"Yet Highland Council in its wisdom ignores the petition and orders a ballot when there has been no similar petition to bring them back to Oakleigh Road car park.
He continued: "The council want to locate the bins next to the newly built coastal garden which is a popular place to congregate for a chat, sit and relax and enjoy the magnificent scenery.
"Many locals and visitors get takeaway meals from the hotel and eat them in the coastal garden.
"Why spoil this idyll by placing bins next to the coastal garden? The bins are noisy, smelly, attract rats and mice and invariably are surrounded by broken glass.
"Worst of all the bins will be located straight across from residents' houses whose lives will be blighted by the noise at any time between 7am and 11.30pm."
Calling for a ballot of local residents, Cllr Allan Henderson, chairman of the communities and place committee said: “It is vital that a line is drawn so that the community and the council can move forward to enable the recycling of as much glass as possible, currently around 16 tonnes a year from North Kessock.”
