New North South Planning Chairmen appointed

The Highland Council has appointed chairmen to its two new area Planning Applications Committees.

Councillor David Chisholm, Dingwall and Seaforth, is Chairman of the North PAC, Vice-Chairman is Councillor Audrey Sinclair, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh.

Councillor Bob Wynd, Inverness South, is Chairman of the South Committee, Vice-Chairman is Councillor David Fallows, Badenoch and Strathspey.

link here

'No' to Windfarm

The Highland Council’s South Planning Application Committee members turned down an application for a 31 turbine wind farm on land at Dunachton, Alvie and Dalraddy Estates to the North West of Kincraig. 

The proposed development, know as Allt Duine, was lodged by RWE Npower Renewables Limited.

This morning Members of the Committee were taken on a site visit before reconvening in Inverness to debate the application.

Following the debate, Vice Chairman and local Councillor Dave Fallows moved an amendment that the Council should object to the application on the grounds of the proximity to the Cairngorm National Park, the significant detriment to the landscape of the Monadhliath mountain range and the emerging Draft Highland Renewable Energy Strategy. 

Councillor Thomas Prag moved an amendment to support the officer recommendation to approve the application.  This was defeated 3 votes to 9.

Link here

Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan – Approval of Main Issues Report and Draft for Consultation

Latest Planning, Environment and Development Committee Agenda

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/committees/strategiccommittees/planningenvironmentanddevelopmentcommittee/2012-01-18-ped-ag.htm

Lots of interesting items including

9. Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan – Approval of Main Issues Report and Draft for Consultation

There is circulated Report No.PED-7-12 (76kb pdf) ated 10 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development seting out the content of the first, statutory draft of the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan - the Main Issues Report.  The Main Issues Report (Appendix 1(1)(1643kb pdf) | Apendix 1(2) (2293kb pdf)) is circulated separately.  A colour version will be available in the Members’ library and on the Council’s website.  Electronic copies of individual maps can be requested from the Planning and Development Service.  The document can also be accessed via the Planning and Development website here.

The Committee is asked to:

i. approve Appendix 1 (Booklet A) as the material content of the Inner Moray
   Firth Local Development Plan: Main Issues Report; and
ii. note the proposed consultation arrangements as outlined in the report and
   at Appendix 2.

Click on the links to find out what local development Highland Council is considering supporting in the Inner Moray Firth

(Appendix 1(1)(1643kb pdf) | Apendix 1(2) (2293kb pdf))

Deadline Looms for Road Option consultation

Inverness Courier reports


"THE deadline for feedback on the options for the route of the Inverness bypass is looming."

Having reported on the issue so many times surely the Courier should know by now that this is not a bypass, it is a distributor road which will carry an element of 'through traffic' - estimated, according to THC to be around 20%.

The article states:

Highland Council transport committee chairman John Laing is urging people with a view on the multi-million pound plans to link Dores Road with the A82 via a crossing over the River Ness and Caledonian Canal to submit their thoughts before the consultation ends.

And quotes Councillor Laing as saying:

“It is absolutely vital that people who have an interest in it and the on-going future of Inverness make their views known.

“The deadline is close of play on Monday, but if representations arrive on Tuesday we won’t ignore them.”