The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Wildlife groups object to ‘damaging’ luxury golf course proposals
Conservation organisations have lodged a joint objection to a proposed luxury golf course development in the north of Scotland, warning it would damage an internationally important wildlife site.
The alliance of six groups, including RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, warn the proposals for Coul Links in Sutherland could be “even more damaging” than Donald Trump’s controversial course at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
Developers led by Mike Keiser and Todd Warnock want to build an 18-hole course at Coul Links, which is protected as part of the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Special Protection Area and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Conservationists said the proposals would destroy a significant part of a globally important wildlife site that is internationally protected and would also create a damaging ripple effect across the wider protected site, disrupting the natural dune system processes.
Aedan Smith, head of planning and development at RSPB Scotland, said: “Almost a decade since Donald Trump’s controversial Aberdeenshire golf course was approved, destroying part of a nationally important wildlife site and severely denting Scotland’s environmental reputation, it’s incredible that an even more damaging proposal could come forward.
“There are international obligations to ensure the protection of Coul Links due to its global importance for wildlife.
“The eyes of the world will therefore once again be on Scotland, and on the Highland Council when they make their planning decision, to see whether we now place more value on our special places.”
The other groups in the alliance are Buglife, Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Marine Conservation Society and Plantlife.
Conservationists said that under the proposals, interlinked habitats would be broken up and old juniper trees uprooted, while an increase in people at the site would disturb not only the wildlife still there such as curlews and lapwings but also the remaining fragile dune habitat.