Battle over cattle on streets of Hamish Macbeth village

A VILLAGE row was reignited this week after Highland cattle were returned to the streets for the first time in 15 years after an order banning the animals was lifted.

The peace and quiet of Plockton, one of Scotland’s most picturesque villages, has been shattered by the introduction of two bullocks, named Ally and Noel.

Residents claim their gardens are being damaged, parked cars are at risk and that the cow pats left behind by the animals pose the threat of E.coli.

Cows used to wander through the village undisturbed, but a ban was introduced 15 years ago after a voluntary agreement between the National Trust for Scotland, the local landowner, and local crofters for whom the village forms part of the “common grazings”.

Since the end of the ban in November one crofter has released the bullocks, much to the irritation of locals in the sleepy village that was used as the setting for the gentle 1990s BBC drama, Hamish Macbeth.

The animals belong to crofter Alex Townend, originally from Derbyshire, who claims he has been shouted at and his wife has been sworn at. He insisted he was within his rights and said he had the support of fellow crofters who could, in theory, release up to 50 cows in the village.

Mr Townend said: “They have both been castrated and dehorned. They are very docile and pose no threat.”

However, Charlie Macrae, the 81-year-old former chairman of the community council said he was “deeply

‘They have both been castrated and dehorned. They are very docile and pose no threat’

saddened” by the situation. “I am very much against the cattle being allowed back. I hope the crofters will reconsider. Ninety five per cent of the people don’t want the cows back”.

Another resident, Mick Coe, said the bullocks got into his garden and ate the flowers on his strawberry plants. He added: “We used to have a gate but after the agreement 15 years ago we did away with it. We never thought we’d need it again. The whole thing is very divisive.”