Corpach noise issue may get worse

FED-UP Kilmallie residents who have been calling for action to tackle noisy industrial works in Corpach have been warned to brace themselves for possibly much worse disturbance in the future, writes Mark Entwistle.

The warning came from local resident and community land campaigner John Hutchison at Monday night’s meeting of Kilmallie Community Council.

The Lochaber Times has previously reported how disgruntled locals were frustrated over a perceived lack of action by the Highland Council in dealing with complaints about continued night working at the industrial estate and pier at Annat Point, which residents claimed can begin as early as 4.15am and continue until after 11pm, keeping them awake.

It’s not just Corpach households that are being affected, with people across the loch in Ardgour also said to be suffering from noise pollution.

The Highland Council’s environmental health department has previously assured the community council that there have been no contraventions of noise restraints in the planning conditions.

However, a number of residents have now been issued with so-called ‘noise diaries’ in which they have been asked to note down the times they say the disturbance is bad, although the community council heard this week that only three of these reports have so far been filled in.

Community councillor Russell Leaper stressed the importance of people sending their complaints about noise pollution direct to the Highland Council environmental health department.

He added: ‘Part of the problem is that different people are complaining about different things. That is why the noise diaries are so important so that they [Highland Council] know exactly when and what it is that people are complaining about.’

But Mr Hutchison told the meeting that things could be set to deteriorate further.

‘I think with what is coming – there is every indication in the draft local plan of an expansion of the Corpach harbour area – it’s only going to get worse for local people as far as noise levels are concerned,’ said Mr Hutchison.

‘I think this particular problem is going to get worse and that is all the more reason to try to get action now.’