Call for changes to controversial groundworks near iconic lighthouse
Ardgour community councillors want to see a number of changes to already constructed controversial groundworks close to the famous Corran Point Lighthouse.
Ardgour Estate is seeking retrospective consent for the footpath which runs from the local war memorial monument to the Sgiath Dhubh footpath, plus retention of a bellmouth and access road to the telecoms mast site at Lismore View and which joins up with the A861 near the lighthouse.
At their monthly meeting last month, community councillors had discussed the matter, while several members of the public raised concerns.
Ewen Maclean, a member of the Maclean family which owns and manages Ardgour Estate, and Shaun Corrigan from Corrigan Contractors which carried out the groundworks, pointed out that the temporary paths created as part of the work were already being used outwith working hours by walkers and cyclists and would be beneficial to the community.
Corran Lighthouse Lodge is owned by Catherine Collins who bought the Category C listed property in 2017 and she has lodged an objection to the application.
The adjacent Corran Point Lighthouse is also a Category C listed building as are the former lighthouse keepers’ dwellings and garden wall.
The lighthouse was built in 1860 by Thomas and David Stevenson, father and uncle to Robert Louis Stevenson, and is still working and operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board.
Ms Collins believes the groundworks have negatively impacted on the setting of the lighthouse.
‘The introduction of the substantial earthworks has created a visual scar on the hillside and has physically changed the landscape form and therefore how the lighthouse is appreciated in the wider landscape,’ she told the Lochaber Times recently.
She had told November’s community council meeting that she felt the application was ‘wholly inadequate’ and did not address a number of important issues.
Ms Collins pointed out that while the rectangular construction site and road across the field were part of an essential infrastructure project by SSEN and therefore within the permitted development plan, the altered access to the monument and the access road from the A861 were not.
Responding, Mr Maclean told the community council that there had always been an access there. ‘It is an improved access in terms of safety, although I can see it is a little bit bigger,’ he said.
‘But the ponticum removed is not natural vegetation to keep.
It creates a better and safer access into what is essentially a farming field. It is a safer access off the road for any farm purposes.
‘And I think from the community point of view, the ability to walk through from the ferry to the village without using the main road, apart from one small stretch, is of great benefit.’
Following several site visits, the community council has now informed local authority planners of its official view, telling them it recognises that the retention of the footpath would create a useful addition to the local path network, although as far as it is aware, at present the formed path does not fully link with the pre-existing paths.
‘The access road would also allow improved access to the war memorial and access by car for those unable to climb the current steep access path,’ continues the council.
‘However, we acknowledge concerns from the community about the retention of the widened access road and in particular the scale of the bellmouth formed during the current works.
‘We would suggest a number of measures if the decision is made to allow the access road and bellmouth to remain.
‘These include reducing the scale and extent of the current bellmouth while ensuring easy access to the war memorial is maintained; landscaping to soften the current steep edges around the access road; planting of trees and vegetation to reduce the current unsightly visual it has created; and the gating of the access road to prevent unauthorised vehicular access.’