Letter that could have led to death
The Sunday Mail today reveals the letter written by Alistair about the planning dispute that police now believe may have led to his death. A year after the killing, we told how the dead banker had written to Highland Council to block Andy Burnett’s application. He objected to the retrospective planning permission for decking outside the Havelock House Hotel opposite his property only days before he was murdered.
In the typewritten letter he said: “It is with the benefit of experience of living with a beer garden outside my front door that I raise the following points. “The decking has been used for the service of food and drink whenever the pub is open.
“This has included late nights with the bar doors open and the consequent noise and disturbance. Further on a regular basis I find glasses in my garden and broken glass strewn in the street.
“During the summer months, I and my family felt uncomfortable using our front door and even looking out our front windows during the hours the pub was open as we frequently had customers staring back at us.”
Alistair then states that the hotel stopped taking guests and appears to be functioning only as a ba bar and restaurant.
He also mentions that tha he had a conversation with w Mr Burnett, who he used to play golf with, about the is issue.
His letter to Highland Highlan Council Planning Department in Nairn is dated November 2 23.
They then send sen Mr Burnett a cocopy on November Novem 25, three days before befo Alistair’s Alis mu murder. The T planning pla permispe sion sio was wa later granted. g