Businesses up in arms over war games during tourism boom time

THE Ministry of Defence is under attack from angry businesses after plans to stage major war games in a booming tourist area at the height of the season.

The exercise next month at Cape Wrath in Sutherland has led to calls for compensation.

Nearby Durness is on the North Coast 500 route, which is bringing even more visitors to the region.

But minibus operator James Mather, who uses the 11-mile track across the bombing range to take visitors to and from the famous Cape Wrath lighthouse, said he and others stood to lose money because access to the route is likely to be banned or restricted.

He said: “They (the MoD) has picked one of the busiest weeks in the year which is not going down well. I am gravely concerned. We cannot budget for this.”

The MoD holds joint military exercises there twice a year, usually around the major Nato war games Exercise Warrior in April and September, and avoid the busy summer months in a tacit agreement with local people.

Three businesses are directly involved in the Cape – a ferry service run by John Morrison across the Kyle of Durness to Cape Wrath; Mr Mather’s Capeside minibus operation and the Ozone cafe and bunkhouse run by John Ure at the lighthouse itself.

This summer’s operation is being called Saxon Warrior and is scheduled to run from August 4 to August 9 in the waters and airspace and on land ranges across the UK. It will involve the US carrier George H W Bush, along with 15 ships and submarines and around 100 aircraft from the UK and four other nations.

Durness Community Council secretary Sarah Fuller said the exercise was taking place in August because that was the only time the US aircraft carrier was available.

She said: “We have been assured that it is a one-off and is not going to be a regular occurrence. But it is unfortunate and means a loss of income for local businesses.”

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “We make every effort to ensure this closed period is observed unless absolutely essential and make every effort to minimise the effect on local businesses when the range is active.

“The MoD does not compensate businesses for the impact of its use of its training estate.”

I am gravely concerned. We cannot budget for this