Second battle vow on Culloden house plan

CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight a second battle of Culloden after planning permission was granted to build 16 homes on the historic site.

George Kempik, of the Stop Development at Culloden Group, said campaigners are prepared to “create a spectacle” if building work commences after Highland Council gave the controversial plans the go ahead.

The local authority’s south planning applications committee gave the green light to allow developer Kirkwood Homes to build at Viewhill, which is within the boundary of the Culloden (Battlefield) Conservation Area and listed on Historic Environment Scotland’s Inventory of Historic Battlefields.

The area affected is believed to have been the site of the last stand made by Clan Donald, Gordon of Glenbucket, and the Duke of Perth as they fled the fighting and could still contain the remains of some of the fallen.

The National Trust for Scotland has also said that the go-ahead for the development was “a blow for the site”, and warned that other iconic locations could be lost.

Mr Kempik, said: “I’m totally disgusted by this decision. I’ll never understand how it has been allowed to come to this but we will fight on to protect this site.

“The application has been passed but we certainly do not accept this decision. The Scottish Government must now step in to stop any building from happening.”

Historians Committee On Culloden have said bodies are likely to be buried on the site.