Camping pods approved despite local objections
Highland councillors approved plans to develop a camping pod site at a hotel in North Ballachulish, despite concerns from residents and the community council.
An application from Loch Leven Hotel seeking planning permission for six camping pods at the back of the hotel was granted at a meeting of the Highland Council south planning applications committee on Tuesday.
Councillors approved the plans which will see the pods erected in a cluster adjacent to the art gallery and industrial site that bounds the hotel land.
However, prior to the meeting, concerns about the development had been raised by residents and community groups.
One concerned resident, Sarah Charles, wrote a letter of objection to planners which said: ‘After much consideration and after receiving and reading the planning application, I must express my disappointment and disagreement of having a pod campsite in my local area. They are almost already installed and it seems no objection was given a chance by us. I am concerned of any noise or rubbish that may accrue and also the overcrowdedness in such a small area, plus parking and road maintenance. The Loch Leven hotel car park is already full of potholes. I like everyone at the Loch Leven Hotel but I also want to be honest about how I feel about having pods in such a nice quiet area - just does not suit!’
Nether Lochaber Community Council (NLCC) also submitted a comment on the application and said that although in principle it had no objection to the location or design of the letting pods, there were some concerns locally over the proximity of the site to the public access road.
The letter read: ‘NLCC would like an assurance that no attempt will be made by the applicant to impinge on the public access historically enjoyed by everyone in any way, either by re-routing, gating, fencing or signs.’
The community council also highlighted the issue of sewage drainage, a matter raised by Ben Thompson at the meeting on Tuesday, and formally objected to the applicant’s intention to connect the pods to the public sewerage main.
However, Scottish Water has confirmed there is sufficient capacity within the public sewer to accommodate the development and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has backed its connection to the public sewer. SEPA has also confirmed it would object to a proposal for private waste water drainage.