Glenfinnan car park cash a wizard result for residents
Glenfinnan residents were celebrating on Friday after a visit by Scottish Government tourism secretary Fiona Hyslop saw an announcement of £270,000 to help tackle pressure from the influx of tourists.
Glenfinnan has been overwhelmed by a boom in visitor numbers in recent years with more and more people looking to see the viaduct and steam train made famous in the Harry Potter movies.
The tiny hamlet on the shores of Loch Shiel is also home to the National Trust for Scotland's famous clansman monument marking the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
The car park and associated footbridge proposals received planning approval from the Highland Council last month and the £270,000 will go towards the cost of creating additional parking for 100 cars and 10 motorhomes on land owned by Glenfinnan Estate. It will be managed by residents for community financial benefit.
The project was among 18 awarded around £3 million in total through Scottish Government Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund grants.
Ms Hyslop told the Lochaber Times the money would take the pressure off local roads.
‘Increasing numbers of visitors bring added pressures so this fund from the Scottish Government is part of trying to address that problem,’ she said. ‘I welcome the fact more tourists are coming, but we have to make sure we can balance that with communities that live and work here.’
Community councillor Ingrid Henderson said it had been a long road to reach this stage.
‘We are delighted to get this funding for the new car park. It has been quite a long road to apply for the money, build all the evidence, but this money will make a massive difference,’ she said.
‘We are still waiting to find out about LEADER funding, so not quite good to go just yet, but this is a huge step forward.’
The number of tourists has increased exponentially, especially over the past few years, and the issue has appeared in the community council minutes for the past five years.
‘Although we welcome the numbers coming here, which is good for tourism businesses in the area, it causes problems when the infrastructure is not there to cope with the numbers.
‘So the idea is we can go some way to coping with the numbers, and give visitors a better experience.’
Chairman of Highland Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee Councillor Allan Henderson, Caol and Mallaig, said the increase in the number of visitors to Highland region was causing major congestion and safety issues on the A830 trunk road which splits the viaduct from the monument.
Mr Henderson added: ‘This funding will help to ease some of that pressure with new parking for 100 cars and 10 motorhome or bus spaces.’
MSP Kate Forbes was also pleased. ‘This is a turning point for Glenfinnan.
‘Thousands flock to the site to see the Hogwarts Express pass over the viaduct, as well as to visit the monument which is steeped in history. Glenfinnan is where history meets make-believe and now tourists can enjoy both in a safer environment.’