Bunkhouse beach row

Stunning view at stake –

Plans for a kayakers bunkhouse by the shore of an Argyll loch in a yacht haven village have met with fierce opposition.

The application to build the bunkhouse on land south of the Galley of Lorne Inn, Ardfern, Argyll, has already attracted 59 objections.

The owner of the pub says it would destroy the stunning view of Loch Craignish from his restaurant and damage his wedding business.

Previous attempts to build houses on the site over the years have failed.

Andrew Stanton, owner of the Galley, said: “It would have a seriously negative impact on our views.”

He continued: “It is those views that attract guests to our establishment, makes a wonderful setting for a meal in the restaurant and attracts couples to have their weddings here. If this is to be taken away from the central hub of the community and the principal draw for tourism to the village and surrounding area, the consequences will without doubt be catastrophic. The hotel simply will not be a viable business and the village would be effected detrimentally in many ways.

“In time the village will lose its hotel/pub and we as a family will lose everything that we have put into this establishment over the last 11 years.

“The marina which has grown considerably over the last 30 years would not have anywhere in walking distance for its clientele to go for a drink and a bite to eat and as such the impact on the marina would be considerable too.”

Craignish Community Council has joined the list of objectors. The planning application has been submitted by John and Joanne Ingham, owners of the piece of ground where the bunkhouse would be sited.

In his design statement, agent Kanak Bose writes: “The proposed building is to serve the community and also a wider tourism requirement. The site is well-located for provision of accommodation for seakayaking which is an increasingly popular sport on the west coast of Scotland.”

He continues: “There is little impact on the Galley of Lorne restaurant and there is no privacy issue with the external public spaces of the new building being towards the foreshore.”

“Consequences will without doubt be catastrophic”

SCENIC: View from the Galley of Lorne Inn’s decking, which its owner says would be ruined by the bunkhouse