Culduthel Woods Group defends plans for woodland improvement works, claiming in letter submitted to Highland Council planners that local objections are ‘overstated’
Complaints over plans to improve a popular beauty spot in Inverness include fears that are “completely overstated” and “not well founded in fact”.
That’s the claim of the Culduthel Woods Group after it defended path upgrades in the community-owned woodland.
The planned improvements are part of a new path project aimed at improving accessibility for all users of the picturesque six-hectare woodland site, while also improving existing infrastructure and protecting the environment.
Measures proposed include the creation of so-called ‘non-dig paths’ made out of several layers and crushed stone lain on top of the existing surface so as to protect the tree roots underneath.
Other improvements include new signage, enhancement of the existing pond habitat in order to remove excess silt and boost wildlife and biodiversity, as well as work on existing stone walling, drainage, and the installation of dropped kerbs at the woodland’s entrances.
But although the project won the backing of Lochardil and Drummond Community Council, it has also attracted some objections.
Concerns raised include loss of privacy and an increase in visitor numbers and anti-social behaviour - especially if paths improve access to known problem spots. There were also claims of insufficient consultation, concerns over impacts on wildlife, criticism of the path locations, and concerns over flooding impacts near the local pond as a result of plans to remove built-up silt.
These objections - 16 in total - have prompted a response by the group, which they have submitted to Highland Council as part of the planning process.
In their response letter, the group insisted that they had carried out an “extensive consultation” prior to submitting their plans and modified the proposals based on that feedback - adding that they had had a “very good rate of response” and there was “very strong community support from the majority of people”.
They also stressed that the improved paths that were the “subject of concern” among objections, were “all on, or very close to, existing informal and well-trodden paths”, adding that “no new path lines are proposed at all near to the pond or close to Culduthel Park and the relevant houses”.
Moving onto concerns over potential impacts on local wildlife, the group said: “The comments in the objections have been completely overstated by some objectors. The trustees would not promote a project that was likely to significantly adversely affect the wildlife and nature of the woods.”
They stressed that the presence of protected species at the site like red squirrels had been considered when drawing up the plans and “no significant effects are anticipated at all”.
They added that paths had been designed to protect tree roots and minimise impact, and that the improvements to them “will help keep people largely on one line and this will help to reduce trampling and damage to the vegetation close to the pond edge”.
Addressing the condition of the pond and flooding concerns, the group said the pond predates their ownership of the site, but that they would be investigating the inflow and outflow in a bid to make sure water is flowing properly, and will be working to “improve water quality and the flood retention capacity of the pond through removing silt from the pond and by reducing shading from overhanding branches”.
They added that Highland Council’s flooding team had made no objections.
Elsewhere, they claimed that comments made by objectors over visitor numbers accessing the woods “are not well founded in fact”. They continued: “All of the path improvement[s] are on land covered by outdoor access rights (under the Land Reform Act 2003) and some of the paths are already designated as core paths – it would be inappropriate to restrict access by anyone in the area.
“The path improvements will attract a modest number of new users to the woods - but the overall impact, both on the numbers of visitors and distribution of people within the woods, is expected to be small.
“We do not anticipate any increased number of cars arriving at the site or any change to where people park. There is no justification whatsoever for a new car park associated with the proposals, as has been suggested by a number of objectors.”
Commenting over complaints about anti-social behaviour, they continued: “We are disappointed to hear that some residents feel they are adversely affected by anti-social behaviour in the woods.
“We hope that all our work as a voluntary, community-led organisation to improve signage, collect litter and involve young people in the management of the woods is helping to highlight the value of this greenspace for everyone in the community.
“The improved paths will help people move through the area around the pond and this should reduce the potential for anti-social behaviour. Local residents are always welcome to join any of our volunteer work events to help tackle the issues mentioned above.”
