Inverness Caley Thistle will not get battery storage farm appeal decision in time to stave off administration despite efforts of local MP Angus MacDonald
Caley Thistle will not hear back about the appeal decision on the battery storage farm until the end of November in what is another blow for the club which is teetering on the brink of administration.
The club has until October 16 to raise £200,000 or else administration is inevitable – the scheme is worth an estimated £3.4 million if it could have been packaged and put on the market quickly enough.
Newly elected Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire MP Angus MacDonald got involved in the case following contact from Alan Savage asking for assistance in resolving the case.
In what was supposed to be a scheme to help restructure and stabilise the club, bosses hoped to build a battery farm next to Fairways Business Park but it met with objections from within Highland Council.
One decision deferral, one granting of planning permission, a sequestered item brought to full council and final refusal contributed to the club losing between £4.8 million and £5.1m in revenue in just three months as another deal collapsed.
In the letter from the club by chairman Panos Thomas he said: “The club still hopes to benefit from a positive planning decision on the proposed Battery Farm. Angus MacDonald, the local MP was contacted and he is going to ask the Reporter in Edinburgh to expedite his decision on the Battery Farm Planning Application that was rejected by Highland Council.
“If the Battery Farm went ahead, it has been anticipated that the club would receive £3.4 million less expenses from the Battery Farm Company, the club's shares in which had been bought by David Cameron, Allan Munro and Ross Morrison, in order to provide monies to run the club to the end of last season. This may provide a way out of the club's financial difficulties.
Mr MacDonald confirmed he is worried about the future of the club saying its survival is “of enormous importance to the city. I wish the board all the best in raising the necessary funds.”
But he made it clear that he could not get involved in what is a planning matter that is quasi judicial so it would eventually have to just run its course but he was able to confirm when the club is likely to get a decision.
He went on: “I had a zoom call with Alan Savage about Caley Thistle, he understood that it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to get involved in a planning matter but I did agree to encourage the Reporter to make a decision about the battery farm as soon as possible as time is of the essence.
“The inspector has made an unaccompanied site visit and requested further information from the appellant. That was received earlier this week and now Highland Council have 14 days to comment. Her intention is to make a decision by the current target date of November 26.”
