Highland Council orders site visit to Culduthel Woods before deciding on new paths plan as Councillor Andrew MacKintosh says ‘no desire’ to ‘stymy’ the proposals
A Highland Council planning committee has decided to arrange a site visit before coming to a decision on proposals to improve and add to the existing path network at Culduthel Woods.
The Culduthel Woods Group wants to make changes to paths and carry out wildlife habitat improvements in the community-owned Inverness beauty spot.
Planning officials agreed with their proposals and recommended granting planning permission but that was halted amid confusion about where some paths lead.
Objections had been raised by nearby residents who were concerned that the changes may make the area more of a destination and impact their way of life.
Among the other concerns were the loss of privacy, anti-social behaviour – especially if paths improve access to known problem spots.
On top of that there was disquiet over what some said were insufficient consultation, the impact on wildlife, and criticism of the path locations.
In responding the Culduthel Woods Group appears to have poured oil on the flames in saying the fears were “completely overstated” and “not well founded in fact”.
The group insisted that it had carried out an “extensive consultation” before submitting their plans and modifying the proposals based on that feedback.
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”.
It added that “no new path lines are proposed at all near to the pond or close to Culduthel Park and the relevant houses”.
Cllr Alex Graham raised the issue about the confusion of where one path led and whether or not it ventured onto private land, calling for a site visit.
That was supported by Andrew MacKintosh, who said: “There is no desire on behalf of the people of Culduthel Park to to stymy the ambitions of the woodland group – they just want their concerns to be taken care of.
“The best way for us to do that would be a site visit then you can see just how reasonable their complaints are”.
