'Ludicrous' that firms denied Dingwall Business Park go-ahead amid delays over flood bund upgrade
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ROSS-SHIRE's county town could lose out on multimillion-pound inward investment potential if a "ludicrous" impasse over its business park isn't swiftly resolved.
That was the sober warning from a former Highland Council budget leader and Ross-shire councillor as a development agency shared initial proposals to sort out a long-standing flood protection headache at Dingwall Business Park.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise – which itself has offices there – is leading a pre-planning process aimed at bringing a below-standard flood bund up to scratch to meet modern-day regulations.
The business park, which lies on the River Peffery flood plain, currently hosts a variety of units including offices, a nursery and industrial units. The impasse has hampered development with a number of new applications knocked back because of flood concerns and two – approved by councillors who rebelled against planning officials – now with the Scottish Government for determination.
Former Dingwall and Seaforth councillor Alister Mackinnon, a businessman who is also a financial adviser for two would-be new arrivals at the park, said: "It's absolutely ludicrous that we have a business park in Dingwall that can't be used by new businesses. I would urge the chief executive and chairman of HIE, who both have previously been employed by Highland Council and know very well the importance of this issue, to get it resolved."
He believes up to 60 jobs could be created with a much bigger potential prize in the shape of Cromarty Firth freeport spin-off at stake. An announcement on which areas secure freeport status is understood to be imminent.
Mr Mackinnon said: "They should be bending over backward to resolve this when there are firms ready and waiting to move in. It's not like we are having to beg people to come. Given the state of the economy this has to be sorted out quickly."
He suggested the estimated £2m cost of the upgrade would be "a drop in the ocean" for HIE.
JBA Consulting was recently appointed by HIE to design a flood defence that would enable Highland Council and SEPA to support planning applications for new development within the business park. The flood defence must be constructed and maintained to a recognised standard so that it can be adopted by the Highland Council and be recognised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency – which also has offices there – as a formal flood protection works.
Local MSP Kate Forbes – praised along with local councillors by Mr Mackinnon for pushing for action – yesterday told us: "I am extremely keen that the flood protection issues at Dingwall Business Park are resolved as soon as practically possible – that’s why I and other local councillors kickstarted a series of meetings over the past year to try and move things forward.
“There is a statutory process to follow, and I hope feedback from this week will prove useful.There is no doubt in my mind that this site is hugely important for Dingwall, and I will continue to push for progress.”
HIE is one of many organisations that own land at the park. The works, say HIE, "are still subject to funding being secured from parties with an interest in the site".
Should the application be approved and funding secured, "the vision is to upgrade the flood embankment around the park to promote future development of existing and new businesses, increasing economic and employment opportunities in the area".
