Evanton quarry plan gets the go-ahead despite community concerns
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HALF a million tonnes of sand and gravel will be excavated from the Novar Estate in Evanton over the next decade despite objections from the community.
Members of the Kiltearn Community Council opposed Pat Munro’s eight-acre scheme, which was approved by Highland Council’s north area planning committee this week.
The group wanted to protect a semi-mature woodland from being felled , arguing the area was outstandingly beautiful and an important amenity for locals, visitors and wildlife.
Concerns were also raised at Highland Council's north planning applications committee this week that the quarry life span would exceed 10 years destroying a large swathe of woodland between the site and Novar House and there are fears an unexamined archaeological site believed to be in the quarry zone will be excavated.
They also felt the quarry was too close to an area set aside by the landowners for housing.
Woodland within the site consists mainly of 20-year-old birch and mature Scots Pine.
The landowner plans to clear-fell the extraction are but has pledged to protect the woodland’s ornamental edge by leaving a “substantial area” of trees to screen the site.
An ecological survey suggested the site was not significantly important as a wild life habitat.
The works are expected to generate up to 50 HGV movements per day but these vehicles will be routed via the Skiach junction onto the A9, avoiding the centre of Evanton and Alness.
The landowner is contributing £28,360 towards the cost of a council scheme to upgrade a cycle pathway through Evanton.
Council planning case officer Dorothy Stott assured members that a close eye would be kept on the workings of the site to make sure it did not excavate more than 500,000 tonnes.
“We received a very well thought-out application,” she said.
