Applecross community plan takes step forward; Ross committee gives approval
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A major community land use plan for one of the most beautiful parts of the country has cleared another hurdle and now has to be signed off by Scottish Government ministers.
The Applecross Community Land Use Plan (Clup) aims to target areas which are suitable for future development as a way of dealing with some of the peninsula's significant challenges.
The plan was approved at a meeting of the Ross and Cromarty committee in Dingwall.
The 26,000 hectare peninsula comprising over 20 coastal crofting townships in Wester Ross and the plans calls for new homes, recreational areas, community and commercial buildings, and walking routes.
The whole area has been divided into three geographical areas dealing with three main themes of community, economy and getting around.
Linked to each of those ideas was a desire for new crofts, individual self-build homes, low-cost homes existing derelict sites and buildings to re-use as homes and establish a coordinated approach to waste and general tidiness.
Road infrastructure and capacity would need improvement for tourists and locals alike, while a peninsula-wide walkway as a regional tourism venue and car parks for visitors is also needed.
For the community there is a wish for a gymnasium, multi-use sports pitch and new swimming pool as well as a site for a library of “things” so as to share skills and equipment between residents and crofters as well as to better coordinate social activities and local groups.
Despite being an area of extraordinary beauty it suffers from a number of significant problems with too few people of working age and more than a third over the age of 60.
Many also suffer from fuel poverty, the NC500 has added pressure on inadequate infrastructure, there is a lack of affordable housing, transport, services and employment opportunities.
Those issues have been linked to the availability of land to allow market and community-led development to address these deficiencies and a disproportionate number of holiday homes.
According to local councillor Ian Cockburn one of the keys to progressing the project was involving as many people with different interests on the peninsula as possible and seeing a common purpose.
“I think it is great. They brought in outside facilitators which have really helped open up the discussion between people on Applecross and we were happy to help arrange meetings and the like so people could get together.
“They are all working together and on top of that issues are being highlighted and beginning to be dealt with in a way they haven’t before now. Like the pressures on places like Bealach na Ba.
“University academics are being brought in to study the pressure on the roads there because ultimately if you’re trying to get something done – and I know this sounds ridiculous – you need evidence that people in government or council can see.
“That has led to some creative thinking about how the road’s pressure issue can be dealt with. So, with that many going up to Ullapool for a day to get food or whatever, they are now talking about running boat trips from Kishorn.
“That is the sort of thing that would help locals maintain a business or employ people.”
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