Anger over Muir of Ord village square revamp as opponents speak of concerns about scheme
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AN award-winning Muir of Ord baker is taking the community council to task over a village square renovation he says could wreck his firm’s recovery from the pandemic.
Douglas Hardie, co-owner of the Bad Girl Bakery, insists he has huge local backing in opposing the chosen design for the £190,000 works.
With redevelopment set to begin on May 24, Mr Hardie says the community council’s chosen option would see car parking spaces dominating the redesigned square, denying local people popular outdoor social space when they need it most.
The plan would also see five of nine trees felled and, he says, limit the Highland Council-owned square’s use for public events and social activities.
But a local Highland councillor, speaking on behalf of the community council, strongly refuted the businessman’s claims and insisted the plan had the overwhelming backing of a “silent majority” in the 3600 population village.
The renovation was made possible by Muir of Ord Community Council’s successful 2019 bid to the Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Highland Council was approached to deliver the project to maximise the benefit from available funds.
Mr Hardie - the biggest employer in the village centre with 22 staff pre-pandemic - believes another of four options considered would have been most beneficial and widely-supported.
That involved reducing car parking space and moving it to one side to increase the social space.
However, advocates for the chosen plan say that Mr Hardie’s favoured option raised safety concerns for pupils and parents from nearby Tarradale Primary School.
The Facebook group Please Rethink Muir of Ord Square detailed its opposition in an open letter to the community council, signed by 40 people.
The letter received over 140 expressions of support on the social media platform.
Opponents say a public engagement survey carried out by the community council showed 68 per cent of respondents were against creating more parking space, although advocates for the plan insist there will be no increase in parking.
Mr Hardie said: “They have rejected out of hand the option that would absolutely fit with all the feedback we hear from the community.
“It meets the community council’s criteria, opens up the car park and actually increases the informal space.
“It seems to tick everyone’s boxes, yet it was just absolutely dismissed.
“There has been very little engagement. A lot of people just don’t know about it and, when they’re told, they don’t like what they hear.”
Mr Hardie, who runs the business with wife Jeni, added: “We are the biggest employer on the High Street.
“Our existence has been in doubt a number of times over the last 12 months. We need a good summer.
“Building works will start just when we’re desperately trying to maximise the numbers.
“We’re not against regeneration, which would be brilliant. It is not us against the community council, either. We have huge respect for the work they do.
“But as a business we’re seeing something that will negatively impact us and so many others in the community.
“They are desperately trying to get their voices heard.”
Mr Hardie’s claims were dismissed by Dingwall and Seaforth councillor Alister Mackinnon.
He said: “Firstly, I believe the community council have acted in a most professional and transparent manner in the way consultation was carried out.
“Unfortunately, in democracy, you can’t please everybody but I would say the vast majority of people in Muir of Ord are in favour of this development.
“My own soundings suggest the silent majority are very much for this.
“I believe it will bring huge benefits and, importantly, it will enhance the safety of the square for parents and children dropped off for Tarradale Primary School.
“I’m also pleased that the contractor will be speaking to businesses and will work with them to minimise disruption, with work done in stages to that end.”
