Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

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pauls59@yahoo.co.uk
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Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by pauls59@yahoo.co.uk »

There has been a lot of publicity recently about irresponsible tourism and unacceptable behaviour by visitors since lockdown was lifted in July. This has impacted on all the communities across the Highlands and Islands.
The public toilets and parking site at South Bonar have been used for free camping for many years now, this has obviously increased over recent weeks, which has created understandable anxiety within the community.
Therefore, KoSDT thought it would be useful for us to provide a bit of context around some plans that the Trust have to secure the future of the site as a community asset.
In February of this year the Trust was successful in securing a Design Grant of £5,000 from the VisitScotland Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) to investigate the possibility of developing the site by providing facilities for visitors who choose to come to the area in campervans and motorhomes. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we were not able to develop the plan as quickly as anticipated but we are now able to progress with the project and will have site reports in place by the end of the month.
The plan is for the Trust to develop paid facilities for visitors at the site whilst at the same time reducing issues such as increased waste and impacts on parking and pressures on local services.
The site is currently owned by The Highland Council, so the Trust have opened discussions with them about transferring ownership of the asset to the community via the Trust. The real benefit of the project is that we can retain our local public toilets, in community hands, without fear of closure. We hope it will also create income for The Hub and our local shops.
The plan for the site would include providing electric hook-up points for motor homes and campervans and a new service area with showers, a covered eating area, waste disposal facilities, e-bike charging points etc. This would be developed adjacent to the existing public toilet facilities which would be refurbished and improved. The site would be controlled by a barrier system so that the toilet block was available free of charge to visitors and the public, but payment would be required to access the camping facilities. This would secure the public toilets in community hands whilst also developing an income stream to pay for repairs and maintenance.
Our plan will be submitted to Highland Council in early October and if it is accepted we will then be able to apply for the funding to undertake the development. We will keep the community informed of any progress and if anyone wishes to speak to us about our plans then please feel free to get in touch, development@kyleofsutherland.co.uk or 01863 766190.


Update; 18/12/2020.-

Highland Council Planning Application ref # 20/03987/FUL Construction of shelter containing wc & shower facilities, provision of services for serviced overnight parking site. Land 40m east of South Bonar Public Toilets Ardgay.

PSAD (Post Submission Additional Documentation),
Amended Drawing (proposed site layout plan).
Two Topography Plans.

Submitted to Highland Council following SEPA letters dated 15th &n 16th December 2020.
(SEPA letter refers to "the site in question may have a risk of flooding and it follows that to allow the development to proceed may place people or property at serious risk contrary to Scottish Planning Policy. We OBJECT to this planning application on the grounds of lack of information for us to assess flood risk to the proposed development.

We will review this objection if appropriate information is provided on flood risk as per 1.8 (requirement for a topographic survey of the site be taken to identify areas of ground level above 3.8m AOD and there is flood free access/egress achievable in this area.
An updated site plan showing these criteria can be met for areas identified for overnight accommodation parking. IF an option to identify areas above 5.3m AOD to account for uncertainties and climate change allowances we request that this is considered".

https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/files/2 ... 258578.pdf
Last edited by pauls59@yahoo.co.uk on Mon Jan 04, 2021 10:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by Drivesaboxer »

It is great to see this type of project being undertaken but I am concerned that the planned area for motorhomes will more campsite than Aire along with the extra cost implications(to us) for showers, EHU points and covered eating areas etc that a lot of people in previous discussions on FB have said they don’t need, if you can pay for these extras separately fine, but I feel these should not be included in the barrier ticket price, I have not managed to find the plans so I may be making unfounded comments, if so please feel free to correct me.

Alan.
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by donaldmacdonald »

Like the look of the plans submitted to Highland Council.

https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/files/2 ... 258578.pdf

One point I would raise is that access to the CDP will be restricted to just the 6 or so vans that have spaces - will there be access opportunities to vehicles for CDP if they are not staying overnight? This might be a lost revenue stream.
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by pauls59@yahoo.co.uk »

Alan Drivesaboxer The reference number is 20/03987/FUL on wam.highland.gov.uk

Regarding the shower facility. This will be for those who wish to use them, (not specifically for motorhome owners, many of whom will have their own showers on board their self contained unit.)
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by Steve »

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

We need your support!

As you will know, KoSDT has applied for funding and planning permission to develop the car park and public toilets at South Bonar to incorporate overnight parking for motor homes. We have now secured most of the funding and are progressing with the asset transfer. However, planning permission may not be as simple as we have had an objection from SEPA due to the risk of flooding on the site. We will continue to liaise with SEPA and The Highland Council planners to see if we can overcome this issue.

This is where we need your support!:

1️⃣ Evidence of South Bonar Overnight Parking Site Use
Have you observed overnight parking at South Bonar? How many years can you note this as having been the case? If you can help to answer these questions then please click the below link and complete a brief questionnaire: https://forms.office.com/Pages/Response ... I2SjRPTy4u

2️⃣ Add your support for South Bonar Planning Application
👉Search for ‘20/03987/FUL’ on The Highland Council’s Planning Portal: https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/
👉Select ‘Comments’ Tab and ‘Log In to Make Comment’

We will continue to keep you informed as the project progresses.

Thank you for your support!
Steve - CAMpRA Leadership Team
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by potty »

I received an email today from the KoSD Trust saying that the Highland Council is not putting their application forward for planning permission because of an objection from the Scottish Environmental Agency re flood risk. This is despite the funding having been obtained. The council is also not putting forward applications for Helmsdale and Kinlochewe.

Makes me wonder how the CCC site at Keswick keeps going. It floods regularly.
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by Traceybarkwill »

Oh no! Maybe they need to abandon their plans for showers and EHU and just focus on toilets and CDP pay per use.
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by Steve »

Unfortunately SEPA are obstructing and block everything in Scotland you just have to read their report on providing waste points quoting over £20,000 to connect to a sewer point within 3m in soft ground.

I would dig the hole by hand for £10,000 🤣🤣

A managed campsite is different to an unmanned Aire so flood risk could present a problem without a monitoring and warning system. But that should be achievable?

So why are they proposing Aires in flood risk Areas?
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by Biggarmac »

According to SEPA virtually all of Scotland is a flood risk. The parking near Ben Nevis (up the mountain not in Fort William) is a flood risk and no overnight parking is allowed.
I will be going past Kyles of Sutherland soon and will try and arrange to see someone there
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Re: Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust Application for South Bonar Public Toilets at Ardgay.

Post by Steve »

Meg Any update on this?
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