Ambitious plans for a Gaelic heritage centre and accommodation units on Skye could face an uphill battle to become a reality.
The planning in principle application for the development at Flodigarry in the north west of the island was submitted to Highland Council earlier in the month.
It envisages the creation of new facilities inside a joint community and heritage centre as well as 10 accommodation “pods.”
Central to the plans for a heritage resource is to preserve the area as a “place where the Gaelic community still exists” with its “strong sense of traditional island community.”
The heritage centre would seek to involve “residents and tourists alike” through language, music, dance, visual arts, food and drink as it provides and “interpretation of the Gaelic culture and local community in its broadest sense.”
The community centre aspect of the provide much needed facilities for the area with ever growing tourist numbers particularly from coaches.
Additionally there will be ten accommodation “pods” that will be located alongside the main building for those attending events or language courses at the centre.
Some details have already emerged from consultations with relevant agencies and the development would have to overcome a number of issues not least of which is that it is located in the Trotternish National Scenic Area.
Such areas are designated protected landscapes with the same status as national park so they have extra protection in planning terms to prevent “inappropriate” developments.
Another issue is that currently the site for construction has no infrastructure for running water nor does it have the capacity to deal with waste water.
In an advisory note contained in the application Scottish Water pointed out that as yet it has no plans to construct the necessary infrastructure and it would not be in a position to confirm capacity.
The company added that it would only accept a formal application for to be connected after full planning had been granted and it concluded by advising the applicant “to investigate private treatment options.”
None of that seems to have put off the application by Kilmuir Community Council on behalf of the Flodigarry Trust.
Chairman Stephen Varwell said: “We are happy to support something that would benefit the wider area and anything that would benefit the heritage resources in the area. We support the application.”
