Calls have been made for calm as members of a west coast community have reached boiling point over plans for a £3.5milllion zipwire project in Kinlochleven.
Reports have been made to the authorities of threatening behaviour between neighbours and incorrect procedure in the planning process – while the applicant claims “false information” is being touted by a social media protest group.
Lochaber area Inspector Isla Campbell said: “We are aware of local tensions in Kinlochleven regarding the planning application and have been in contact with representatives from the local community.
“At this time nothing of a criminal nature has been reported to police.
“That said, I would urge people to be mindful of how they conduct themselves online and to ensure their comments are not offensive or hurtful to others.”
It is claimed the project will create 35-40 jobs – but objectors say the infrastructure does not exist in the village for it to be built.
The longest of the two wires will span 1,619 yards – from the Mamores to a pontoon base in Loch Leven, becoming the longest of its kind in Scotland.
Councillor Andrew Baxter, chairman of Lochaber area committee, is calling for calm, in what he describes as “personal attacks” between neighbours – who once lived quietly beside each other.
In one incident yesterday, understood to have been reported to police, two women walking their dogs were verbally attacked by a protester.
Mr Baxter said: “I am very concerned about the tone of debate going on in the village, and especially on social media.
“We all have to live together and we all should be respectful of each other’s viewpoint. There is no place for the personal attacks that have been taking place, from both sides of the argument.”
A community meeting held this week saw more than 150 people come out to debate the issue and to hear about the plans.
Stephen Connelly, of Kinlochleven Adventures Limited, the developer of the project, said: “The general consensus after the meeting was that it went very well.
“My concern is that some items on social media are giving false information about the project – and that is creating some of the bad feeling.”
Kinlochleven Community Council chairwoman Yvonne Rosie said: “Before the meeting I was filled with trepidation because some things that have been said are so ugly, and hurtful and it did not make for pleasant reading at all. The zipwire is a very emotive subject.
“But at the meeting there was a good debate and everyone seemed to be able to talk, and put their point over. I am concerned about the conversations going on in the village – there is no need to personally attack anyone.”
Tracy Connell, one of a group of objectors who feel the community has been ill-informed about the project prior to the application, said: “We have all been called “newbies” because we have been raising objections to the zipwire.
“We set up a Facebook group and leafleted every property in the village because we feel people do not know what is going on.
“There has been no consultation prior to the application going into the council – and this is a threat to village life.”
Mrs Connell’s husband Terry added: “It’s all very divisive.”
He explained the lack of information about the project prior to the planning application was one of the problems, adding : “The reason there was a public meeting was because I went and asked the community council for one – otherwise people in the village would still be in the dark.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman confirmed there was no requirement for pre-application consultation in this case.
