Several Skye beauty spots are in line for further expanses of parking as the island tries to cope with pressure from tourism, local councillors heard at their regular area meeting yesterday.
Parking at the Old Man of Storr is due shortly to be expanded by a further 64 spaces, alongside the toilet facilities and campervan facilities funded by Highland Council, Leader and the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF).
Charges for these spaces is still under discussion to determine local views.
A business case for a future phase to provide a further 45 spaces is also under consideration, bringing the number of spaces on the site up to a potential 190.
An application is also in to RTIF to develop campervan and waste facilities at Bayfield West in Portree.
If funding is granted, work will be undertaken to look at the impact of charging for these facilities while not disadvantaging local residents.
At Quiraing, 60 parking spaces are already in place, with build of a further 60 spaces on Scottish Government land due to start imminently.
Consultation with the local community is on the cards to consider parking charges for these facilities.
At Neist Point, where 50 new spaces have been funded by RTIF, local stakeholder consultation about parking charges is also on the cards.
Traffic orders are now also in place in certain areas as a further strategy to control parking at the Old Man of Storr, Lisigarry Court (Bayfield East) in Portree, Dunvegan, Sligachan and Kyleakin.
The traffic order intended for Ford Road, Broadford is only partly in place, with Pay and Display charges under review due to a community request for an hour’s free parking.
Parking charges are on the cards for Lisigarry Court with the necessary signage and ticket machines to be installed this summer.
Skye and Raasay committee chairman councillor John Gordon said while local councillors were supportive of parking charges, they wanted to be sure that the financial benefit would be returned to the island.
He said: “At this stage we know the money will go into a central pot, and then be returned, but we don’t know the figures or the percentages.”
Meanwhile, the councillors discussed updated plans for the development of Uig Pier.
Plans for a complete revamp of the harbour and water front offering green space and mixed retail and accommodation will shortly go before the Scottish Government for approval.
Mr Gordon said: “It’s a really creative and exciting development for Uig which will develop and transform it into a real destination and offer exciting opportunities for businesses and the community.”
