Green MSP Ariane Burgess is supporting local and national campaigns against revived proposals to build an “eco-hotel” and 18-hole golf course at a beauty spot in Sutherland.
The Scottish Greens supported the successful campaign against the ill thought-out and unsuitable proposal for Coul Links during the last parliamentary session, with a previous application for a golf course refused following a call in by Scottish Government Ministers in 2020.
Ariane said:
“Thousands of people joined the local campaign to save Coul Links last time around and sadly we must once again ask them for their support to protect this stunning, publicly accessible site from being exploited for private gain.
“Coul links is a spectacular site of environmental significance and has several important international designations.
“It’s deeply concerning to see, just three years later, these plans return.
“Indeed, some of the documents submitted on the planning application are the same as those submitted previously.
“It’s vital that Scotland maintains high environmental standards and the Greens will continue to keep local authorities and the Scottish Government’s decision making under scrutiny.
“While I understand the local desire for new job opportunities, as we saw from the Trump development in Aberdeenshire, these opportunities often prove to be far smaller than those originally claimed and undermine the possibility of more sustainable, nature-based and climate-friendly opportunities in land management.
“I continue to work with Highland Council, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Social Enterprise Scotland to look at ways to deliver long-term, sustainable and well-paid work for the people of Sutherland without threatening its precious environment.”
