Official report calls for Coul Links refusal

Wednesday 30th May 2018

Buglife are delighted to learn that proposals for a golf course at Coul Links, on the east coast of Sutherland, affecting the rare endemic Fonseca’s seed fly has today been recommended for refusal by planning officers.

The Highland Council planners report follows hot on the heels of a strong statement from Scottish National Heritage that the proposals will cause a significant and permanent loss of dune habitat on the site. The plans received nearly 1600 objections.

The application will be decided by Councillors at the Highland Council planning committee in Inverness next Tuesday. 

Craig Macadam, Buglife’s Conservation Director commented. “The strong words from SNH and the planning officers are almost unprecedented for such development plans. Hopefully the councillors will heed the advice of the experts, alongside the pleas of so many conservation groups and individuals, and consign this ill thought out proposal to the deep bunker of history.”