Latest news with #TheHighlandCouncil
The National
6 days ago
- The National
Harry Potter inspired Glenfinnan bus service launches to tackle overtourism
The new weekend 934 service – inspired by the famous Platform 9 ¾ the boy wizard catches the Hogwarts Express from – is being introduced to encourage more of the 600,000 annual visitors to leave their cars behind and travel more sustainably. The community-led initiative will aim to plug a gap in public transport provision to the Highland hamlet, where the lives of residents have been increasingly impacted by the tourists visiting to see the Jacobite Steam Train cross the viaduct. West Coast Railways – which runs The Jacobite steam train that crosses the viaduct - provided the steam engine and carriages used as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films and the viaduct features in the famous flying car scene in the Chamber of Secrets. READ MORE: Calls for 'farcical' North Berwick parking plans to be shelved Villagers have previously told The National how their daily lives have been taken over by tourists, who often behave irresponsibly as the fight to get a glimpse of the train to share on their social media accounts. The bus will initially be a pilot scheme to gauge public appetite for a car-free day out and help relieve pressure on car parks, which are usually all full by around 10am. This has led to hazardous kerbside parking and traffic congestion along the famous Road to the Isles. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who represents the area as an MSP, has been chairing a taskforce over the last few years to try and resolve some of the issues the village has been facing. She said she hopes the bus will be 'transformational'. (Image: Kate Forbes) Forbes (above) said: "Glenfinnan has become an iconic destination for visitors, with thousands of visitors every year. This has created pressures on local infrastructure, which I have been working to resolve with local residents. 'A few years ago, the community successfully built a much larger carpark. However, this has quickly become too small. As such, I have been chairing a task force to identify solutions over the last few years. 'I am delighted to see a new solution to get more people out of their cars. This will hopefully be transformational, as more visitors choose to share transport. 'I am enormously grateful to all the key stakeholders – The Highland Council, HITRANS, Shiel Buses, National Trust for Scotland and every local resident that has been helping drive this forward.' With Glenfinnan's visitor numbers continuing to rise year-on-year, it is hoped this new bus will relieve pressure on what has become a bucket list location in Scotland. The NTS Visitor Centre welcomed 14% more visitors between January and June 2025 than during the same period in 2024. READ MORE: Scottish community-owned island announces boycott of Israel The summer weekend bus service will run four times a day between Fort William and Glenfinnan up until Sunday, September 7. It is just one of many train and bus services that travel to Glenfinnan seven days a week. The NTS, Glenfinnan Community Council, Glenfinnan Community Facilities Charitable Trust (SCIO), Glenfinnan Station Museum and HITRANS have each contributed to the cost of the buses. Councillors have also backed the project by supporting an application to The Highland Council's Discretionary Budget, while local bus company Shiel Buses will operate the service. The weekend bus service pilot is part of a wider community action plan to address the long-standing challenges facing the village, which has become a bucket list destination in Scotland. In 2024, bollards and double yellow lines were introduced along the carriageway to physically discourage illegal roadside parking. This was reinforced in summer 2025 when Highland Council gained enforcement powers on the A830 around Glenfinnan. Parking enforcement officers are set to visit Glenfinnan regularly through the summer season, helping to educate drivers or issue penalty charge notices as required. While seeking to dissuade anti-social behaviour, the community is passionate about encouraging responsible and sustainable tourism has produced a simple 'Guide to visiting Glenfinnan without a car.' This combines timetable information for ScotRail trains, local buses and The Jacobite service in one place for the first time and aims to help visitors plan their visit by public transport. Glenfinnan businesses are also offering 'green rewards' as a thank you to those visitors who show them a valid bus or train ticket instead of using their car. These include the NTS Visitor Centre offering a complimentary hot drink and two-for-one on climbing Glenfinnan Monument. Visitors will be able to get on the Glenfinnan weekend bus at Fort William bus station, Lochaber High School – where there is free parking available at weekends – Kilmalie Hall in Corpach and Linnhe Caravan Park. Times for the new service, along with timetables and prices for all other buses and trains, can be found in the 'Guide to visiting Glenfinnan without a car.' This can be viewed and downloaded here.
Daily Record
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Stella McCartney 'threatening wildlife' with £5m Highland home plans
The latest objection to the fashion designer's plans says the proposed development will affect a "scenic and peaceful" area full of wildlife. Stella McCartney has suffered a fresh blow in her plans to build a £5m home in the Highlands after she was accused of threatening wildlife with the "habitat damaging intentions of a celebrity". The 53-year-old fashion designer - daughter of Beatles legend Paul and animal rights activist Linda - has been attempting to build a plush hideaway on the Moidart Peninsula in Lochaber. However, it has been plagued by planning issues, forcing her and husband Alasdhair Willis to try to publicly defend their project, insisting that "this is where we want to be". The couple submitted their planning application to The Highland Council in February 2023, after purchasing the plot of land for £450,000. In the latest complaint registered on the plans, a long-term visitor to the area fears the proposed structure would kill off a haven for wildlife. The area is said to attract seals, porpoises, otters and several bird species. An extremely rare White Stork was also recently spotted there. In his objection, Professor Calum Sutherland said he feared this could all be lost if the application is granted planning permission. He and his family have visited Roshven Bay every summer for the last ten years, just below where the building work is proposed. He wrote: "We choose this area as it is peaceful, relatively unspoiled and full of wildlife. The number of dwellings around the bay, and the number of wild campers, has increased steadily over the last five years. "This has not led to significantly increased noise or light pollution on the shore areas, but the current proposal appears to be taking things to a new level. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "The size and design of the buildings, extending out to be clearly visible from almost every direction across the bay, with significant upgrading of transport access near to quiet wildlife havens is highly likely to have a significant impact on wildlife habitat and visitor experience." Prof Sutherland said on several occasions they had witnessed a family of otters hunting along the shore right below the proposed development. He added: "These along with the birdlife (including Great Northern Divers, Gannets and black throated divers), seals and porpoises we have seen on almost every visit, will most likely not cope with the proposed escalation in noise and light pollution. "Wildlife tourists will be forced away from what has until now been a scenic and peaceful vacation area. "Indeed, this year we were blessed to witness a visit from a White Stork, highly rare in the UK, never mind the Highlands. It is a shame that the ability of so many individuals to experience such an idyllic wildlife area will be aversely affected by the habitat damaging intentions of a celebrity." A previous complaint - thought to be from a birdwatcher - had earlier claimed the presence of Ring Ouzel, Wood Warbler and Redstart mean further studies should be done later in the year, which would delay the project by another six months. He wrote: "Because a field survey has only been carried out on a single day in a single month - December - the ecological appraisal is incomplete. "It fails to acknowledge that a corresponding survey between June and September would reveal butterflies and other insect life plus summer-visiting birds which may include declining species such as Ring Ouzel, Wood Warbler and Redstart, all of which would be vulnerable to human disturbance. "It would thus be remiss of the planning authority to determine this application in advance of a further field survey which should be carried out on at least one day between June 1 and September 15." The backlash against the plans for the glass-fronted home have become so fierce that Alasdhair Willis was recently forced to publicly defend it. The application for the four-bedroom property has attracted more than 60 objections. Mr Willis previously told the Press and Journal: 'This is where we want to be. "It is not a case of waking up one day and thinking this was what we wanted on a whim. This has been our life plan." The planning application remains under consideration by Highland Council.
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
New NC500 rangers deployed to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour that's hated by locals
There are currently 16 Access Rangers on patrol RANGER RESPONSE New NC500 rangers deployed to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour that's hated by locals A SMALL army of council rangers has started patrolling the North Coast 500 road trip route and other areas of the Highlands to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour. Irresponsible camping and a ban on fires in many areas are a top priority this year. Advertisement 3 Council rangers have started patrolling the NC500 route in a bid to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour Credit: Alamy 3 Campers have been leaving piles of human waste, dirty toilet paper, and heaps of rubbish along the route Credit: Facebook 3 And motorhome users have been blasted for causing congestion on narrow roads and dangerous driving Credit: Alamy The weekend saw the first patrols of The Highland Council's new Seasonal Access Ranger team. The new rangers will seek to promote and advise on responsible access to the countryside through the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The team is funded directly by The Highland Council. There are currently 16 Access Rangers on patrol with two more to join in mid-June, focusing on the long-distance routes. Advertisement Five of the rangers are highly experienced, having returned after previous seasons, and can help guide new rangers into their roles. Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "The Council are pleased to be able to provide a seasonal rangers service this year and so far, the team have been welcomed by visitors and locals alike, with a friendly approach to encouraging responsible behaviour. 'The Council recognise the importance of supporting communities to manage the increase in visitors across the area, particularly along the NC500, Skye, Lochaber, Wester Ross and Loch Ness. 'A key role for the rangers will be engaging with the public and raising awareness of the Outdoor Access Code and communicating to people that, as individuals, we all play an important role in ensuring that the Highlands' beautiful outdoor spaces are protected for all to enjoy for future generations.' Advertisement Rangers will also ensure awareness of other relevant legislation, such as parking and environmental health regulations. They will monitor use and report incidents to the relevant council teams or emergency services. The North Coast 500: Scotland's Must-Visit Road Trip Beats the Grand Canyon The rangers will also carry out duties to keep tidy, maintain and manage council-owned sites, core paths and work with communities and land managers on other sites to protect habitats and encourage respect for the landscape. Where possible, the rangers will work with local volunteers to engage with visitors. Advertisement The council added: 'This year, responsible camping will be a key priority, and, in many locations, this will mean a 'no fires' message. There is a significant fire risk throughout the Highlands in the summer months and lighting campfires on peaty ground, woodland, grassland, or moors is dangerous and contrary to the Code. 'It is irresponsible to light fires close to buildings, historic monuments and within 30m of a public road. Even small fires cause significant damage to our natural environment from scorch marks to tree removal and the use of dead wood - housing insects - for fires. Much of this damage can take years to recover.'
Sky News
20-02-2025
- Sky News
Parents of non-verbal Inverness girl 'kept in the dark' by Highland Council over incident that saw staff member 'removed' from school
Why you can trust Sky News The parents of a non-verbal girl have criticised a council after being "kept in the dark" over an incident involving their daughter which saw a staff member "removed" from her school. Lauren and Sean Selkirk have accused The Highland Council of "not being transparent" by refusing to disclose the nature of the incident at the Inverness primary. Their six-year-old daughter, Ayla, is a non-verbal child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Mrs Selkirk said the incident was reported on 21 January, but the family were not informed until 27 January. 'Very distressing' Speaking to Sky News, Mrs Selkirk said: "This has been very distressing. It has been the most horrendous couple of weeks. We are being left in the dark. We know nothing. It's disgusting. "As parents, I don't understand why they think we don't have the right to know. They're doing everything in their power to keep it from us. "They quite simply do not care about us as a family and I'm really disappointed. We have gone through some amount of emotions these last few weeks." Mrs Selkirk said the school's headteacher called to deliver the news and read out a prepared statement which said Ayla had been involved in an incident, a member of staff had been "removed", and The Highland Council were investigating. The family has not been told if the worker was a teacher, assistant or someone else. Mrs Selkirk said: "If Ayla was verbal, I could at least say to her 'has the teacher said or done anything to you?' "And she would be able to say yes or no, which would immediately quash any concerns that I have. "But the fact the council won't even answer that question for me, they're keeping me in the dark." Ayla 'has not come to any harm' Now more than four weeks on from the incident, Mrs Selkirk was once again refused further information during a meeting with a chief education officer on Thursday morning. The council is reportedly "working within its legal policies" as to why details are not being shared. Mrs Selkirk said: "I've been assured she has not come to any harm and that it's not criminal. "But the fact that they contacted social work, they have queried whether it was a potential child protection issue." Sky News contacted Police Scotland to enquire whether a criminal complaint had been made by the local authority in regards to the incident. The force responded there was nothing recorded in its system. Mrs Selkirk said: "My mind has been in absolute overdrive these last few weeks - mine and my husband's. "They're not being transparent with us as parents. With Ayla being non-verbal, they're stopping me from being able to advocate for her." The family has sought help from the SNP's Fergus Ewing, the MSP for Inverness and Nairn. Mrs Selkirk additionally cares for Ayla's older brother, who also has autism and is non-verbal. Due to the incident, the mother said she is "struggling to be happy, and they are picking up on it. They know something's not right." Mrs Selkirk added that the "breach of trust" had made her hesitate to send Ayla back to school, where she has attended for two years since nursery. She said: "The staff that she's currently in with, I do trust. Both my children have been in that setting and I do trust the girls that she's in with. "However, I do still struggle putting her to school because I don't know what happened."
