Latest news with #DistrictCommunityCouncil
The National
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
53 community councils demand Scottish Highland energy projects pause
Councils from across the Highland region gathered both in person in Beauly and online on Saturday to discuss their concerns over the pace and the scale of projects such as windfarms, battery storage sites, and transmission lines. Representatives shared their widespread frustration at how applications are being handled by developers, the government, and national planners. Collectively, more than 72,000 residents from Skye to Caithness were represented by those gathered, which is being described as "the largest gathering of community councils in Highland Council history". READ MORE: 2031 Scotland census planning underway as public input sought on new questions The convention collectively called for a national planning inquiry and an immediate pause on major energy applications until their cumulative impact can be fully assessed. Speaking at Phipps Hall, Stuart Mills representing Halkirk and District Community Council listed concerns of his community, describing the area as "under siege". 'Caithness, and especially the Halkirk area, is under siege from energy projects. We must remind ourselves these are business ventures designed to make a profit.' 'Immediate action is needed to address the totality of all the developments and their supporting infrastructure,' he added. READ MORE: UK 'feeding Scotland poison pills', John Swinney says Speaking remotely, Mark Gibson of Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council said he and his team are provided with little support when faced with complex applications. Gibson shared: 'We are a small group of volunteers. Reading through hundred-page documents and engaging with multiple developers in a single year is simply beyond our capacity". He added: "There seems to be no one single energy strategy, just a year-by-year, scheme-by-scheme advancement with very little benefit showing for the local communities. 'We pay the highest prices in the UK for electricity, and that annoys many of our constituents when the energy is being generated or stored almost in their backyard.' SNP MSP Maree Todd (below), for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, responded to the convention's statement, and said she had written to Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Net Zero, Gillian Martin, following the meeting to request a response to the issues set out. She added: 'I have been engaging extensively with both the Scottish and UK Governments on a range of planning and regulatory matters. "These discussions have centred around the issue of cumulative impact of developments on communities, the safety and regulation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and the importance of meaningful and ongoing community engagement throughout the planning process. 'I remain committed to raising these issues at every opportunity, ensuring that the views and concerns of my constituents are clearly heard and given full weight in all decision-making." READ MORE: Art workshop helps refugee women to celebrate 'strength found in community' Tory MSP Edward Mountain, for the Highlands and Islands, also responded, telling campaigners: 'I have long said that it is essential we do not sacrifice the Highlands on the altar of net zero.
The National
24-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish Highland castle put on sale again amid 'transphobia' row
Carbisdale Castle, located near Ardgay in Sutherland, is on the market for around £5 million. The property, which dates back to the early 20th century, was previously bought by barrister Samantha Kane in 2022 for £1.2 million. Kane previously told BBC Scotland that she had finished the job of saving the property from going to ruin and was selling up as she needs to be in London for her work. READ MORE: Bishop to represent Scottish Catholics at funeral of Pope Francis But she went on to remove the castle from the market after holding talks to transfer the property to a community interest company with a pledge to benefit local residents. The transfer was set to be concluded on Friday, however a row between Kane and Ardgay and District Community Council (A&DCC) of which she is a member, is understood to have led to the castle being placed back on the market. Kane, a barrister from London, said: 'I have now halted that and decided to put the castle back on the market as a direct result of the discrimination I have suffered. 'Obviously the big loser is the community but the hatred and discrimination I have endured is too much. 'One option now could be to have shared ownership with a boutique hotel of 14 of the rooms involved. I was close to selling the castle last time and a hotel group were among the interested parties." Members of the A&DCC are set to host an extraordinary general meeting to dissolve the body after claiming Kane was "disruptive" and "intimidating". The claims come after Sutherland councillor Michael Baird, a LibDem, was suspended after he was found to have been 'disrespectful towards the chair and committee". Baird accepted he breached the code of conduct and has since 'apologised unequivocally". A statement from members said: 'Following six months of very difficult operating conditions in between meetings the chair and vice chair took the view that the intimidation of members of the public at the meeting on April 17 made the continuation of A&DCC, in its current form, untenable given our duty of care to the many members of the public who attend." Kane also said she is exploring a "judicial review" and denied the allegations made, claiming she faced transphobic abuse. Kane said: 'I am also going to launch a judicial review of the community council's decision to hold an EGM as its sole purpose is to get rid of me, which is discriminatory in its nature, is unfair and bias and nothing to do with democracy. 'This is fundamentally an attack on my female identity and not receiving the respect of a woman of my age. 'The allegations are seriously offensive in nature and will have a direct effect on my private life. READ MORE: Reform UK names Tory defector as candidate for Holyrood by-election 'Allegations about my alleged behaviour are entirely untrue – totally false. 'If anything it is the other way around and I have evidence to support that. 'I am considering claiming damages from the community council or individual members for the harm they have caused me.' She added: 'I came here, really driven, with a vision of seeing the castle renovated and back to its former glory, really serving the community, and really being where it should be; one of the most iconic landmarks in Scotland." The castle was previously built for the Duchess of Sutherland, Mary Caroline, with the property dubbed the 'castle of spite' as she was embroiled in a feud with her in-laws. Over the years, it has been used as a war-time sanctuary for members of the Norwegian royal family and a youth hostel, operating as the latter for 60 years from 1945. There is also currently a planning application for 12 one-bedroom lodges around the loch area.
The National
23-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish Highland castle up for sale for fifth time in a decade
Clifftop Carbisdale Castle, located near Ardgay in Sutherland, is on the market for around £5 million. The property, which dates back to the early 20th century was previously bought by barrister Samantha Kane. Kane, who bought the clifftop castle in 2022 for £1.2 million, previously told BBC Scotland that she had finished the job of saving the property from going to ruin and was selling up as she needs to be in London for her work. READ MORE: Bishop to represent Scottish Catholics at funeral of Pope Francis But she went on to remove the castle from the market after holding talks to transfer the property to a community interest company with a pledge to benefit local residents. The transfer was set to be concluded on Friday, however a row between Kane and Ardgay and District Community Council (A&DCC) of which she is a member, is understood to have led to the castle being placed back on the market. Members of the group are set to host an extraordinary general meeting to dissolve the body after claiming Kane was "disruptive" and "intimidating". The claims come after Sutherland councillor Michael Baird, a LibDem, was suspended after he was found to have been 'disrespectful towards the chair and committee". Baird accepted he breached the code of conduct and has since 'apologised unequivocally". A statement from members said: 'Following six months of very difficult operating conditions in between meetings the chair and vice chair took the view that the intimidation of members of the public at the meeting on April 17 made the continuation of A&DCC, in its current form, untenable given our duty of care to the many members of the public who attend." Kane, a barrister from London, said: 'I have now halted that and decided to put the castle back on the market as a direct result of the discrimination I have suffered. 'Obviously the big loser is the community but the hatred and discrimination I have endured is too much. 'One option now could be to have shared ownership with a boutique hotel of 14 of the rooms involved. I was close to selling the castle last time and a hotel group were among the interested parties.' She also said she is exploring a "judicial review" and denied the allegations made, claiming she faced transphobic abuse. READ MORE: Reform UK names Tory defector as candidate for Holyrood by-election Kane said: 'I am also going to launch a judicial review of the community council's decision to hold an EGM as its sole purpose is to get rid of me, which is discriminatory in its nature, is unfair and bias and nothing to do with democracy. 'This is fundamentally an attack on my female identity and not receiving the respect of a woman of my age. 'The allegations are seriously offensive in nature and will have a direct effect on my private life. 'Allegations about my alleged behaviour are entirely untrue – totally false. 'If anything it is the other way around and I have evidence to support that. 'I am considering claiming damages from the community council or individual members for the harm they have caused me.' She added: 'I came here, really driven, with a vision of seeing the castle renovated and back to its former glory, really serving the community, and really being where it should be; one of the most iconic landmarks in Scotland." The castle was previously built for the Duchess of Sutherland, Mary Caroline, with the property dubbed the 'castle of spite' as she was embroiled in a feud with her in-laws. Over the years, it has been used as a war-time sanctuary for members of the Norwegian royal family and a youth hostel, operating as the latter for 60 years from 1945. There is also currently a planning application for 12 one-bedroom lodges around the loch area.
