Stac Pollaidh car park agreement will pave way for improved visitor facilities says Highland Council after backing Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland lease
A car park serving walkers climbing an iconic Wester Ross peak is to be improved following a decision reached by Highland Council.
Highland Council’s communities and place committee agreed community asset transfers for the Wester Ross and Morar areas.
Councillors agreed to lease Stac Pollaidh car park at Coigach in Wester Ross to the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland for a token £1 per annum.
The community asset transfer will enable the provision of improved visitor access to this iconic mountain by the development of toilets and dedicated parking for at least 65 vehicles, signage and interpretation boards, viewing points and maintenance of the adjoining hill path.
Committee chairman Allan Henderson said: “Tourism is vital for the economic recovery of Highland businesses from the coronavirus pandemic.
“These successful community asset transfer requests are great news for our communities and Highland Council remains committed in these difficult times to facilitate CAT applications. I am confident that these two successful applications will contribute greatly to the council’s key strategic priorities which aims to encourage community led and run services involving more people in local decision making.”
In Lochaber, a CAT request application from the Road to the Isles Facilities Group was approved to lease Tougal public toilets and car park by Morar at no annual charge.
It will allow the group to continue to develop their plans for this project and when ready to locally run provision of public toilet facilities and chargeable parking in a popular tourism area.
Community Asset Transfer requests can be made under the Community Empowerment Act and the two applications approved by Highland councillors are subject to terms of transfer.
