Chance to have your say on Skye improvement projects

The Highland Council is hoping that people living and working on the Isle of Skye take up the opportunity to view and comment on plans for two separate projects to improve infrastructure – the Rural Tourism Infrastructure funded Bayfield West Car Park Project in Portree and the Upland Path Improvements Project at the Old Man of Storr.

Bayfield West Car Park Project:

A Partnership has been established between Highland Council, Portree and Braes Community Trust and Portree Tennis and Squash Club to progress the development of additional parking at Bayfield car park.  

Before progressing the project further, the partnership wants to hear from local people about their views of the project, the benefits they see this could bring and any issues that may arise. It also provides an opportunity to share information on what is proposed and how the new arrangements would work. 

The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2020. 

Consultation Events 

• 26th–29th August 9.00am – 6.30pm:

SLCVO Office, Tigh Lisigarry, Bridge Road, Portree, IV51 9ER

Come along and see the plans, pick-up a fact sheet and survey questionnaire*

• 30th August 2.00pm – 6.00pm:

Bayfield Car Park, in front of the Scottish Water Building, adjacent to the old tennis courts – come along and see the plans, pick-up a fact sheet, survey questionnaire* and meet representatives from the partners involved

• 31st August 11.00am – 3.00pm:

Somerled Square, adjacent to the War Memorial – come along and see the plans, pick-up a fact sheet, survey questionnaire* and meet representatives from the partners involved

•  31st August 11.00am – 3.00pm:

Council Chamber, Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree, IV51 9GP – come along and see the plans, pick-up a fact sheet, survey questionnaire* and meet representatives from the partners involved 

*Link to survey questionnaire https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/bayfieldwest

Old Man of Storr Upland Path Improvements Project:

 

The Skye Iconic Sites Partnership has been established between The Highland Council, Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate, Scottish National Heritage, Staffin Community Trust, Minginish Community Hall Association and Skye Connect to progress a number of initiatives to improve the infrastructure at multiple tourism sites on Skye. 

The Highland Council plans to hold two public information events relating to the provision of a high quality footpath at the Old Man of Storr, funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, to enhance visitor access while protecting iconic landscapes and internationally important habitat.

Over recent years the Isle of Skye has seen increases in visitor numbers and of these an increasing number are being directed by social media and travel websites to visit specific sites which are promoted as the top places to visit. Visitors to the Old Man of Storr have exceeded the numbers that the current path was designed for by a colossal amount: in 2007 automatic people counters on the path showed that 27,000 people visited the site, but this had increased to an incredible 205,000 in 2018.  Indications are that visitor numbers are set to rise further.

The former path has been overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of visitors. Erosion on the route has led to disintegration of the original path.

There is an urgent need to build a new footpath on this site to a standard commensurate with the profile and high visitor numbers at the site. This would enhance the visitor experience and be the final piece in the infrastructure jigsaw at this iconic site to tie in with the new car park and visitor facilities.

The project is scheduled to be complete in October 2020.

Consultation Events

30th August 2:00pm – 7:00pm:

Columba 1400, Staffin, IV51 9JY – come along and see our information display and meet representatives from the partners involved.

 31st August 11.00am – 3.00pm:

Council Chamber, Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree, IV51 9GP – come along and see our information display and meet representatives from the partners involved.

Chair of the Skye and Raasay Committee, Councillor John Gordon hopes as many people as possible take up this opportunity to get involved.  He said: “Both of these projects have the potential to bring benefits to the many visitors who want to come to enjoy what Skye has to offer and address some of the issues our high visitor numbers have on our local communities. The drop-in consultation events are a chance to find out more, pass on your ideas and views and chat face to face with those involved in taking the projects forward.”

For those unable to make any of the consultation events for Bayfield Car Park, there is also an on-line survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/bayfieldwest

The survey runs until 9 September.