Planning for Skye and Lochalsh paths

The Highland Council is urging the public, landowners, advisory bodies and interested parties to have their say on the Draft Core Paths Plan for Skye and Lochalsh which is out for formal consultation until Friday 25th January 2008.

The Plan is designed to highlight a system of routes, which provide a basic path network for everyday recreation including links within and between communities. Comments, representations and/or objections to the Plan are invited.

Development of the core paths plan is a statutory duty arising from the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

In its current form, the Plan has already been the subject of discussion and consultation with those who manage the land over which the paths will run, with representatives of potential user groups including disabled groups, with equestrian organisations, and with concerned individuals. The Council has also taken advice from the Skye & Lochalsh Local Access Forum.

In the first consultation stage, in 2005, there were 16 drop in events with over 350 contributions. During the second stage, in 2007 the Council published a consultative draft plan, held 11 drop-in events and received 30 comments. These comments were reported to Highland Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee on 26th September 2007 which approved an amended Draft Core Paths Plan for issuing for formal public consultation.

Councillor Drew Hendry Chairman of Highland Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: “The interest shown in the path network has been considerable and this will give the public much greater clarity over the paths and are bound to make essential and recreational use much easier. Getting to this stage has been the result of a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Highland Council’s Skye and Lochalsh Access Officer, Donald Kennedy, said: “The draft has been produced to check that we have understood what people have said and that we have identified the most important paths in their area. The plan is available for public viewing around the area at various locations, mainly service points, libraries and some communities halls.”

Details of the Draft Core Paths Plan for Skye and Lochalsh can be found on the Council’s website. Anyone with representations (comments) or objections can also submit these by filling out one of the forms which accompanies the plan on the Council’s website at
                    /leisureandtourism/countryside/countrysideaccess/corepathplans.htm

or by contacting Donald Kennedy, Highland Council’s Access Officer, tel: (01471) 820392.

For further information please contact: Donald Kennedy, Highland Council’s Access Officer, tel: (01471) 820392.