IF YOU have an opinion about the proposals to build on Capel Inch - local councillor Peter Corbett wants to hear from you.

Once again Merkinch people are being faced with having a planning decision that is against their wishes being foisted on them. Some years ago the Argyle Bar was turned into flats after a similar vote, and a number of other housing decisions in the area since have favoured the developers rather than the wishes of local people.
The application by Cairn Housing Association to build a £1 million Women’s Refuge consisting of nine family-sized flats on the only play area in that part of Merkinch has caused controversy since it first became public.

Objections to the proposal have been voiced by many, including Merkinch Community Council, and a petition with 350 signatures was lodged.
From the start all concerned have made clear that their objections are solely related to development on the site, not against the Women’s Refuge which is highly praised for the sterling work it does for abused women.
After heated debate at the Area planning meeting last month, the vote was tied and it took the casting vote of chairman Clive Goodman to give the plan the go-ahead.

Councillor Corbett asked that the matter go before the full Highland Council Planning Committee this month. However, the item has been put back to the January meeting.
Meanwhile the Area General Purposes committee decided that it was not prepared to hand over the land - understood to belong to the Common Good Fund - to housing development. But Councillor Corbett believes that this will also be subject to a notice of amendment and raised again before the full GP committee.
He told News & Views, “If anyone wants to make their view known over this development, they should put it in writing to me. It will help when the matter comes up again.”

Anyone wishing to write to Councillor Corbett on this matter can drop their letter in to Merkinch Enterprise at 14 Grant Street, marked Capel Inch.