Conservation groups hit back at plans for “world-class” links

Plans for a “world-class” new links course in the Highlands are facing opposition from conservation groups.

Fresh proposals were lodged in March for the site near Embo in Sutherland after the Scottish Government controversially refused permission two years ago.

Locals are thought to be largely supportive of the development, with 69% voting in favour in a ballot carried out last year.

However, the scheme has proved controversial with conservationists opposed to the plans, in part thanks to the site’s status as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

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Clashes between those groups and the community marred the previous debate – and now objections have again been lodged against the new proposals.

In a letter to Highland Council, the charity Plantlife called for the land in question to be given the “very highest level of protection available”.

The organisation added it is opposed to the plans “given the national and international importance of the habitats and species”.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has also written to the local authority to oppose the plans, and called for the ecological assessments carried out in support of the previous application to be repeated.

When the latest plans were announced, the Communities for Coul (C4C) group insisted income from the course would be used to support the SSSI.

The group, which plans to carry out crowd-funding acitivites, has studied other courses built on similar sites, such as Askernish, Machrihanish and Skibo.

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“Our aim remains to achieve planning permission for one of the world’s most environmentally sensitive golf courses,” said Gordon Sutherland of C4C.

“It will use the income it generates to remediate the Coul Links SSSI and then sustain it for future generations.”

In February 2020 the Scottish Government refused permission for the course, despite local councillors voting 16-1 in favour and widespread community support.