Highland Council
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... Whats on in Lairg
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LDCI submission to CaS Plan
169. Former Sutherland Transport and Trading Company on the corner of Main Street and the A836.
Lairg and District Community Initiatives (LDCI) view this as a focal point of the village and there has been prolonged discussion within the community as to possible future uses. We believe the site offers much more to the village than merely an area allocated for environmental improvement. Ideally, as a community development group we would like to see some form of development here which will prove of practical use to the village and surrounding area whilst addressing also the environmental improvement issue. We believe there is excellent potential for a tourist information and local craft type /hub development with a focus on linking the north, east, south and west. Possibly too some light recreational use such as picnic and children’s play area. Local feedback thus far has been positive and supportive.
We would anticipate a modest but aesthetically interesting development providing some car parking but not a car park per se. We have recently undertaken improvements to the adjacent Church Hill wooded path which introduces visitors to spectacular views to the west, and improvement work here is ongoing. We envisage any new development would link with and complement this facility thus helping consolidate the village centre as an area of high amenity, for the benefit of locals and visitors alike.
A836 public footpath
This footpath is well used by locals and visitors, not only as a section of the principle pedestrian route linking the village with the railway station but also as part of a circular path alongside the river with access across the lower dam to the Invershin road on the west side, returning to the village. In order to help with future project funding applications we would like to see this route identified formally as part of the Core Footpath Network.
Lairg and District Community Initiatives (LDCI) view this as a focal point of the village and there has been prolonged discussion within the community as to possible future uses. We believe the site offers much more to the village than merely an area allocated for environmental improvement. Ideally, as a community development group we would like to see some form of development here which will prove of practical use to the village and surrounding area whilst addressing also the environmental improvement issue. We believe there is excellent potential for a tourist information and local craft type /hub development with a focus on linking the north, east, south and west. Possibly too some light recreational use such as picnic and children’s play area. Local feedback thus far has been positive and supportive.
We would anticipate a modest but aesthetically interesting development providing some car parking but not a car park per se. We have recently undertaken improvements to the adjacent Church Hill wooded path which introduces visitors to spectacular views to the west, and improvement work here is ongoing. We envisage any new development would link with and complement this facility thus helping consolidate the village centre as an area of high amenity, for the benefit of locals and visitors alike.
A836 public footpath
This footpath is well used by locals and visitors, not only as a section of the principle pedestrian route linking the village with the railway station but also as part of a circular path alongside the river with access across the lower dam to the Invershin road on the west side, returning to the village. In order to help with future project funding applications we would like to see this route identified formally as part of the Core Footpath Network.