Anger in the glen mounts over tycoon's Highland viewpoint plans

More details over the proposed visitor centre at a lay-by on the A87 at Glengarry have been made public as the surrounding community is given a chance to have its say over the proposals, which are being developed by businessman Sanjay Narang, who has a string of hotels and restaurants across the Highlands.

Mr Narang wants to develop the visitor centre with car park, shop and cafe at the site, a popular vista overlooking Loch Garry, with the angle of the view allowing the freshwater below to resemble the shape of Scotland.

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Dr Michael Foxley, former leader of Highland Council, was asked to chair a recent public meeting over the proposals, which attracted around 125 people to a hall in Invergarry on a “nasty” Monday night.

He said: “It is a hugely controversial proposal. I have never seen so many people in the hall since I attended dances there years ago.

“There were two brave people who spoke in support of the plan and everybody else had concerns or were bitterly opposed to it.”

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Dr Foxley said the main concerns were around the scale of the development and “practical issues” such as road access, flooding and foul drainage running down the hill on to other properties.

He added: “The big issue is with the lay-by, which is seven miles to the west of Invergarry, and the scale of the development proposed.

“It is the same size as that at Urquhart Castle and Eilean Donan. Both of these castles have been visitor attractions since Georgian times and the sites have grown since then. Certainly, in my lifetime the car parks at both have significantly increased.

“This development will be plopped into the middle of nowhere. It is basically a lay-by with a view point, and there are real concerns over what is being proposed here and the precedent that it may set.”

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The proposed development adds to Mr Narang’s £75m investment in hospitality in the Highlands, with his businesses employing more than 170 people.

The proposed development is predicted to create 30 full-time and 20 part-time locally based jobs.

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Black Sheep Management Services currently operates a number of hotels in the Highlands - The Whispering Pine Lodge at Spean Bridge, The Cluanie Inn at Glenmoriston and Rokeby Manor at Invergarry - and two pizzerias in Inverness and Fort William.

The company said the Glengarry development would allow visitors to safely visit the viewpoint and make use of the on-site facilities.

Managed toilets and litter collection, would address concerns raised over the years about waste being dumped at the lay-by, a spokesman said.

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Foul drainage will be collected and treated by a bespoke wastewater treatment system, in compliance with Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) regulations, he added.

The development will “greatly enhance road safety” with the existing grass verge, where vehicles typically stop, to be closed off under the plans to insure motorists used the designated car park included in the plan.

The local community will be able to park for free at the Viewpoint, while visitors will pay, with the first 15 minutes free.

As part of the development, trees allowed to grow under previous ownership of the site would be cut back , allowing visitors to “access this fabulous vista again”.

The local community will be given an opportunity to learn more about the plans, ask questions and give feedback at an event at Glengarry Community Hall on Thursday between 1pm and 6pm.

A spokesman for Black Sheep Management Services said: “The development of Glengarry Viewpoint will deliver meaningful investment in rural infrastructure, with minimal environmental impact and enhance the visitor experience, boosting local spend.

“We very much welcome the opportunity to engage with the local community on this, address their concerns and provide feedback.”