Sallachy met mast application withdrawn

A planning application for an 80-metre meteorological mast on a Sutherland hill has been withdrawn.

Mountaineering Scotland had objected to the application from Edinburgh-based WKN Sallachy Ltd for permission for the mast on Cnoc a’ Bhaid Bhain Hill, in the hills north-west of Sallachy, near Lairg.

The application had followed previously granted temporary planning permission for a mast on the same site, which was erected to collect data for the proposed Sallachy wind farm – rejected by Scottish Ministers two years ago.

When objecting to the new proposal, David Gibson, CEO of Mountaineering Scotland, said: “We might speculate that the new planning application may simply be to enable the applicant to avoid the costs of removal of the mast, which will remain a threat to the natural heritage as identified by SNH in respect of the original application.”

In its objection, Mountaineering Scotland asked that Highland Council refuse the application and invoke the original condition that “the application site shall be cleared of all development approved under the terms of this permission ... and reinstated in accordance with a scheme approved in writing by the planning authority.”