A bid to create an Angus link on an “eco-camping trail” across Scotland will be decided on Tuesday.
Plans to build a 150-person capacity “glamping” site at Kirkbuddo are due to be conditionally approved at a council meeting in Forfar.
The directors of Greenhillock Glamping believe their campsite would contribute to a trend towards environmentally sustainable holidays, similar to sites in Perthshire and Fife.
Some members of the community have objected to the development, on the grounds of road capacity, the prospect of noisy neighbours at night, how composting toilets will be disposed of, and land rights over site access.
The scheme would see a maximum of eight “glamping” bell tents and 30 regular tents occupied at any time between April and September each year.
Alison Henderson, the chief executive officer of Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, has supported the application.
She comments: “There are intentions to connect with other similar sites across Scotland, such as Ruberslaw in Hawick, Comrie Croft in Perthshire, and Pillars of Hercules in Fife to market as an eco-camping trail, thus drawing visitors between the sites and encouraging like-minded environmentally sympathetic visitors to Angus…
“I can definitely see families and other guests enjoying the stunning site, with its wild meadow, environmental education activity, green energy sources and rural location.”
Council economic development service manager Alison Smith states: “There are currently no glamping sites in Angus so this proposed new development has the potential to offer visitors to Angus a unique experience.”
The council’s head of planning and place Vivien Smith has recommended the development standards committee approve the site with eight conditions, including the full operation of waste and toilet facilities before occupancy, and an increased number of hardstanding parking spaces beyond the 40 envisioned.
There have been 11 letters of objection and four of support, along with a representation from Inverarity Community Council that underlined local concerns over road capacity on the B9127 and nearby C-class roads.
Mrs M Williams wrote to the council that she is “horrified” at the prospect of having up to 150 additional neighbours for the “best six months of the year”.
