View Full Version : What's going on at Groats?
http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N57FDMIH09500
I received this link yesterday and it seems very sparse on detail.
From my recent visits out to the area it would seem that a lot more needs to be done to the existing site before expanding further especially to the detriment of other businesses that are already established.
I believe that the council own the access to the harbour, no doubt some one can confirm that and I am interested as to how this narrow strip will be affected. (Will the lady who sells her paintings still be allowed, will Harbour Day still spill onto the grassed areas etc ?)
Are we headed towards another Land's End style operation that is for profit only as I had always understood that that was not be the case.
Why is this the first we have heard of it. Has it been in the local papers? As you say what are the implications for the shops at JOG, Flavours, etc. Will we still be able to drive down to the harbour without interference?
I think we need to know a lot more about this.
The proposal seeks to limit access to the harbour and to build on the existing car park in front of flavours. There's no parking provision on the map. Visitors to Groats tell us that at Land's End the car park is a long walk from the site and you have to pay £5 for the privilege.
So what about parking for those who want to use The Pentland Venture, the rib, operators of the kreel boats ?
Land's End is commercialism at it's worst and saying that erosion was the reason they imposed such high parking and access charges was a the very best a half truth.
This is a terrible plan obliterating the car park. I have objected using the planning application link I hope many others will
So what about parking for those who want to use The Pentland Venture, the rib, operators of the kreel boats ?
Land's End is commercialism at it's worst and saying that erosion was the reason they imposed such high parking and access charges was a the very best a half truth.
The rib is run by Natural Retreats now
Thank you Gerry for that information .
Folk will still need to park if they want to use the services and if parking charges are to be added to the cost of a wildlife trip, ferry outing , a stroll around the harbour or access to the coastal path then many might just have second thoughts.
That's been one of the attractions of Groats, the fact that it is free.
Just wanted to clarify that I have objected. Stated a number of reasons but they all revolve around public access. Also what will happen to the shops like Flavours. To many unanswered questions & lack of information to the public.
Coincidentally the planning application is in the John o'Groats journal today. Funny that when the original date was 5 May isn't it?
Methinks there is a lot of subterfuge going on here. Those that were lucky enough to receive a Neighbour Notification ,dated 30th May from the Highland Council, would have been delighted to know that " The application and plans can be viewed now during normal office hours at : Area Planning Office, Tigh Na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree., IV51 8GP ". Living in Groats and having lived in Skye, I can vouch that it is not the easiest of drives!
In the application signed on 5thMay,Item 14 in the application asks regarding the the number of houses and/or flats being applied for in total ,and the answer is "unknown".
Item 16 asks :Does the proposal involve a class of development listed in Schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 ?
Answer Box crossed "dont know"
If yes, your proposal will additionally advertised in a newspaper circulating in your area.
I wonder why it took almost five weeks to find the answer and advertise it locally??!!
Zone 6 in Natural retreats plan for the future is for a small area to be available for community events etc It does not envisage having any parking.Any overflow parking required for large events,will be by negotiation with neighbourhood landowners.
How can this application ever seriously be considered ? ??
Please object on the Highland Council Planning website, if we say nothing this will go ahead
Methinks there is a lot of subterfuge going on here. Those that were lucky enough to receive a Neighbour Notification ,dated 30th May from the Highland Council, would have been delighted to know that " The application and plans can be viewed now during normal office hours at : Area Planning Office, Tigh Na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree., IV51 8GP ". Living in Groats and having lived in Skye, I can vouch that it is not the easiest of drives!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNmIQX_ImgM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNmIQX_ImgM
orkneycadian
15-Jun-14, 17:58
That's been one of the attractions of Groats, the fact that it is free.
I suspect that must be about the only one! ;)
Better Out Than In
16-Jun-14, 20:01
I did try and look at this on Highland council website but only found one NW of Seaview hotel as an adobe file. If I wanted to object where is it and how do I object?
Hi there - Click on the link on Lizz's post. Go to Comments tab and click. On this page click make a comment.
The proposal seeks to limit access to the harbour and to build on the existing car park in front of flavours. There's no parking provision on the map. Visitors to Groats tell us that at Land's End the car park is a long walk from the site and you have to pay £5 for the privilege.According to my reading of the plans they are proposing to increase the number of parking spaces from 100 to 150.
You're right Crayola, they do say that. Try finding them on the map though!
There's now a petition - should anyone wish to contribute- it's available at most places in Groats.
You're right Crayola, they do say that. Try finding them on the map though!i can't remember the current layout. That makes it difficult to spot the proposed changes.
windowman
19-Jun-14, 10:01
I just want to say a few words off what i heard thats going on .to there last little plans as they making the cafe bigger to a 70 seat resturant and trying to get rid of the round about and they getting money from hie or scottish gov to turn jog in to a mini fishing port like crail.The harbour will be taking over aswell if they get there way . the council up here is throwing everything at them and and they doing nothing to stop it ie the council.The more the people go against it the better it will be .
So if this isn't it.... What do people WANT for John O Groats?
There's now a petition - should anyone wish to contribute- it's available at most places in Groats.
where is it?
So if this isn't it.... What do people WANT for John O Groats?
I don't mind it being developed but it needs to be done with input from the community. The area down to the harbour must have the same access as it has now. The car park is in the ideal spot as it is easy for people to access the shops & the harbour. The current traders need to be protected as they have helped keep the place going without much help from anyone.
The application has been updated, please see here-
http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N57FDMIH09500
There are now numerous objections posted, including a comprehensive response from Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council. Anyone can comment, just click the comment tab.
Also, if you haven't already seen it, there's an article on the front page of yesterday's Caithness Courier.
Looks like this planning application has been very deviously undertaken with the intent to deceive and cover up the true outcome of the end result. The letter from the Dunnet and Canisbay CC is a real eye opener and shows just how low Natural Retreats will stoop to get what they want.
I recently asked HC about some land useage and was told by them that it contains a site of historical importance and under no circumstances would they allow me to do my thing on it yet a site of historical importance to the area has been removed and nothing done about it?
I also note that the access road was unadopted so what gives HC the right to sell it to anyone? if they wouldn't pay to maintain it then why have they claimed it to sell?
This whole NR plan sticks to high heaven and is likely to cause a lot of resentment in the village. It does not bode well for NR but i wonder if they care at all and will just go ahead anyway with their money-printing plans!
Just typical of Highland Council, they seem to think that as there is a small population in Caithness they can ignore us and allow money to speak regardless.
If they need more buildings, why can't they start using the ones at the back of Flavours? They've never been fully used- before they begin to build more? Or why not move EWM into that space and bulldoze that building? That would allow for ample parking.
Could someone summarise what they want to build and what they want to use the new buildings for? Is it 50 houses or 50 holiday flats or shops or industry? I looked at the plans but all I saw were little squares and rectangles. And what is EWM?
Hi Crayola, you need to click tab for "design guide", then wait as it's a big document. EWM is Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
I am appalled by this application and the way it has been handled. As Geoff says, the file with most info. is a huge document - over 21MB according to my computer - so no consideration for local broadband speeds. It's quite unnecessary for it to be so large as it contains masses of pics. of their other developments which are irrelevant. The only image which is important is the plan which is such poor resolution it's useless, although available separately in eplanning. Looks like a typical big company with no respect for local history, people, community council or anything else. The whole application, and the way it has been handled by the Council, is a disgrace.
Have they put their plans in for Lybster Harbour yet?
Could someone summarise what they want to build and what they want to use the new buildings for?
That's easy - they want to do the same at Groats as what was done at Land's End - seal off the whole area and turn it over to private ownership of one business. The Council have already given them the car park at Groats and have indicated they'd give them the harbour too ?!?
I think it could be a good thing for John O Groats and for the county as a whole.Fair play to the company for thinking about investing in the area. Nows the time for the locals to talk about it with the company. I suspect the company would rather have the locals on their side.I went to Lands End with my daughter when she was younger and it was a good day out. It was very busy and there was plenty to do. I know its not all about money but John O Groats is a gold mine if it's presented as a tourist attraction. Surely it should be considered?
i remember when i was young wee used to go to Culloden Battlefield and it was just a field at that time wee used to just run about, went last year and said omg what the hell, 100 of tourists from all over the world bus loads of them, you think to your self what a sell out, total false, i think thats what scares allot of people seeing it how it used to be then now, i think a few people are a bit like that how ever this day and age i think that what folk want, not my cup of tea to me its just a sell out and it a way for folk to line there pockets, not so bad if its going for upkeep and the community though
There are now 44 objections, last day friday.
http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=N57FDMIH09500
There are now 51 objections, wonder if this is a record??
David from Stockport
27-Jun-14, 21:04
Its long been my ambition to have a little shop in the Caithness area with JOG being my preffered location , as such I looked at one of the shops behind Flavours when it was for sale/rent a couple of years back but that block is completly run down and im told the other units on there are just used to store Council crap . Whole block needs to be bulldozed and rebuilt as something else . If I won the Lotto I d do it myself .
orkneycadian
27-Jun-14, 22:22
Rumour has it, they are building a border control post. This will be one of the key border crossings between Scotland and the Peoples Republic of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. I think they are building something similar at Ullapool.
Rumour has it, they are building a border control post. This will be one of the key border crossings between Scotland and the Peoples Republic of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. I think they are building something similar at Ullapool.
I don't blame them at all for building a border post, got to have some way of keeping all you isles riff-raff out of Scotland...... [smirk]
David from Stockport
29-Jun-14, 18:16
If Alex Salmond gets his way I think the border posts will just be to keep the English out and he will be encouraging the Worlds masses to emigrate to Scotland .
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