 As
a result of his prior involvement with the Tornagrain New Settlement
project, for which he completed a wintering bird survey, (see wintering
bird surveys), and the preparation of an Access Management Plan
for the nearby Castle Stuart Golf Resort in 2008, BCMESL was invited
by representatives of the Moray Estates Development Company, (MEDCO),
to prepare a Access Management Plan for this development. As the
proposed development has a time-frame of some 30 – 35 years
and has yet to be awarded planning permission this plan concentrated
on establishing the principles within which improved public access
can be converted into good practice and appropriately implemented
by in consultation with the statutory bodies and interest groups.
As such, it describes the legal and technical framework, the situation
relating to access in relation to The Highland Council and the context
of access at Tornagrain, before addressing both the principles and
the practice of facilitating and managing access and recreation
at Tornagrain.
As part of his ongoing role as environmental consultant to the
Castle Stuart Golf Resort Project, Brian Minshull was asked to prepare
a detailed Access Management Plan for the development. This document
was required in order to satisfy a planning condition relating to
the development. It had the same basic structure as that described
previously in regard of that prepared for the Tornagrain New Settlement,
and concentrated on integrating the prime purpose of the development
with the aims of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, by combining
golf access routes within the development with public ones both
within and without the site. It also facilitated the long-term aspiration
of The Highland Council with regard to a coastal access route. The
plan was supported by a detailed Access Management Plan Diagram
which included details of the specifications of each route, access
furniture, including benches and bird-hides, signage, interpretation
and information points, etc..
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