Brora and District Action Group have secured funding to install a chemical waste disposal facility for motorhomes in the centre of Brora.

Brora is a small village in the Far North Highlands of Scotland.

Brora and District Action Group have applied to Highland Council (reference number 21/01370/FUL) for planning permission to install a chemical waste disposal unit for the use of motorhomes.  The location for this is in the centre of Brora village.

The link to the planning application was put on Facebook and resulted in many comments from people who objected this location being used.  Brora and District Action Group held a Facebook live event to answer these concerns.  However, many of the questions raised by objectors were not addressed.

This petition is to ask Brora and District Action Group to withdraw the planning application for the building of this unit at this location in the centre of Brora for the following reasons:

Many objections from members of the community.

The location is completely unsuitable as it is in a residential area and adjacent to a building used for church and funeral services.

There is a sheltered housing complex adjacent to the location.

There are already two waste disposal units, at camping sites, in Brora.

The location is a designated HGV parking area used by drivers for their rest breaks.  Motorhomes and caravans are not allowed to park in the ‘lorry’ park.

Motorhomes and caravans would have to park directly outside homes to use the waste facilities.

Brora and District Action Group did not consult neighbouring householders prior to three key decisions being made:  applying for grant funding, employing an architect, and planning permission being applied for.

This location was not put before the community for consultation at any point prior to planning permission being applied for. 

Brora and District Action Group are unable to answer questions about frequency of inspections and cleaning of unit.

Brora and District Action Group are unable to assure neighbouring householders that motorhomes and caravans will not use this location for overnight stops.

Brora and District Action Group are also proposing a ‘Visitor Hub’ for Fascally park in their Vision Brora document which would include a chemical waste disposal unit for motorhomes.  This would then bring the number of chemical waste disposal units in Brora to four.

As a householder directly affected, I emailed Brora and District Action Group on 8 April and again on 21 April to ask them to reconsider and also to answer concerns about the impact on our quality of life (happy to share on request).  This was the response received on 6 May:

Good morning ••••• and •••••

We acknowledge all of your recent emails on the subject of the proposed Chemical waste disposal unit project in Gower Street Lorry Park.  As you know from the Facebook Live information, the BaDAG board are progressing this project at the request of and behalf of the community. Details have been shared about how the unit would operate, that there would of course be a cleaning and maintenance contract in place.
We have taken on board all concerns and suggestions raised prior to, during, and after the Facebook Live event, and are considering and investigating all options, both regarding location and type of unit. The project is now in the hands of the Planning authorities, who will make statutory consultation with all relevant authorities, and take on board all objections made., addressing all of the concerns raised. A report will be prepared by the Planners and submitted for decision to
the Planning Committee.
Please understand that this decision is quite out of the hands of the BaDAG board.

With regards

BaDAG board