The car park at Melvich beach in North Sutherland is currently closed to all vehicles by a locked gate due to a lack of maintenance of the cattle grids and access track, which are the responsibility of The Highland Council.

The locking of the gate has caused significant disruption to, and unrest among residents as well as visitors. Many can no longer visit the beach due to having mobility problems, and families are travelling to alternative beaches as their young children are not able to walk the distance now required to get to and from the beach. There is no wheelchair or pushchair access between the main road and the beach car park.

A considerable number of residents have not been to the beach since the gate was installed despite previously enjoying the great benefits of the incredible Blue Space on our doorstep – the impact of which The Highland Council has been very vocal about promoting and to which they contributed significant funding during 2021 – aiding our local activity group to hold a “Blue Health” Beach Day for the local community concentrating specifically on our children and isolated young people.

In addition, Melvich beach is an excellent spot for watersports and many local and visiting surfers have been deterred by the locked gate. This includes some locally-based, budding young surfers. The walk to the beach is now much more difficult while carrying their boards and other equipment.

Significantly too, many members of the community also have concerns over the need for emergency access to the beach. Just last year there was an emergency that required the local Coastguard team to attend the beach. With the rip tide at Melvich beach this adds to the worry. The presence of a locked gate delays emergency responders being able to access the beach.

The track in general needs repairs and the cattle grids require emptying and replacement or maintenance to prevent livestock from crossing them and escaping onto the main road, which is part of the North Coast 500 route. The access was closed to vehicles by the tenant of the croft with a locked gate in mid-July to protect the livestock.

We are calling upon The Highland Council to undertake the repairs and maintenance work required to open the access track to Melvich Beach, off the A836 in order to ensure all residents and visitors can once again access the beach regardless of age or mobility.