Controversial plans for a campsite on a field beside Loch Goil have been given the go-ahead.
There were 18 objections to the site (above), which will accommodate 12 campervans and 15 tents, with nine comments in support.
It was approved last week by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority’s planning board.
A report said that objectors had cited issues including the size of the development and worsening congestion on the C6 single-track road, also saying there would be no benefit to the village.
And Lochgoil Community Council said of the traffic issues: “The problem is currently so extreme that public buses coordinate a staged and timed passing time at the only passing space big enough for a bus.
“Large vehicle passing is already a major issue only solved by close coordination.
“Major concerns are raised at the capacity of the road to cope, especially with the recent notable increase in traffic to the village.
“It is a matter of great concern that a traffic assessment has not been done to demonstrate the impact of this application.
“Quite simply, two inexperienced camper van drivers approaching each other would easily get into difficulty and easily block the road.
“There is often no space for walkers to get out of the way of current traffic, let alone large camper vans.”
But Argyll and Bute Council’s roads department had no objections to the plan and a report by national park officials said the development was ‘not considered to be a significant traffic generator’ while the principle was in line with planning policies
It added: “In view of the small scale of development proposed and the distance to the nearest dwellings being more than 30m, it is not considered that the development would give rise to unacceptable levels of noise or disturbance
“All representations have been taken into consideration and the concerns regarding traffic impact are acknowledged.
“However, given the small scale of the development, and the lack of objection from the road authority, material adverse impacts are considered unlikely.
“These concerns, and others, must be balanced with the wider aims and aspirations of the local community, specifically for more camping and leisure facilities as identified within the community action plan and the need for such developments to support the sustainability and viability of rural businesses and the rural economy both here and in the national park more widely.”
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