To alleviate chronic traffic congestion in Glenfinnan by creating an integrated eco-mobility hub and active travel / nature conservancy network between Callop and Glenfinnan.
Estimated Cost
£6,000,000
The explosive increase in visitor numbers to the Glenfinnan Viaduct has severely overwhelmed the existing infrastructure, resulting in hazardous congestion on the A830 trunk road. The community’s existing 110-bay village car park has been a massive success, but the corridor has passed its structural saturation point.
We propose to develop a mobility hub at Callop, 2.5km east of Glenfinnan, to act as an off-site interceptor hub, that will re-direct tourist traffic onto alternative modes of transport before it impacts the village core. This facility will provide,
250 short-stay parking spaces for cars and camper vans (disabled visitors and tourist coaches will be directed to restructured parking arrangements in the village)
Regular (10 minute) electric shuttle bus service to/from Glenfinnan
Public toilets and low-impact food/tourist retail kiosks
EV charging points
long-stay parking (for hikers, bikers, kayakers)
20 bay Campervan Aire with services and black water disposal. This will directly address the chronic local issue of irresponsible chemical waste dumping in environmental verges.
By operating the car park, retail kiosks, and campervan aire through our trading subsidiary, Glenfinnan Enterprises Ltd, the asset will generate an independent, highly predictable income stream. 100% of these net commercial surpluses will be legally gifted back to the SCIO to fund non-commercial community priorities.
The main non-commercial activity funded this project will be the management of the intervening woodland for active travel options, biodiversity enhancement, native species regeneration, and nature conservancy.
Developing a low-impact active travel route through the woodland (walking, wheeling, cycling) will provide a safe, scenic off-road path connecting Callop to Glenfinnan (the Glenfinnan Greenway), that will shift pedestrians away from the high-speed trunk road. This will include the reinstatement of the boardwalk at the top of Loch Shiel as part of the route.
Active management of the woodland will directly improve local biodiversity indexes, and the woodland will also serve as a live outdoor classroom for accredited rural skills training. These would be practical, hands-on courses (drystone dyking, native forestry management, path maintenance, countryside tracking) run in direct collaboration with local land estates and regional colleges, creating a clear pathway to employment for local youths.
The project is important to the community for several reasons
Better traffic management by having visitors park at Callop and use the park-n-ride. The current situation is intolerable.
Local employment (car park, retail, and forest ranger).
Revenue to secure future funding of existing community facilities/services and provide additional funding to develop new community services such as a community handyman and affordable housing (mainly by refurbishment, rather than new build).
Improved recreational facilities (walking/cycling/nature) in the actively managed woodland area.
These proposals will be a core element of the new Local Place Plan that is currently in the consulting/drafting phase.
So far,
We have consulted extensively with the community to determine what is wanted.
We have secured a stage 1 grant from the Scottish Land Fund, and an invitation to apply for a stage 2 grant.
Used the stage 1 grant to pay for an independent team of consultants to conduct a feasibility study and author a report and business plan for the proposal.
We have submitted a pre-application enquiry to Highland Council and received their response which was cautiously supportive.
We have conducted a peat survey which indicates that deep peat, while present, is unlikely to be a concern (low grade, and can be “worked around”).
Ongoing dialogue with the current landowners (Forestry and Land Scotland) and jointly commissioned a land valuation with the intent to shortly apply for a community asset transfer.
Ongoing dialogue with the National Trust for Scotland to ensure that their project to redevelop the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre is symbiotic with our own project to develop a mobility hub, to ensure a unified visitor experience. To this end we are currently in discussion with the same architect as was selected for the Visitor Centre, to design the Callop facilities.
We have evidence of community support.
We have a feasibility study and business plan.
We are currently working towards design quotes, planning consents, funding sources and a firm development timescale.
Funding will be required for the car park infrastructure, toilets and other facilities, the active travel route incuding the boardwalk, and the park-n-ride bus service.
.png)
Most voted