SUMMER watersports activities are detrimental to a beauty spot in Kirkcowan and “negatively impacting the environment”, it has been claimed.
The Three Lochs Holiday Park offers various activities including waterskiing, jetskiing, and paddle boarding on Loch Ronald.
The owners also installed an inflatable water park and storage unit in April last year – but had to seek retrospective planning permission for this with Dumfries and Galloway Council two months later.
And their planning application, which also seeks permission for a water sports area, hardstanding for use as fishing, and car parking, is due to be considered by the planning committee next week.
The case officer is recommending that permission is granted – on the conditions that the development is only available to holiday park guests and shall not be operated outwith May 1 and September 30 each year.
However, there have been ten objections to the plans from members of the public from all over the UK who holiday in this area, but are upset about the growth of water sports in this idyllic location.
One unnamed objector, from Carnoustie, wrote: “The facility, when even partially operational, negatively impacts upon the natural environment, the various local habitats, and the loch’s ecosystem.
“The tranquillity and wildness of the area generally is undermined by the ongoing physical and intrusive noise disturbances generated by
the park’s use.
“There are migratory geese in this area from April with excellent feeding areas along with the nesting of indigenous species and in the past ospreys in the Loch Ronald Woods.
“There is significant erosion caused by the wave action of motorised petrol/diesel fuelled jet skis and other craft which will impact upon the margins of the loch thus disturbing a plethora of aquatic life and plants.
“In short, the natural habitats that thrive around this location have been put at risk and in danger of becoming unsustainable, I would therefore ask that a detailed environmental assessment is undertaken by the appropriate statutory agency.”
Other objectors have also claimed that the scale of the facility is “inappropriate for Loch Ronald”, and that jetski users are using the entire loch “without consideration for other loch users, especially anglers.”
However, the council’s planning case officer looked at various factors including the contribution to the local economy, compatibility with the local area, and the impact on the community, and concluded that the proposed development is acceptable as it complies with local and national policy.
The council’s environment health officer did not have any objections, advising that the holiday park owners should ensure that the activities
do not adversely affect the quality of private water supplies, and should take steps to control any water contamination.
Councillors will make a decision on whether or not to approve the application at next Wednesday’s meeting.
- Pic from Three Lochs Facebook page
