A LEADING charity has urged the developers of Taymouth Castle estate to “go back to the drawing board” after published access plans for the site sparked anger.
Ramblers Scotland joined locals in Kenmore and around Loch Tay, where US firm Discovery Land Company (DLC) are building an exclusive compound aimed at the mega-rich, in expressing concerns that the access plans break with previous promises.
The site access plan was published on Perth and Kinross Council’s planning portal as part of an application for the “erection of five estate properties, formation of vehicular access, and associated works” on the estate.
The plan shows the ownership boundaries, core paths, and “curtilage”, where people will not be allowed to access. The castle itself as well as the majority of the riverfront to its east are all set to be curtailed, as well as a field containing standing stones.
Local campaigners with the Protect Loch Tay group say that the access plan “eliminates over a third of the Taymouth Estate core paths”, claiming that the “entire north riverbank path has been removed on their access proposal”.
Previously, DLC has committed to allowing people the right to roam through the estate and denied that they are looking to build a gated community, as is their business model elsewhere across the globe.
In a question-and-answer post on the Kenmore Community Council website, DLC representatives were asked: “Will there be path access in the future?”
They responded: “Yes. Taymouth is fully committed to maintaining a core path and right to roam through the property now and in the future.”
In August 2023, in response to a letter from now-First Minister John Swinney and SNP depute Westminster leader Pete Wishart, Taymouth Castle managing director David O’Donoghue made a similar commitment.
“Discovery Land Company will fully comply with all legislative requirements, particularly with regard to public access,” O’Donoghue wrote, adding: “Our intent is to follow the spirit of the law.”
In response to DLC’s published access plan, Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy called for a rethink.
He told The National: “The developers have previously stated publicly that they recognise the spirit – as well as the letter – of Scotland’s world-class access rights.
“However, sadly their new access plan is a missed opportunity to put those principles into action. They should go back to the drawing board.”
He added: “We encourage all developers to improve paths, protect public access and create welcoming places for people walking through.
“The best developments do this, while at the same time being attractive places to work and live.”
A spokesperson from Protect Loch Tay said: “We are very surprised to see DLC’s access strategy plan eliminates over a third of the Taymouth Estate core paths. This is particularly surprising as DLC previously stated that the core paths would remain in place.
“Far from wanting to be part of the community, it seems that at every opportunity, the resort owners are trying to exclude the general public in their quest to create a private enclave for their clientele. They are trying to privatise this large stretch of the River Tay to which everyone, locals and visitors alike, previously had free access.”
The spokesperson said it was “disappointing that small groups such as Protect Loch Tay” were being forced to scrutinise DLC so closely, adding: “Where are the politicians who claim to be protecting Scotland and its people’s freedoms?”
DLC did not respond to The National’s request for comment.
