Businesses on the south side of Loch Ness are furious with plans to close their main access road during a time of year that is “life or death” for the tourist trade.
Highland Council plans to twin track the B862 at Loch Tarff and north of Whitebridge, to improve access for the construction of Corriegarth Windfarm, which would see the road close between 7am and 7pm for six weeks from April 21.
A public meeting will take place at Stratherrick Hall in Foyers on Thursday, April 3 at 7:45pm, where council staff, developers, contractors RJ McLeod and Forestry Commission Scotland will be in attendance.
Local business owners are keen to use this meeting to negotiate a solution which might instead involve work taking place at night or making use of traffic lights during the day.
Simon Hargreaves, who owns Foyers Stores and Waterfall Cafe with his wife Jan, says that the impact of the road closure could be “catastrophic” for their business. He added: “Over the past three years the eight weeks from 21st April have provided around 20% of our total income.
“I am not just angry about it, I am frightened to be quite honest.”
Lyn and Donald Forbes, owners of Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravaning Club, agree that a solution must be found.
Mrs Forbes said that roughly 50% of caravans and motor homes last year came from the Fort Augustus side of the loch. She added: “No-one will come if the closure goes ahead. It will have a massive impact on our business.
“It is about the need to find a mutually-acceptable solution which is not going to affect the economy. There has got to be an alternative, even if it is 8pm until 8am overnight.”
Martin Donnelly of Craigdarroch Inn, the only pub in Foyers village, said it may also cause problems with beer lorries travelling from the west who will not want to make the extra 100-mile round trip via Inverness to get to Foyers.
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “We would encourage members of the public and local businesses to attend the public meeting and raise any suggestions they have.”
The planned works are more than 1,200 yards alongside Loch Tarff, and about 800yards from Chapel Bridge to Compass starting just south of the B862/B852 junction north of Whitebridge.