Glencoe planning issue

[rodderss]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-60082438

For anybody interested

[iain_atkinson_1986]

I don't see the problem with this tbh. It's basically what most modern architecture in the Highlands looks like (wood panelling everywhere) and the glen is already trashed.

Personally I'd like to see it demolished and replaced with nothing as it's on quite a tight corner and having cars pulling in and out of there won't be the best for road safety.

[al78]

This looks like an example of emotion over logic again.

If the building is still in a usable condition (i.e. not in a dangerous state of decay) then logically it should be used. Demolishing it and building something with the same utility is wasteful of money and resources.

[dav2930]

Hmm...the proposed design looks to me like an architect's ego trip. I agree with Stuart Younie that it doesn't blend in with the surroundings and is insensitively intrusive. And all for the sake of replacing one wealthy person's holiday home with another wealthy person's holiday home.

[yellowbelly]

Looks gopping. I'd rather see just clouds than Kevin McCloud.

[WalkWithWallace]

The cottage will regrettably be forever tarnished with association to that monster, so it's probably right to demolish it. That said the artist's impression of the replacement isn't in keeping with the Glen, but we all said that with the new Kingie too.

[Caberfeidh]

The winter (and summer) gales are going to howl and wail around those sharp angles. Best build something low and rounded like the indiginous style from centuries past. But I don't think it's anyone elses' business; I don't like this idea of "Mountaineers" having a say in local planning decisions, we only visit, it's rude to visit and start trying to influence stuff like this.

[Scraggygoat]

I see Mountaineering Scotland are prepared to be vociferous over a single dwelling planning application, contrast that to their timidity and silence over travel restrictions during covid.

One severely affected our access and ability to partake in mountain activities, the other doesn’t.

Given that recent performance and dichotomy, we really would be better off without them…..is this the priority and standard of representation that serves our interests…..I think not.

[Sunset tripper]

I see Mountaineering Scotland are prepared to be vociferous over a single dwelling planning application, contrast that to their timidity and silence over travel restrictions during covid.

One severely affected our access and ability to partake in mountain activities, the other doesn’t.

Given that recent performance and dichotomy, we really would be better off without them…..is this the priority and standard of representation that serves our interests…..I think not.

Mountaineering Scotland benefits appear to be the discount for shops, courses and the free magazine.
They seem politically naive though, and I doubt if they will influence the decision. They protested against the Kings House, the Glen Etive hydro schemes and the £9 parking charge at Arrochar, amongst other things, and were widely ignored.

Their advice during the covid was bizarre and unnecessarily negative. I didn't have an issue with them giving advice to their members but they appeared to be giving their interpretation on the advice to everyone and seemed to be trying to give the impression that they were an authority on the matter.

Regarding the Jimmy Saville hoose - it always looked a bit out of place to me and a bit of an eyesore.

If they have to build something there it would be a nice place for a wee log cabin style bar I reckon, breaking up the journey from the Clachaig to the Kings House.

[rockhopper]

Looking at this tangentially, a grey coloured building on the corner may merge better into the background than a white building in a similar way to how the Ballachulish Bridge (to me anyway, perhaps not others) merges into its Loch Leven / Loch Linnhe background; similarly for the Kylesku Bridge and its environs. At the end of the day, the person who pays the piper calls the tune.

[Scraggygoat]

At the risk of further derailment of this thread, MountaineeringScot function now appears to be two fold; 1) Represent the Scottish Government to hill goers (rather than vice versa) and 2) act as the business development arm for commercial course providers, instructors and award schemes.

Some cynics would add that in conjunction with the mountain safety group they now are trying to in certain circumstances discourage people going on the hill; independent thought not allowed.

[Alex W]

It seems a pity that this house is known as the Saville House. I believe before Saville it was Hamish McInnes's house. So maybe don't destroy the house due to its association with Saville, but erase that period from history and think of it as McInnes's house. In any case, it wasn't the house's fault!

If the house is now beyond repair, then it needs rebuilt in keeping with the area. I don't like the proposal put forward, but then I'm not fond of modern architecture - that's just me. If the house is intact, then just let someone buy it and leave Saville in the past.

[Caberfeidh]

It seems a pity that this house is known as the Saville House. I believe before Saville it was Hamish McInnes's house. So maybe don't destroy the house due to its association with Saville, but erase that period from history and think of it as McInnes's house. In any case, it wasn't the house's fault! If the house is now beyond repair, then it needs rebuilt in keeping with the area. I don't like the proposal put forward, but then I'm not fond of modern architecture - that's just me. If the house is intact, then just let someone buy it and leave Saville in the past.

Well said. Unfortunately that quote from Shakespeare; "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft enterr'd with their bones" is all too real here. Let's celebrate MacInnes and forget the evil bugger.

[simon-b]

It seems a pity that this house is known as the Saville House. I believe before Saville it was Hamish McInnes's house. So maybe don't destroy the house due to its association with Saville, but erase that period from history and think of it as McInnes's house. In any case, it wasn't the house's fault! If the house is now beyond repair, then it needs rebuilt in keeping with the area. I don't like the proposal put forward, but then I'm not fond of modern architecture - that's just me. If the house is intact, then just let someone buy it and leave Saville in the past.

Well said. Unfortunately that quote from Shakespeare; "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft enterr'd with their bones" is all too real here. Let's celebrate MacInnes and forget the evil bugger.

True, Alex and Caberfeidh. If it were appropriate to demolish the building because of Jimmy Saville, then it could be said his former dwellings in Leeds and Scarborough should also be demolished. Not to mention any property at some time occupied by Wayne Couzens, the Yorkshire ripper, Brady and Hindley etc. Clearly not practical. It might seem more feasible with the Glen Coe House as it's detached and isolated, but the 'ghost of past evil' is just as much there in those other properties.

[Alex W]

It seems a pity that this house is known as the Saville House. I believe before Saville it was Hamish McInnes's house. So maybe don't destroy the house due to its association with Saville, but erase that period from history and think of it as McInnes's house. In any case, it wasn't the house's fault! If the house is now beyond repair, then it needs rebuilt in keeping with the area. I don't like the proposal put forward, but then I'm not fond of modern architecture - that's just me. If the house is intact, then just let someone buy it and leave Saville in the past.

Well said. Unfortunately that quote from Shakespeare; "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft enterr'd with their bones" is all too real here. Let's celebrate MacInnes and forget the evil bugger.

True, Alex and Caberfeidh. If it were appropriate to demolish the building because of Jimmy Saville, then it could be said his former dwellings in Leeds and Scarborough should also be demolished. Not to mention any property at some time occupied by Wayne Couzens, the Yorkshire ripper, Brady and Hindley etc. Clearly not practical. It might seem more feasible with the Glen Coe House as it's detached and isolated, but the 'ghost of past evil' is just as much there in those other properties.

I don't believe any of Savile's monstrous deeds took place in the house - maybe we don't know. There is a case to demolish a location associated with evil deeds if the location is likely to become a shrine - like Rudolf Hess's prison or Hitler's bunker - that isn't the case with this house. There is a case to preserve a location as a reminder and a symbol of why something should never be allowed to happen again - like Auschwitz - that's not the case here either.

So leave the house be. Demolish if uninhabitable. Let someone buy it and live in it if it's in reasonable repair.