Councillors approve changes to North Kessock EV hub plans
Getty ImagesThree units for takeaways have been approved for a new electric charging hub near the A9 on the Black Isle.
Developer West Coast Estates already had permission for one food outlet and 15 charging bays at North Kessock, but went back to Highland Council with amended proposals for three units and 12 bays.
The local authority's north planning committee agreed to the changes at a meeting on Wednesday.
A report to councillors said local residents had raised concerns about the potential for littering and "foul smells" at the site.
Black Isle Liberal Democrat councillor Morven-May MacCallum reiterated the community's concerns during the meeting.
She said the hub was to be located at the "gateway" to North Kessock and raised concerns about an increase to the gull population given the amount of food outlets.
But she was told by council officers that measures were in place through the conditions attached to the planning permission, including proper maintenance and clean up of the site.
Other committee members were more open to the changes.
Skye and Raasay SNP councilor Drew Millar said it would be good for people charging their cars to have the opportunity to sit down and eat something while they waited.
Dingwall and Seaforth Liberal Democrat councillor Angela MacLean said she thought it would be a "good use of the space", and that there was a lot of demand for these types of developments.
The proposals are for an area of land between the Charleston roundabout and the A9.