AN SNP councillor has said he is "disappointed and disheartened" that controversial plans for a holiday village near Culloden Moor are to be recommended for approval, despite strong objections.

Ken Gowans hit at as members of the Highland Council planning committee are expected to back the move.

Inverness Paving wants to build a four-star, £1 million holiday village with 13 lodges, a 100-seat restaurant and cafe and shop at the former TreeTops riding centre in Faebuie, a mile-and-a-half from the battlefield.

The chosen location was apparently the staging ground for government troops preparing for combat against Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army.

The first attempted planning application in May 2018 was rejected by the Highland Council because it would not “preserve, enhance or develop” the wooded site.

At the time there were 87 objections to the development, including those from historical societies and organisations like the National Trust for Scotland.

But Highland Council bosses are now recommending the plans for approval.

READ MORE: NTS to fight plans to build holiday lodges on Culloden Moor

Elected members have been told by Highland Council that, with the exception of an objection from National Trust Scotland, who were consulted on the application, “all other outstanding concerns/technical issues arising from the consultation process have now been addressed by the applicant”.

Highland Council’s principal planner, John Kelly, added: “It is our intention to present the application to members at the South PAC meeting on November 3, 2020, with a recommendation to grant planning permission”.

Gowans said Historic Environment Scotland (HES) should have contested the move, adding: “Myself and the late Jim Crawford were both pivotal in getting the conservation area put in place, which this development is inside.

“The conservation area is not intended to stop development of say single houses or farm structures, but it is designed to protect the area against what we would consider to be larger scale developments of three houses or more – and this development is of course significantly larger.

“I am very disappointed and disheartened that on this occasion, with such a scale of development, that HES has chosen not to raise any objection as a statutory consultee.

“Given that it is within the conservation area, I would have thought that would have had a significant bearing on their opinion.

“After all, HES’ role is to protect the history and heritage of Scotland and Culloden Battlefield is such a significant site we would have thought they would have had a much more robust approach to this.”

He went on: “There have been concerns raised locally by the community council, the local community, as well as across Scotland and the world.

“This is not just a local issue. It is national and international, as is reflected by the 300 objections that have been lodged.

“One or two locals have said they were in favour because it will create some employment opportunity and an additional local amenity, and I can understand that, but in the wider context personally I feel any development in such a sensitive area should expect to come under very close scrutiny."