Halt the destruction of Argyll's most precious asset

Residents of Argyll know that we are very lucky to live in an area of great visual amenity and ecological importance. This is also our main economic asset, as it is the reason people visit our area and tourism is our most important industry.

Argyll & Bute Council has obliged itself to recognise this and in terms of its own planning policy ENV 10 states that development in, or adjacent to, a designated "Area of Panoramic Quality" will be resisted where "its scale, location or design will have a significant adverse impact on the character of the landscape unless it is demonstrated that any significant adverse effects on the quality for which the area has been designated are clearly outweighed by social and economic benefits of National or regional importance;"

Despite this the Council has granted permission for speculative housing development in parts of these designated areas, most recently on the Kames Peninsula, where two large houses have been allowed on a conspicuous and ecologically-sensitive site between a major tourist route and the sea, in breach of the above policy.

Once the quality of the landscape is destroyed by development it is lost forever. For the sake of the environment and present and future generations we must call on Argyll & Bute Council to halt this destruction.