Council / Fetlar camping pods given planning go-ahead by councillors
PLANS for four new camping lodges in Fetlar have been approved despite concerns in the island community.
However elected members on Shetland Islands Council’s planning committee imposed an extra condition to add an additional parking space to the proposal.
The application for four lodges on vacant land at Houbie was approved by the planning committee at a meeting on Wednesday morning.
Fetlar Community Council had supported the idea in principle but objected to the proposed location, while some local residents voiced their concern too.
However, planners recommended approval with conditions – with councillors on the committee siding with that view.
Initial plans for the camping lodges were withdrawn after it emerged that the proposed development’s original site near to the Fetlar shop was deemed to be of high risk archaeologically.
A fresh application for the development, proposed by the owners of the local shop, guesthouse and cafe, was then submitted – with the camping lodges located in a slightly different area.
The application was brought to the planning committee for decision due to the standing objection from Fetlar Community Council.
It had raised concern over the loss of land, archaeological constraints, land ownership and location.
However, the planning service felt that the location was acceptable and the loss of farm land would be “very small”.
Shetland’s regional archaeologist was satisfied with the plans, while land ownership had been clarified as well.
Planning officer Ritchie Gillies also told Wednesday’s meeting that the landscape and visual impact of the lodges would be “minimal”.
North Isles councillor Robert Thomson, who said he knew the area well having worked in Fetlar for a number of years, raised the proposed parking provision in discussion.
The meeting heard that four spaces plus another overspill one had been identified, with the council’s roads service satisfied with the plans.
But Thomson said the area was restricted for parking and suggested that adding a requirement for a sixth space would help to keep parking for people using the lodges self-contained.
His amendment to add the condition was backed by the committee.
Vice-chair Davie Sandison, who was presiding over Wednesday’s meeting, said he felt the “application is very much aligned to policy as it stands at the moment”.
Shetland Central member Catherine Hughson added that local communities in other areas of Shetland have benefited from camping pod developments.
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