Councillors to visit site of planned new car parking near Ben Nevis

Highland councillors are to visit the proposed site of hundreds of new car parking spaces near Ben Nevis.

Under the proposals, a total of 309 spaces would be made available at the North Face car park south-east of Torlundy.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), which owns the site, hopes that increasing the capacity will help reduce dangerous parking on a nearby single-track road.

Members of Highland Council's south planning applications committee are to visit the site on Monday before deciding whether or not to grant permission at a meeting on Wednesday. Officials have recommended approval.

FLS has proposed increasing the existing car park from 38 to 41 spaces and create two new areas - one for up to 57 vehicles and the other for 211.

The application was previously considered at a planning meeting in June.

But councillors agreed not to proceed until a site visit after concerns were raised about toilet provision and overnight parking.

There are five objections to the plans, including one from Fort William, Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council. It said there had been a lack of consultation with local residents.

There are also concerns about car park users using the nearby forest as a toilet.

The car park was originally built for mountaineers, however, it has seen an increase in use from walkers, cyclists and horse riders accessing trails in the forest.

About 40,000 people visit the North Face car park every year.

One area of the new parking would be behind a gate, only to be opened at peak times.

Bike stands are also planned and an area would be earmarked for a future toilet block.

FLS said the car parks would be enhanced by the planting of native trees, including Scots pine and silver birch.