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This planning application has been lodged for the purpose of re-opening an existing track on the hillside behind and belonging to the dwelling Sunridge, Glen Rushen Road, Glen Maye. Sunridge has, as stated in the attached deeds ref DD1, approximately 11 acres of the surrounding hillside attached to and owned by the property. There is a track shown on the DoLGE plans (ref LP1 and SP1), which ends abruptly at area 331181 on the plans, but in reality carries on to a switchback in that area then carries on up the hillside through area 331098 into area 331096 . This can be seen on the section of overhead photograph ref OP1 taken in 2001. A closer view of the switchback is shown in photograph ref PH1 Through local research it has been discovered that the land surrounding Sunridge, including areas $331096,331098$ and 331100 were used for growing potatoes to aid the war effort during World War 2 and this is when the track was created. It is therefore understandable that at that time, priority would not be placed upon updating the plans to reflect the new track then, which is why it is not shown on the plans now.
The track will not have a made surface, grass will be used as a top covering as only pedestrian and light vehicles up to the size of a quad bike will use it for access.
As stated, there are approximately 11 acres attached to the property. These 11 acres are split into a number of different numbered areas as detailed on the DoLGE plans. It is currently not possible to access areas $331096,331098$ or 331100 due to the steepness of the lower land and the prolific growth of ferns, gorse and particularly brambles. Areas $331096,331098$ and 331100 are much more suitable for agricultural use as they are not on a steep gradient and can therefore be used for growing crops i.e potatoes and the brambles can be cleared to enable the land to be used as grazing for livestock.
As well as pedestrian access to areas $331096,331098$ and 331100 , the re-opening of this track will allow small agricultural vehicles, such as a quad bike to access the areas which will enable agricultural tools to be transported to where they are required. Therefore items such as a rotavator can be used to turn what is currently neglected scrubland back into productive agricultural land. Without the re-opening of this track that would not be possible.
The surface vegetation has been removed and the track levelled to the extent that it is shown on the current DoLGE plans. No further activities have been carried out pending the result of this application. The original profile of the track (shown without vegetation) is represented below:
This is a general representation but shows that to the left side of the original track there is a step up of 1 to 2 metres along the entire length of the track. It also shows that the bottom of this step has been filled with soil naturally falling from the side of the step as would be expected with a track which has been neglected for so long.
The loose material at the bottom of the step has been moved across the width of the track and has been used to level the track across its width as shown by the red line. {{image:311668}}
Once this has been done the resultant profile of the track is returned to how it was originally built.
Should this application be successful, the track will be re-opened in the same way as the works carried out so far, the top vegetation will be removed, the track levelled using the lose material from the bottom of the step and the course followed as detailed on ref SP1 and LP1. The track will be unmade and grass will be used as the top surface.
As can be seen from ref PH2 and PH3, there is currently very little visual impact from any aspect, either from the South side of the valley or from below the track on Glen Rushen Road. It is envisioned that once the track is fully re-opened the visual impact will still be minimal and that, due to the natural surface and one season of plant growth around the route, the track will not be noticeable at all. There will therefore be no visual impact.
There are no trees in the line of the track nor are there any overhanging the route. As only the surface of vegetation is removed, no roots will be affected. There will be no effect to the local wildlife as no chemicals i.e. weed killer are being used and a surface of grass and low vegetation will result. No watercourses either natural or man-made will be affected.
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