Objectors to a new home overlooking Calgary Bay on Mull could soon have a much larger reason to be fearful after plans were unveiled to build a tunnel or bridge to the island, writes Herald columnist Alan Simpson

Calgary Bay, in the north end of Mull, is one of the most beautiful places in the whole of Scotland with an atmosphere all of it’s own which always seems different every time you visit.

With it’s pristine white sandy beach surrounded by cliffs, it looks out over endless seas and attracts thousands of visitors every year, particularly from Canada, keen to see the original Calgary.

The city in Alberta was named after Fort Calgary, which was named by James Macleod after the house which overlooks the bay and remains there to this day.

But the idyllic peace and quiet have recently been shattered in a row over a planned house on a hilltop overlooking the bay.

Plans for a four bedroom house on the pier side of Calgary Bay drew 26 objections in just one weekend after they were spotted and shared by the Friends of Calgary Bay group.

One objection was even written in the form of a poem in homage to Canadian singer Anne Murray’s ’Please Don’t Sell Nova Scotia’.

Quite why someone felt the need to do this is beyond me, but I suppose anger can make some people very creative.

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The plans are for three interconnected buildings, which are currently derelict farm steadings, designed with a sheltered central courtyard inspired by the nearby ruins of 18th century township Inivea, which lies in the hills above.

It also has parking for three cars, accessible by a new private driveway which begins a short distance from and existing pier and the ruins of an old boat shed.

The boat shed is set to be renovated for private and community use as part of the project.

The location is currently untouched by housing, and the track is part of the Calgary Dunes site of special scientific interest.

But, where the plans become controversial is the current walking path to the pier along the bay would be closed and turned into a driveway wide enough for machinery to access, with the path relocated closer to the shore.

It is this aspect which has been most criticised as “restricting public access” to the historical sites along that side of the bay

The home would be visible across the bay and on the beach, and all other buildings currently in the area lie on the other side of the beach.

But there are also plans for a waste disposal plant which is larger than the minimum requirement “to allow for potential future development” and discharges treated water into a burn.

Objectors point to multiple issues with the “unacceptable” plans, concentrating on the untouched landscape and environmental impact on the area.

One said: “A truly outrageous planning application - and worrying that there seems to be additional capacity for further expansion!

“The damage that would be done to the local environment in the construction of this dwelling would be catastrophic for the wildlife. I note a plan to expel treated waste back into the burn, I believe there is an otter holt in that location.

“The visual impact of this development would also be hugely detrimental to Calgary.”

The otter holt is also mentioned in the objection from the chair of Mull Historical and Archaeological Society, who also points out the disturbances to the rare Slender Scotch Burnet moth.

The moth is found only found at Calgary, a few others sites on Mull and the surrounding isles of Ulva and Gometra, but nowhere else in the UK.

One objector said: “”Increased human activity, lighting, noise and habitat disturbance associated with the development would pose a risk to local biodiversity.”

Another objector, who identifies herself as a regular tourist to the island, said: “We always drive to Calgary Bay as it is an area of outstanding beauty and peacefulness. To have a house built would be detrimental to the area, especially one the size proposed”.

Of course, it is entirely natural to want to keep such a beautiful part of the world from becoming over-developed, but this appears to be a bit over the top.

Calgary Bay already has plenty of houses around it, there is also a campsite, an excellent coffee shack and a car park.

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In the summer, the beach can become fairly crowded and the shrieks from children can echo around the surrounding area.

If the Slender Scotch Burnet moth can cope with all that no problem, then it can take another house in it’s stride I’m sure.

Other wildlife cited as being ‘at risk’ from the development include golden eagles and white-tailed sea eagles, of which Mull has very healthy populations.

Again, I’m sure these majestic birds of prey can take an extra house being built in their stride.

It is hard not to feel the objections are fuelled by the fact the application has been made by people with money who have ambitions for the site that don’t align with some locals.

If they do want to create a few glamping pods, or whatever, on the site, is that really such a bad thing?

Mull, like the rest of the islands is heavily reliant on tourism to boost the economy.

It is far and away my favourite of the islands and offers unrivalled rugged beauty in the north to more softer tones in the south.

Given it’s size, it also never feels crowded unlike its Inner Hebridean near neighbour to the north, Skye.

Sadly that may be about to change though as bridges, tunnels or causeways could link Mull to the mainland in the future, after a Scottish government paper suggested a formal consultation on the idea.

The National Islands Plan calls for “detailed appraisals” to be carried out about setting up three new fixed links across Scotland. These would go between Mull and the mainland, Barra and the Uists and the Uists and Harris/Lewis.

It follows a review carried out in 2022 by Transport Scotland that suggested there could be long-term benefits to the fixed links - which means permanent connections like a bridge, tunnel or causeway.

However, the National Islands Plan also cautioned that local opinions would vary on the idea.

The paper found that fixed links could be transformative for each area, as they would remove the constraints of weather, increase capacity for people travelling and reduce the time journeys too.

This would deliver “lasting benefits for communities, businesses, and visitors alike”, according to the report.

However it adds public engagement carried out for the plan found a variety of responses to the idea.

One one level, this is a fantastic idea and could transform the island’s economies as more people could visit and businesses could get their products to the mainland due to no longer relying on ferries.

As we have seen in recent years, islands have been particularly badly hit by the ageing ferry fleet that has made life almost intolerable for some islanders.

But, as we have seen with Skye after the bridge was built, it could open the floodgates for over-tourism.

At least, the objectors to the new house being planned at Calgary Bay would have legitimate grounds for complaint then.

© Herald Scotland