A controversial project to build a new road round Inverness has reached an important milestone with Highland Council submitting a planning application to reconfigure one of the Highland capital's three golf courses.
The multi-million pound West Link project requires part of Torvean Golf Course to be shifted at a minimum cost of £1.3m. It is already divided in three by the A82 to Fort William and another road.
Under the plans it will all be on one contained area of land with a new clubhouse and practice area. It will also allow existing golf club land to be released and to to enable the development of a sports hub, all at an additional cost of £7.41 million
Hamish Spence, President of Torvean Golf Club said: "The new clubhouse and course will be a major improvement to the existing sporting facilities available to the local community and will provide a massive boost to tourism in the city of Inverness and the wider Highland area."
But there has been stiff local opposition because of the impact on recreational land, including rugby pitches.
John West, Chairman, Inverness Civic Trust, said:
"The objectors highlighted the loss of valued and irreplaceable assets in the form of parkland and riverside and the introduction of large swaths of concrete and tarmacadam in place of mature trees and recreational areas. It is the loss of these benefits which appals people and results in the widespread opposition."
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