Communities4Coul

26/09/2026

The government's recent announcement that they would like to reform local government by reducing the number of local authorities from 32 down to 6-10 regional authorities - in order to "unleash economic opportunities and achieve the ambitions of communities in all areas of Scotland" sounds like good news, if this is what they indeed achieve.

The aim seems to be to devolve economic development and planning issues to the regional authorities, and away from Edinburgh, so that they more clearly reflect the wishes and the priorities of local people.
...But does it require all this expensive re-organisation to achieve that goal? Maybe they could just listen better to what they are already being told, and give more respect to the voices of local communities?

After all:
- The Highland Council has approved Coul Links golf course - TWICE
- East Sutherland voted 70% in favour of the development in a community ballot in 2021
- Prof. David Bell, economic advisor to ScotGov (and Dornoch local) has said Coul Links represents the best chance to arrest the North Highland "De-population emergency" and to strengthen the fragile local economy.

It is now 6 years since Communities for Coul started up their second Coul Links application. We have worked really hard to make this a great application, and we have been waiting FAR TOO LONG for an answer from the Government.

Please Scottish Ministers, grant permission for our transformational application soon!

Jenny Gilruth SNP John Swinney

13/09/2026

Good piece in The National today...

07/09/2026

This article in the Raggie quotes C4C's response to the so-called "Conservation Coalition's" latest press release. (We were a bit cross!)

"We are "“gobsmacked” by the audacity of these charities in their city offices hundreds of miles from the Northern Highlands patronisingly lecturing people here about what is best for our fragile communities".

“We agree with the “Conservation Coalition” that Coul Links is an extraordinary and beautiful place. But, unlike this group of wealthy metropolitan-based organisations, through our community-led application we hope to achieve something that will greatly benefit its environment in perpetuity and help our fragile rural economy.”

Environmental groups claim 20,000 signatures against the build, while developers accuse distant charities of patronising local communities.

04/09/2026

It is SO GOOD to see our constituency MSP fully backing his East Sutherland constituents in this leaflet, which dropped through doors today. Thanks !

17/08/2026

Today, 17th August ’26, marks the end of 6 years hard work by the C4C team of community volunteers and their incredible team of expert advisors on Coul Links, as we sent our final submission in support of our application to build a world-class, environmentally sensitive golf course at Coul Links, to Scottish Ministers.
This is over 18 months since we LAST thought we had finished, following the Public Hearing in November 2024
And over 2 ½ years since we FIRST thought we had finished, following Highland Council's approval of Coul Links Golf Course.
During this time we have had to crowdfund for over £400,000 to support the legal and survey work required, thanks to our amazing supporters!
But, surely, it shouldn't be this hard??

SCOTTISH MINISTERS, PLEASE! NO MORE PREVARICATION. Your decision is long overdue.

The people of East Sutherland know that a world class golf course at Coul is essential to support their fragile economy and address their depopulation emergency. It is also the ONLY way to provide sufficient funds to restore and sustainably protect a theoretically highly "protected" (sic) but, in fact, rapidly degrading environment at Coul Links.

- 69% voted YES in an E Sutherland Community Ballot, 2021
- Highland Council APPROVED the planning application, 2023
- ALL 4 of Dornoch and Embo's principal community groups are in favour
- ALL Local Golf Clubs supportive
- All local Hotels are supportive
- More than 200 people, overwhelmingly in favour, turned up at the "Community" Hearing session in 2024

Ministers, there is only one decision to be made, if you believe in local democracy, and indeed in justice itself.

John Swinney Jenny Gilruth SNP Stephen Flynn SNP Gillian Martin for Aberdeenshire East Ivan McKee MSP

22/07/2026

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/7068429/coul-links-landowner-hits-back-over-latest-golf-course-jobs-claims/

Ed Abel Smith said if critics "can't understand basic economics" they may also be missing other benefits in the application.

16/07/2026

Another article on our survey - in the The Press and Journal

Good stuff from Gordon, but how do Not Coul think that invasives could be "easily managed" without a huge influx of cash, when NatureScot themselves have failed to halt their spread?? Also, we think they must have "misheard" at the Public Hearing, when C4C said that the new Golf Club would employ around 30 people directly, but that Prof. Bell's study found it would create around 400 FTE jobs in total, including those generated indirectly in hospitality and services. That still means they are real jobs!
Finally, why are they getting so exercised about this at all, if they are so convinced that the Coul site is about to be washed into the sea? (We're not, BTW).

A new ecological survey found invasive species are "spreading rapidly" which could see some habitats lost forever if nothing is done.

13/07/2026

It's great to see our new constituency MSP is actively backing our community planning application for Coul Links Golf Course. Thanks !

Study reveals limited impact of current NatureScot agreement as invasive species spike by 44 per cent.

09/07/2026

The Northern Times are running a piece about C4C's new "invasive species" Report for Coul Links.

A new ecological survey commissioned by Communities for Coul has found invasive species are spreading rapidly across Coul Links, with supporters of the proposed golf course arguing this strengthens the case for the development as a means of funding long-term habitat restoration.

Read more in the comments.

07/07/2026

Following the request from Scottish Ministers in March 2026, for more ecological information to assist their decision on the application for Coul Links Golf Course, as pertains to the protected "Ramsar" site, C4C commissioned new survey work on the Coul Links site from Dr Andy McMullen, Principal Botanist of Botanaeco. The new survey, which could not be undertaken until June, was submitted to Scottish Ministers last Friday/3rd July.
This survey has shown that the presence of invasive species at Coul Links has increased by 44% between 2021 and 2026. NatureScot’s “management plan”, which has been operating at Coul Links over these years has not halted the spread of invasive plants which outcompete the rarer and more delicate species for which Coul Links is protected, and it has failed to improve the site’s “unfavourable condition”.
Dr Andy McMullen of Botanaeco said: “If the current trajectory of invasive species spread continues unabated, the habitats will ultimately be dominated by a small number of invasive species. The rate of spread will increase exponentially.”
NatureScot have only been able to fund a very limited management programme at Coul Links, focusing on a few patches of gorse and birch, at an average cost of £20k per annum. By contrast, approval of the golf course would unlock £500,000 for each of the first two years (£1 million in total) for restoration of the whole Coul Links site, with further funding as required, over the lifetime of the golf course. This would be done with the oversight of NatureScot.
Gordon Sutherland of Communities for Coul said “This survey shows in the clearest terms that the status quo is not saving Coul Links. It is allowing this unique site to decline. To accept this is a decision to abandon hope. The only way to save Coul Links for future generations is to allow an environmentally friendly, world-class golf course there, which would provide the very significant funding for the major environmental programme required to restore and protect it.
“Quite apart from the ecological benefits this new golf course would bring, it would transform the economy of East Sutherland, creating up to 400 new jobs, many of them locally, and adding up to £12 million per year into the local economy, through increased visitor spend.”
The Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet "Ramsar" site, an internationally protected wetland and coastal habitat area which includes Coul Links, extends to 6,513 hectares. The actual footprint of the proposed golf course within the protected area, amounts to 14.7 hectares, or 0.22% of the site. The extent of proposed physical change (limited to tees and greens) would be 1.5 hectares - 0.023% of the Ramsar.
The loss of this relatively tiny area should surely be weighed against the long-term, sustainable restoration of the whole Coul Links site?