Ballachulish residents express concerns about distillery plans

Mr Hall added: "Mr Shaw actually said to us in a private meeting "well, the good news is there are no otters".

"The day before we had been down on the shore and there was an otter eating a fish on a rock 15 yards away.

"I pulled a video up on my phone and showed Mr. Shaw that, yet he still submitted an environmental report purporting to show there are no otters."

Situated 3km west of Ballachulish, inside Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area, the proposed distillery is set to include a three-still production hall, warehouse and visitor experience area, including a visitor centre, shop and tasting room.

Plans submitted to the council state the development will create jobs and achieve a biodiversity net gain through native planting and wildlife boxes.

It also states it will promote sustainable tourism by seamlessly integrating with the existing Great Caledonian Way Cycle Route and providing a landing site for kayakers and rowers.

Mrs Hall, however, doubts such claims.

"I am very sceptical about some of the glossy soft-sounding promises the developer is making," she told us.

"You have got to come back to the basics, that people want to kayak or swim or walk in an unspoiled area. If people want to kayak past industrial development, they would go to Grangemouth."

Her husband added: "Looking back from the top of the Pap of Glencoe or the hills above Ballachulish, you can see this relatively unspoiled area, you can pick out the house, you can pick out an open meadow. That will be blighted by these effectively metal sheds."

An extensive list of concerns drafted out by the Caldwell’s includes the design and extent of the building, sewage disposal and electricity supply.

"It is basically a 8,000 square metre industrial site clad in corrugated metal right in the middle of one of the most iconic views in the area," added Mr Caldwell.

The applicant Mr Shaw declined to comment.

Highland Council has set an internal target date for the application of April 11. Standard consultation will end on March 11 and neighbour consultation on March 14.

To view the application, visit Highland Council’s planning portal and search for 24/05246/FUL