Friends reunite to continue fight to ‘save’ King’s Cross

In 2022 residents reacted with alarm after it emerged a timber transfer facility, which could include a large timber stackyard and a pier on the shoreline, could be built at King’s Cross. FLS bought the nearby farm and buildings in August of that year.

 

Helena Paul from Friends of King’s Cross said it may have appeared FLS’s plans for the area were lying dormant for the last couple of years but added "clearly that isn’t the case."

 

Although FLS has not yet brought forward full plans for the site, the Friends group say it is clear from material they have obtained through FoI requests that work has been continuing on the project behind the scenes. Design options for a new pier at King’s Cross have also emerged, which according to the campaign group would be met with "vociferous public opposition."

 

Forestry land Scotland is insisting that it has no fixed plans for a new timber yard at King’s Cross but says it is considering and exploring a range of options to find the best sustainable long-term timber transfer solution for Arran as a whole.

 

Helena told The Arran Banner: "The ruin of King’s Cross would not suit the island" and has arranged a public meeting which will take place on Sunday March 16 at 1.30pm at Whiting bay Village Hall.

Last week, representatives from the Friends group met with FLS representatives to find out more about their plans face-to-face. Helena said they were listened to but worries still remain that options on the table are "impalatable."

 

Three years back, Friend’s of King’s Cross were urging people to contact councillors, MSPs and MPs to build support to oppose a FLS plan to truck timber from across the island down the King’s Cross Road from the main A814, and use the farmland for a stacking area and a slipway to ship timber to the mainland.

Campaigners at that time predicted the development could see as many as eight lorry movements an hour for 12 hours a day.

 

Friends of King’s Cross are still warning FSL’s plan could ruin existing farmland, turning it into a noisy and visually intrusive industrial site and spoiling it for residents, footpath users, Lamlash village, and the religious community and retreat visitors on Holy Isle across the water from it.

 

The design statement for FLS’s new planning application, 25/00046/PP, clarifies the intention is for the main farmhouse to stay as a residential dwelling and for the existing holiday cottage to be converted into a small office. The main house is planned to be refurbished and used as staff accommodation. The proposed office accommodation is currently intended to replace an existing office on the island to a location closer to the main area of FLS landholding, says the statement.

 

In an update to the Friends of King’s Cross ‘ever-growing’ number of supporters, it details potential land transactions happening at Whitefield Farm, as well as the current planning bid for the farm and buildings itself, and says there are also seen design options for a new pier at King’s Cross. The group also says the stackyard in the fields above the pier would extend to a footprint of 3000m2 and would be visible from a considerable distance. "The Whitefield project may therefore have very serious consequences for a number of places on Arran as well as Holy Isle," says the update.

 

The Friends group argue it seems to them that the current timber transport operations are working "very efficiently" as it is.

 

Timber exports from Arran continue via a separate yard not owned by FLS located on the opposite side of Market Road directly opposite the car park exit for the ferry terminal.

 

"We believe that the environmental damage that would be caused if FLS were to develop the Whitefield farm into a timber stackyard and seaborne export station would be ruinous for the unique beauty and tranquillity of King’s Cross, Holy Isle, Knockenkelly and Lamlash Bay.

 

"Traffic safety around the King’s Cross junction remains a major concern as it appears highly unlikely that safe inward and outward movement of timber lorries at the King’s Cross junction could ever be achieved. Turning forest areas of the island into blasting quarries and transporting many truckloads of rock around Arran’s roads to reconstruct a steep hillside and build a new pier in a highly sensitive location simply does not make sense to us.

 

"Friends of King’s Cross will continue to do everything we can to oppose such damaging and unnecessary development," adds the update.

 

Forestry land Scotland Deputy Regional Manager Colin Binnie said: "FLS has no fixed plans for a new timber export pier at Kingscross, but FLS is considering and exploring a range of options to find the best sustainable long-term timber transport solution for Arran as a whole. This is in the context of increasing timber harvesting levels in the coming years and Market Road, Brodick, will remaining a key part of any future timber export solution for Arran.

 

“The only fixed plans for the FLS Whitefield Farm site are to modernise part of the farmhouse creating a new office and welfare facilities for staff nearer to the bulk of FLS’s forests which are in the South of the Island.

“Local and regional FLS staff have been engaging with multiple neighbours at Whitefield Farm as well as some key stakeholders. This has primarily been to reassure stakeholders there are no fixed plans, beyond the work to the farmhouse, listen to their concerns and to share a provisional timetable for further neighbour and public engagement during 2025 regarding the FLS Whitefield Farm site and wider timber transport issues and options.

 

“A FLS public drop-in event is planned for early Autumn 2025, likely to be held at the Lamlash Outdoor Centre. Details for this public drop-in session will be advertised widely on Arran and in the Arran Banner.”

 

You can see FoI information on the Friends of King’s Cross website at www.friendsofkingscross.co.uk and the planning application can be seen online at www.eplanning.north-ayrshire.gov.uk

 

People have until March 21 to send in comments to North Ayrshire planners about FSL’s application to change use of Whitefield Farm from residential to office accommodation.