Overview
Coul Links is a beautiful, natural coastal dune system, home to many species of wildlife. It is located to the immediate south of Loch Fleet in East Sutherland, Scotland. Coul Links is one of the last areas of undeveloped species-rich dune habitat in Scotland. Together with Loch Fleet itself, Coul Links is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an international Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site.
The proposed golf course would destroy this unique collection of dune habitats and would result in harmful disturbance to both wintering and breeding waders, waterfowl and other species, many of which are rare or declining in number.
Unfortunately the proposals were consented by the Highland Council, against the advice of Council officials, SNH and numerous environmental groups. Supported by our conservation partners, we set up an e-action asking Scottish Ministers to step in and save Coul Links. A huge thank you to everyone who took part. Over 12,000 people!
The Scottish Government have now decided to ‘call-in’ the controversial golf proposals for further examination. It is expected that the plans will go through a detailed public inquiry and that Scottish Ministers will make a final decision at some point next year. This is brilliant news and exactly what we were asking for (see our Press Release for more on our response). However, Coul Links is not out of the woods yet so keep an eye on our Scottish Nature Notes blog for further updates on what happens next.