The site is an irregular shaped area of predominantly level peat land
located 2 km North West of Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay. The subjects
lie at the southern end of large scale peatland covering central Islay
between the villages of Port Ellen and Bowmore. The site is bordered
to east and west by public roads, from which access can be taken. To
the south is a small farm, with green pasture, rough grazings and some
ploughable land. Northwards the land is mostly peatland, continuing
some 11 kilometres to the outskirts of the village of Bowmore.
Ballivicar Moss is vacant land of low fertility and not suited to farming.
It was last in productive use when peats were cut for distillery and
domestic use many decades ago. There is no existing vehicular
access into the site and it is therefore proposed to construct short
tracks leading to harvest sites on the eastern side from the A846 and
on the western side from the minor Kintra road.
Hard standing areas will be prepared for temporary storage of drying
peat.
It may not be necessary to construct the western track during this 15
year planning permission, as there is sufficient peat in the eastern
harvest area alone to supply the permitted 2,000 tonnes p.a. - subject
for discussion during negotiations. The construction of the road
junction, track(s) and stacking areas will be the responsibility of the
tenant.
