PLANS have been revealed to use garden grounds in Luss as a base for the provision of outdoor education sessions.

Glasgow-based company West End Adventure is hoping to get approval from National Park Authority planning chiefs for the ‘change of use’ application at the Manse, across from the conservation village’s parish church.

Set up in 2017, the business offers school holiday camps for children and will run a range of activities in the wider Loch Lomond area, with the application site set to be used for the preparation of outdoor activities, as well as providing a space for changing, toilet facilities and a place for lunch to take place.

An operational management plan submitted with the application states: “Most West End Adventures activities will take place away from the Manse gardens.

“These activities include hill walking, team challenges, climbing, caving, nature walks, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, bushcraft, orienteering and gorge walking.

“Archery will take place on the site, in line with Archery GB guidelines. Occasionally the site will also be used for team challenges.”

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Should the plans get the go-ahead, the maximum number of booked clients on site at any one time will not exceed 72, with daytime sessions running on weekdays during the activity season from mid-March until the end of October.

A supporting statement submitted on behalf of West End Adventure by Helensburgh firm MH Planning Associates says: “Whilst the Manse was originally built as a dwelling for the minister, it and its grounds have historically been used for a range of associated activities, many of which will have involved young people.

“The application site is currently being used for the provision of outdoor education.

“The benefits to human health of outdoor education, and spending time in the natural environment, are well established.

“It is considered that there is no planning reason why permission for the change of use of the grounds of the Manse, to the provision of outdoor education, should not be able to be approved.

“Any permission would be able to be conditional, in order to ensure that any potentially adverse impacts of the use can be mitigated and minimised.”

Members of the public can view the proposals in full at the National Park’s website by searching for the reference number 2021/0380/DET.

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