The Scottish National Party councillor for Oban North and Lorn – which includes the village of Plockton, made famous by the Hamish Macbeth TV series – says buying a holiday home is the equivalent of a forced eviction.

Julie McKenzie made the comment on social media when she responded to news that a house in the village was for sale for offers over £490,000.

She wrote: “The modern clearances have been happening by stealth for years in the Highlands and we require urgent, bold policy to halt this before it’s too late.”

The Clearances was the name given to a policy of forced eviction of tenants between the mid-18th and mid-19th century.

The Scottish Government is giving local authorities the power to double – or more – the council tax bills of some 25,000 second home owners from next year, while a new licensing system for Airbnb short lets is likely to sharply reduce the growth of this sector.