PLANS for a café and two short-term letting units at an old post office building in Tarbert have been recommended for approval by council officers.
The proposal for the ground floor retail unit on Campbeltown Road, made by Shamsul Islam, will be considered by councillors at a meeting next week.
The plans have attracted a total of 10 expressions of support, two objections and one neutral representation, which was made by Councillor Alastair Redman (Independent, Kintyre and the Islands).
Councillor Anne Horn (SNP, Kintyre and the Islands) was among those expressing support. The application will be ruled on by Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee at its meeting on Wednesday, August 19.
A council officer said in a handling report: “The application site is located within the village centre of Tarbert. The application site is situated within an area characterised by mixed-use development, with a row of retail units dominating the ground floor streetscape and residential properties occupying the upper floors surrounding the site.
“In terms of sustainable transport means to access the application site, public transportation services, and active travel options are available with public car parks located within walking distance.
“There is no existing on-site parking associated with the site with the current proposal not altering the current situation. Area roads were consulted on the proposal and recommended that the application be refused.
“Area roads advised that whilst the number of vehicle movements generated by the proposed restaurant/café use would not be significantly different compared to the former use of the premises as a retail unit, the addition of two short-term letting (STL) units would generate additional traffic and therefore area roads seek that parking provision should be provided at one space per one STL unit, equating to the provision of two car parking spaces.”
The report added: “However, considering the particular circumstances of this case and wider planning considerations, officers deem it reasonable to accept reliance on nearby public parking facilities to serve the proposed development.
“Whilst the introduction of two STL units could be deemed to represent an intensification of use at the site, the availability of public transport services, active and sustainable travel options, together with the relatively small parking shortfall of two spaces, leads officers to conclude that the proposed development would not give rise to such clear and demonstrable harm as to warrant the refusal of planning permission.”
