AN appeal against a refused application for planning permission in principle for a Garelochhead site has failed.
Argyll and Bute Council planning officers declined Lorne Thomson’s request to site a house on land west of the village’s Macaulay Burn last year after five objections from the public.
A three-person panel of councillors considered an appeal against the decision in November before reconvening after a site visit.
But Councillors Gordon Blair (SNP, Cowal), Jan Brown (SNP, Mid Argyll) and Andrew Kain (Independent, Oban South and the Isles) unanimously agreed to throw out the appeal.
The local review body held its second meeting on Monday, June 2, with minutes of the meeting now published.
The minutes stated: “Councillor Blair advised that he thought that they’d (the panel) had a very constructive site visit. He commented that, in general, he was very keen on open space protection areas (OSPAs) but acknowledged that they were not set in tablets of stone.
“He advised that for him, as a member of this regulatory authority, the protective role of an OSPA was important and, indeed, essential.
“However, he pointed out that through the local development plans, changes to areas designated as OSPAs could be made through normal planning consultation processes and that if communities wished to change OSPAs in their areas there were opportunities to do this.
“Councillor Blair advised that by taking the time to seek further clarification over the last 26 weeks and receiving the comprehensive reports enclosed with the agenda pack today, he was content that he was in a position to make a decision today.
“He said that the location of the proposed house at the top of the site was in such a prominent position and, in his opinion, would be detrimental to, and not appropriate within an OSPA. Consequently, he confirmed that he would be supporting the planning officer’s recommendation to reject this application.”
It is also stated: “Councillor Brown agreed that the site visit had been very good. She said that like Councillor Blair, she was very keen to protect the area and supported the Planning decision to refuse the application on this occasion.
“She acknowledged that OSPAs were important and that there was a mechanism in which they could be taken out of a development plan. She confirmed that she would support a motion to refuse the application on this occasion.
“Councillor Kain advised that he was conflicted and would reluctantly go along with the proposal to refuse. He commented that the implications of OSPAs were onerous in many respects, but he would leave that for another day.”
