Minute of the special meeting of the Ross, Skye and Lochaber Planning Applications Committee held on site at Alma Road and Belford Road, Fort William and the Nevis Centre, Fort William on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010 at 10.30 am.

 

Committee Members Present

 

Mr Billy Barclay
Mr Donald Cameron
Mrs Isabelle Campbell
Mr David Chisholm 
Mr Bill Clark
Mr Eddie Hunter
Mr Ian Renwick
Mrs Audrey Sinclair

 

Officials in attendance:

 

Mr Alaisdair Mackenzie, Area Solicitor
Mr Ewen Stewart, Planner
Mr Mark Smith, Senior Technician, TECS

 

Also present:

 

Mr D Classe, Applicant
Alasdair and Glynis Ross, Objectors
N A MacLean and M MacLean, Objectors
Brian Murphy, Objector
Mrs McKenzie, Objector
Mr and Mrs Anderson, Objector


Mr David Chisholm in the Chair

 

Business

 

1. Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies were received from Mr Peter Cairns, Mrs Isobel McCallum and Mr Hamish Fraser.

 

2. Hearing

 

2.1  Applicant: Mr Derek Classe (09/00292/OUTLO (PLR/007/10) PLR-007-10 Part 1 (1551kb pdf)  | PLR-007-10 Part 2 (1343kb pdf) | PLR-007-10 Part 3 1798kb pdf) | PLR-007-10 Part 4 (421kb pdf) | PLR-007-10 Part 5 (3122kb pdf) | PLR-007-10 Part 6 (1814kb pdf) | PLR-007-10 Part 7 (1897kb pdf)

Location: Grounds of Craignevis East, Belford Road, Fort William
Nature of Development: Erection of two flats, access and three parking spaces

 

There had been circulated Report No PLR/007 recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein.

 

The meeting convened on site and viewed the site from Alma Road and from the rear of Craignevis East. The Planner, the Applicant and the Objectors pointed out physical features at these locations relating to the development.

 

The meeting reconvened at 11.00 am in the Nevis Centre when the Planner presented his Report to the Committee.

 

Following discussion, Mr Donald Cameron, seconded by Mr Bill Clark, moved that the application be refused for the following reasons.

 

1. the application was contrary to 3.2.2 of the Lochaber Local Plan in that it represented unsympathetic infill and sub-division of the plot would impact adversely on the character of the residential area and if developed there would be a loss of amenity and privacy to neighbouring occupiers;

 

2. it was considered that the speed of traffic for calculating the sight line  criteria should be the speed limit in that locus of 30 mph and not 20 mph as recommended by TECS. Accordingly the visibility splay of 2.4 metres x 40 metres could not be achieved. 

 

Mr David Chisholm moved as an amendment that the recommendation be agreed.

 

There being no seconder for the amendment, the motion became the finding of the meeting.

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 1150.