• Agenda

Minutes of Meeting of the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Planning Applications and Review Committee held in the Duthac Centre, Tain on Tuesday 15 April 2008 at 10.30am

Present:

Mr D Mackay
Mr G Farlow
Mr R Rowantree
Mr W Fernie
Mr G Smith
Mr R Coghill
Mr J McGillivray
Mr W Ross
Mr M Rattray
Mr R Durham
Mr A Torrance

Non-Members also present:

Mr A Rhind (Item 3.1)

In Attendance

Mr A Todd, Area Planning and Building Standards Manager
Mr I Ewart, Team Leader, Planning and Development Service
Mr K McCorquodale, Principal Planner
Mr B Robertson, Principal Planner
Mr R Blain, Principal Engineer
Mr B Hemming, Estate Strategy Manager, Education, Culture & Sport Service
Mr J McHardy, Housing Development Manager, Housing Service
Mr R Patton, Principal Officer (Land)
Miss K McLeod, Principal Solicitor
Miss A Macrae, Administrator

Mr D Mackay in the Chair

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were intimated from Lady M Thurso and Mr D Bremner.

2. Minute of Meeting of 4 March 2008

The Minute of the Meeting of the Committee held on 4 March 2008, copies of which had been circulated with the agenda, was approved.

Planning Applications

3. Medical Centre with Pharmacy for Sapphire Primary Care Developments (07/00787/FULRC), Roundabout, Access Road Car Park and Playing Facilities for AWG Property Ltd (07/00796/FULRC), Housing, in Outline, for 170 Houses for AWG Property Ltd (07/00797/OUTRC)

There had been circulated Report No. PLC-13-08 by the Head of Planning & Building Standards recommending approval of the applications for a Medical Centre with Pharmacy for Sapphire Primary Care Developments (07/00787/FULRC), Roundabout, Access Road Car Park and Playing Facilities for AWG Property Ltd (07/00796/FULRC), and Housing, in Outline, for 170 Houses for AWG Property Ltd (07/00797/OUTRC).

The Principal Solicitor pointed out that Mr A Rhind had requested and been granted a local member vote in relation to this item of business.  She also confirmed that the applications would proceed under the Hearings Procedure and set out the basis on which it was proposed to conduct a single hearing in relation to the three applications.

The Principal Planner summarised the applications, the consultations carried out and the representations received. He advised that while the three applications would be dealt with as part of one Hearing, Members were being asked to take a specific decision on each of the applications.  He noted that the housing application had been amended to exclude any housing development on a strip of land to the north side of the access road, and outlined the relevant policies against which the development should be assessed, referring in particular to the Structure Plan, policies 14 and 15 within the recently adopted Ross and Cromarty East Local Plan, and draft national policy SPP 11 which referred to open space and physical activity.

The Chairman then invited the applicants to present their case.

Medical Centre – 07/00787/FULRC

Dr S Gordon explained that the existing health centre which had been constructed in the 1970s and served approximately 9,000 patients in Tain and the surrounding area, was no longer fit for purpose. Therefore over the past five years, in conjunction with NHS Highland and Sapphire Primary Care Developments, plans had been formulated for a new medical centre, which would be two and half times larger than the existing premises, benefit from modern facilities and increased parking provision. 

Mr S Cameron, Sapphire Primary Care Developments stated that the site had been one of six sites considered, and following extensive consultations involving NHS Highland, the Council, local GPs, and a public meeting, the site at Craighill Terrace, Tain had been identified as the most suitable for the development.  Mr Cameron expressed the view that the development did not conflict with the Structure Plan and accorded with the adopted Local Plan which sought to have a site identified for a new medical practice in Tain.   He noted that there had been no objections from the statutory consultees in response to the application.  Referring to the potential loss of amenity, Mr Cameron advised that two playing pitches would be provided at Craighill Primary School, and therefore there would be no significant net loss of open space, noting that Sports Scotland had no objections to the proposals. 

He suggested that the proposed location was central in terms of the community the facility would serve, and within walking distance for a significant proportion of the population of Tain.  The three developments combined would improve the facilities of Craighill Primary School, and provide both housing for the elderly and affordable housing. It was consistent with Government and Council policy and represented an important development for Tain and the surrounding area.

Responding to questions from Members, Mr S Cameron advised that;

· Although he had not been involved in the planning application process he considered it appropriate that the three applications were considered together

· Responding to a point that a travel plan should have been provided as part of the detailed planning application, it was clarified that the applicant would be required, as a condition of any permission, to produce a travel plan to be agreed with the Council

· The function of the proposed Pharmacy would be non-retail. It being explained that the pharmacy licence would be strictly controlled by the Health Board, and would concentrate on the dispensing of medicines related to the medical practice

· Additional capacity of 25% would be built into the development to allow for future expansion.

Roundabout, Access Road, Car Park and Playing Facilities (07/00796/FULRC), and Housing, in Outline, for 170 Houses (07/00797/OUTRC)

Mr I  Logue, AWG Development Ltd outlined the background to the site and explained that the density of the proposed development had been determined by economics and market demand, and he reported the total cost of the infrastructure necessary for this development was estimated at £4m.   The developer had also sought to mirror the density of the neighbouring development such as Craighill Terrace. Extensive consultations had been undertaken with the relevant bodies in respect of the proposals, and he confirmed that the scheme would benefit from 42 affordable houses, in line with densities elsewhere in the area.

Mr A Farningham, the applicant’s planning consultant, acknowledged that that the housing development was in excess of the indicative capacity contained in the Local Plan, but stated that the relevant policies allowed for a greater density subject to specific criteria being satisfied.  Accordingly the site was sustainable, located in a residential area, close to the by-pass, and in proximity of both a primary and secondary school, and the town centre. Additional affordable units would be constructed than would be the case if the numbers in the Local Plan were imposed, noting that the Council’s Housing & Property Service were supportive of the proposal. The loss of any amenity land would be compensated for by the provision of new pitches at the Primary School. TEC Services, Scottish Water and SEPA had no objections to the proposal and judged there would be no future adverse impacts.  Concluding he observed that the development would allow for sustainable development, affordable housing provision, an expanded heath centre facility, enhanced road safety and improved facilities at the Primary School, and therefore should be supported.

Responding to questions from Members, the applicants;

· Confirmed that two car parking spaces per house would be provided

· Public transport provision would be subject to the discussions with the Council’s TEC Services, one option being that the turning area at the School be utilised

· The layout of the housing development had been amended to remove houses from a strip of land to the north of the access road, and the applicant confirmed that confirmed that he was content to have this formalised and covered by a condition.

The Estates Strategy Manager, clarified that the Education, Culture and Sports Manager objected to the use of the drop off zone and car parking area at Craighill Primary School being used by public transport.

The Chairman proceeded to invited Tain Community Council to submit its representations.

Mr Neil Munro, Tain Community Council, indicated that while the Community Council welcomed the principle of a new health centre and housing in Tain, it had a number of objections to these proposals on the grounds of the adequacy of the roundabout to cope with the increased traffic, the adequacy of car parking provision, the loss of public open recreational space and part of the School playground, and the increased traffic which would be generated onto an already busy road and near a Primary School.  The location of a pharmacy on this site would also be detrimental to the future viability of the existing pharmacies in the town centre.  He expressed concern at the lack of community involvement in the choice of the site, and suggested that all interested parties should re-examine potential sites in conjunction with the Community Council. Accordingly the Community Council had objected to all three applications.

Mr Munro then responded to a number of questions from Members in relation to the Community Council’s concerns in relation to the additional traffic and traffic flow at peak times which would be generated, car parking provision, the fact that Tain may not be retained as a priority for a medical centre should the development not be approved, and in relation to the on site pharmacy and the impact on the town centre pharmacies.

The Chairman then invited the objectors to state their case.  Members proceeded to hear from the following objectors;  Susan Weir, Craghill Primary School Parent Council, George Halliday, Dr Graham Park, T G Johnstone, Donald Taylor, Kenneth Anderson, and Anne Menzinger, who raised a number of objections including the following: 

· The increased traffic generated by the developments would adversely impact on the safety of the  pupils at Craighill Primary School and that of their families, and staff

· Proposals in terms of safer routes to schools were not shown on the plans and should be clarified, and agreed with the Council, prior to any construction commencing on site including provision for traffic calming measures.

· Any proposal to have a public transport stop within the School’s drop off zone was unacceptable and should be strongly opposed. Public access to that area and the use of the School’s facilities should not be encouraged

· There were child protection issues associated with any proposal to allow the public to travel on school buses

· The amenity area had been safeguarded from development in the Local Plan

· The strip of land to the north of the access road, should be retained for the School’s use

· The proposed footpath on the north side of the access road was unnecessary and should be excluded from the plans

· The timescale for the construction of the new pitches was unacceptable, and it should be a condition of any permission that the new facilities be available for use before construction commences

· Part of the useable amenity ground was smaller than it appeared and suffered from poor drainage

· Disabled access would be easier from a drop off area to the east of Craighill Terrace, and would have the dual benefit of retaining the amenity ground in the proposed location and alleviate concerns regarding the volume of traffic using the access road.  The Craighill Parent Council had provided the Council’s Estates Section with its proposals in this regard

· The housing development could result in pressure being placed on the School as a result of an increase in the School Roll

· Material changes had been made to the application since it was originally submitted, which had not been made available for public consultation and in response to which the public had not been given the opportunity to comment.  The material changes involved the removal of housing from the strip of land to the north of the access road and the installation of a foot path, a 30% increase in parking provision at the medical centre, and the inclusion of a public drop off area at the School

· Concern over the legality and safety of locating the roundabout in close proximity to private residences and the fact that no precedent existed for a roundabout of the size proposed in such a location. 

· Concerns about the risk of flooding on the basis that the excess run off resulting from the housing development would swamp the existing drainage system. There was a lack of confidence at the ability of the current system to cope with heavy rain, and therefore there was a risk of flooding through the properties at Provost Ferguson Drive into the centre of Tain

· Local drainage problems in the area could lead to the risk of flooding, advising that a contractor had to increase the size of the drains in the area because they were not sufficient to cope.  A drainage burn also runs through the development site, and clarification was sought on how it would be dealt with as part of the development.

· The development would deprive the public and children of a play area which was in constant use and this will be compounded by the fact that the new pitches to be constructed at the School would be locked during the school holidays

· There were other available sites for the medical centre closer to the town centre

· The developer had already been granted planning permission to build 80 houses on an alternative site in Tain, but had sold this land to Tesco.

· Should the application be granted development should be restricted to 50 houses in accordance with the Local Plan

· The amenity land is an integral part of the community and the daily activities of the pupils contributing to the well being of the children

· The proposed development will leave the Primary School with insufficient space to cater for future expansion or integration of other educational users, a recent HMI report concluding that the teaching areas within the School are restricted and the building was in poor condition

· An open space audit should be carried out in accordance with the planning guidelines to assist in the assessment of whether there will be adequate provision of open space within the community, noting that this had been omitted from the planning report

· The timescale for the completion of the replacement play areas should be covered by condition

· The conditions contained in the report do not alleviate public concerns nor satisfy the requirements of all affected parties, and should be expanded to cover the issues such as traffic calming, the inclusion of a turning area and bus stop at the medical centre, the strip of land to the north of the access road being made available for School use, and the timescale for completing the replacement play areas.

· The consultations in the report do not refer directly to Craighill Primary School or the children which attend the School, the most vulnerable group affected by the development

· Any development within the sites should be planned in a more fitting manner for the young and the elderly

· Given the size of this development and plans for associated retail developments the Committee should ensure that Tain has the infrastructure to cope with these developments

· A smaller medical centre should be developed for the seaboard villages, and the existing practices in Tain redeveloped

· The development should not be at the cost of the young or elderly.

The Principal Solicitor then read from a written statement submitted by the Secretary of the Craighill Development Objectors Group who was not available to attend the meeting.

Thereafter the applicants confirmed that they had no response to make to the objectors.

In accordance with the procedure, the Chairman declared the Hearing to be at an end and sought confirmation that (i) there were no further parties wishing to speak, and (ii) the parties had been satisfied with the way the Hearing had been conducted.  There were no members of the public wishing to speak and the applicant and the objectors confirmed that they were satisfied with the way that the Hearing had been conducted.

The Principal Planner summarised the applications and referred to a range of issues including, the available policy guidance for the provision of a heath centre, design and landscaping issues, the requirement that the applicants submit a travel plan, reference to the draft guidance SPP11, and the fact that the development would result in an improvement in the playing facilities, car parking provision and the provision of a more formal drop off area for the School, the construction of the roundabout to the required standards, and measures to be incorporated into the design and management and construction of the schemes to minimise the risk of flooding.  He also referred to a number of the conditions it was recommended be attached to the applications. With particular reference to a travel plan to include subsidies for new bus service provision on a scale of approximately £400 for each new house and a contribution from the medical centre comparable with the contribution received in respect of the recently approved LIDL application (£20,000).

Concluding the Principal Planner reported that the proposals were not deemed to be a significant departure from the Development Plan which had identified land for residential development and amenity space. The development through the reapportionment of the current land holdings/allocations would retain a significant amenity area, with enhanced playing facilities, and he therefore recommended that the applications be granted subject to the conditions detailed in his report. He also outlined new procedures applicable prior to notifying the Scottish Government should the Committee be minded to approve the applications, namely that the Planning Authority was required to notify the objectors of the Committee’s decision and allow additional comments to be submitted.

At this point, 12.45pm, Mr R Rowantree left the meeting.

The Committee proceeded to debate the application and the following views were expressed by the Local Members;

· The proposals were long awaited and crucial to the future expansion of Tain and should be supported

· The applications were closely intertwined and therefore it was appropriate that they be considered together

· The majority of land was zoned for housing, with the exception of the top end of the site

· Extensive consultations had been carried out by the Health Board involving key representatives of the community to identify an appropriate site for a new health centre in Tain. A list of sites had been prepared and assessed, the preferred option being the site at Craighill Terrace, because of its size, accessibility, and its location at the top end of the town centre

· The site for the medical centre would be easily accessible for the people of Tain and Easter Ross

· It was not considered that the site provided open amenity ground for the people of Tain, advising that many of the activities referred to in the letter from the Craighill Development Objectors Group had not been witnessed on the site

· Concern that the many people had automatically signed the  petition when it was presented to them, and therefore that it had no purpose in the debate

· Tain Community Council had been consulted in respect of the adopted Local Plan and was aware that the land is zoned for housing.  The Community Council had supported proposals for retail developments and it was astounding that they had opposed the proposals for housing

· The development will provide Craighill Primary School with improved parking and sports facilities

·  A turning area for public transport should not be provided within the School grounds as had been suggested

· Confident that TEC Services would provide a solution in response to the concerns of the two residents who lived closest to the proposed roundabout.  The roundabout will be positioned within a field and therefore it was not anticipated there would be  problems arising

· Referring to the concerns of the residents of Provost Ferguson Drive and Moss Road regarding drainage and the risk of flooding, a condition of permission should be that the applicants should not exacerbate existing drainage problems

· The silent majority of people in Tain were in favour of the development, and those who had objected represented the minority view

· The development would deliver a health centre fit for purpose for the benefit of the community, patients and staff

· The proposal would deliver much needed housing development land to meet housing demand, and would deliver 25% affordable housing

· The projected school roll for Craighill Primary School showed a decline, and therefore even if the development resulted in an immediate additional intake of 30 pupils, the School would have the capacity to cope.  There was also adequate space to extend the School should this prove necessary

· Condition 3 attached to the application for the medical centre should not restrict the opening hours to between 08:00 and 20:00, to retain flexibility in the operation of the facility to the benefit of the local community

· The travel plan should not be a burden on the applicants in terms of improving the bus service, given that the nature of health centre of appointments could be difficult to timetable for, and stressing that use of the car was important to many people who live in the outlying areas

· The medical centre will cater for over 10,000 patients, the majority of which live outwith Tain, and therefore the site was the most appropriate location for the facility

· TEC Services should guarantee ease of access for those residents who lived closest to the roundabout

· The strip of land to the north of the access road, which had been excluded from the housing development should be made available to the School

· The construction of the new sports pitches should be completed as early as possible

· The amenity land in reality was an open area of deserted land, not used by the public for the various activities claimed by the objectors

· The development would result in a vast improvement in road safety at Craighill Primary School, through the creation of a parking and drop off zone.

· It would have been helpful to have had the view of the Health Board at the meeting as to why the site chosen for the medical centre represented the best option

· While not convinced that that the density of the housing development represents the best design, the Committee must determine the proposal as submitted

· Concerns exist over drainage on the land on which the replacement pitches were to be located and it was recommended that Condition 2 in relation to 07/00796/FULRC, detailed in the report be amended to provide for the construction of artificial pitches

· Condition 10 detailed in the report relating to the medical centre  be amended so that the applicants be required to provide a bus stop and turning area on the site of the medical centre, rather than at the School

· The removal of the strip of land to the north of the access road from the housing application 07/00797/OUTRC be formalised as a condition of the planning permission.

During the debate Mr A Rhind left the meeting at 1.10pm

Further comments from Members related to potential security issues affecting the School given the mix of uses associated with the development, the applicants should be required to submit road safety measures consistent with Safer Routes to Schools practices, and a travel plan and that this be included as a condition of permission.  Concern was also expressed that fact that the Council’s affordable housing policy created higher density developments. Therefore the aspiration should be for a lower density development, on the basis that a figure of 16 houses per hectare would be more reasonable for a development in the Highlands, and would relieve some of the pressures associated with the development and satisfy the objectors concerns.

Mr A Torrance seconded by Mr R Durham moved that the three applications 07/00787/FULRC, 07/00796/FULRC, and 07/00797/OUTRC be approved subject to the conditions detailed in the report, on the basis that (i) Condition 2, attached to the application 07/00796/FULRC for a roundabout, access road, parking area and playing facilities, be amended to provide for the early provision of a replacement play area to a high standard (perhaps with an artificial surface), to address concerns about drainage on the site, (ii) Condition 10, attached to the application 07/00787/FULRC for a medical centre, be amended so that public access is provided directly on the site of the medical centre in the form of a bus stop and turning area, and not within the new car-park of Craighill Primary School, and (iii) subject to additional conditions to formalise the deletion of the strip of land to the north of the access road from the housing development, and requiring the applicant to submit proposals in terms of safer routes to schools to be agreed with the Council.  Additionally it was recommended that it be delegated to the Chairman in consultation with the three local Members, to determine the case for final notification to the Scottish Government of any grant of planning permission, following consideration of any further comments received from objectors.

Mr G Smith moved as an amendment that the three applications be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report, but subject to the density of the development being reduced to 16 houses per hectare, but on failing to find a seconder the amendment fell.

Accordingly Mr Torrance’s motion became the finding of the meeting.

At this point the meeting adjourned for lunch and when the meeting resumed at 2.30 pm the following Members were present:-

Mr D Mackay, Mr G Farlow, Mr W Fernie, Mr G Smith, Mr R Coghill, Mr J McGillivray, Mr W Ross, Mr M Rattray, Mr R Durham, and Mr A Torrance.

4. Installation of 3 No. Antennae on Existing Mast And Associated Equipment Cabinets at Ground Level for Telecommunications at Police Radio Mast, Police Station, Argyle Street, Dornoch (08/00032/FULSU)

There had been circulated Report No. PLC 16-08 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending approval of the application 08/00032/FULSU for the installation of 3 no. antennae on existing mast and associated equipment cabinets at ground level for telecommunications at Police Radio Mast, Police Station, Argyle Street, Dornoch.

The Committee AGREED to grant the application subject to the conditions detailed in the report.

5. Demolition of Carrol House and Erection of 2 No. Blocks of Apartment Buildings Totalling 17 No. Units, As Amended, at Carrol House, Golf Road, Brora for Ardassie Ltd (05/00431/FULSU)

There had been circulated Report No. PLC 17-08  by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending approval of the application 05/00431/FULSU for the demolition of Carrol House and erection of 2 no. blocks of apartment buildings totalling 17 no. units, as amended, at Carrol House, Golf Road, Brora for Ardassie Ltd.

The local Member, Mr W Ross, advised that while he had no objection to the principle of the development, any approval should be subject to a tree survey being carried out within the site, and the use of semi mature trees to provide screening to minimise the impact of the development on Carrol Cottage, it being confirmed that the Council’s affordable housing policy should be applied in relation to the development, on the basis that a commuted sum would be payable by the developer as a fall back position,  and subject to further investigation as to whether planning gain could be used to deliver improvements to the road infrastructure adjacent to this development.

The Committee AGREED to grant the application, subject to the conditions detailed in the report, and subject to (i) it being a condition of permission that a tree survey be carried out within the site and semi mature trees be used to provide screening to minimise the impact on Carrol Cottage, (ii) the Council’s affordable housing policy being applied in respect of the development, and (iii) further investigation in relation to the potential for planning gain to be secured to deliver improvements to the road infrastructure.

6. Tree Preservation Order No. 86 at Former Sutherland Arms Hotel, Lairg

There had been circulated Report No. PLC 18-08 by the Area Planning & Building Standards Manager seeking confirmation of a revised Tree Preservation Order placed on an area of trees of high amenity value at the former Sutherland Arms Hotel, Lairg.  The report recommended that Members agree to confirm an amended Tree Preservation Order as detailed under Option 2 in the appendix to the report.

The local Member, Mr G Farlow reported that the local community council had consulted widely with local community interests on this matter, and expressed his and the other local Members’  support for Option 2 as detailed in the report.   Mr W Ross suggested that the trees made an important contribution to the character of the area, and commended the consultation process.

A contrary view was expressed by Mr G Smith, who advised that based on comments he had received locally, the community were indifferent to a Tree Preservation Order, the view being that the trees on the site were not of high amenity value and that the redevelopment of the site was more important to Lairg.

Following further discussion, Committee AGREED to the confirmation of an amended Tree Preservation Order based on the better trees which had been identified in the tree survey in accordance with the Option 2 as set out in the Appendix to the report.

At this point, 2.55pm, Mr W Ross and Mr G Farlow left the meeting.

7. Alterations and Extension to House at Largo, Newton Road, Wick for Mrs A Durrand (08/00029/FULCA)

There had been circulated Report No. PLC 14-08 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending refusal of the application 08/00029/FULCA for the alterations and extension to house at Largo, Newton Road, Wick for Mrs A Durrand.

The Committee AGREED to refuse the application for the reasons set out in the report, namely by virtue of its height and massing, the development would be out of keeping with the character of the existing house, and would appear to be an alien and incongruous feature in the area.

8. Erection of Two Houses and Installation of a Treatment Plant and Mound Soakaway at Land 150m South East of Victoria Cottage, Lybster for David Wild (08/00099/OUTCA)

There had been circulated Report No. PLC 15-08 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending approval of the application 08/00099/OUTCA for the erection of two houses and installation of a treatment plant and mound soakaway at land 150m south east of Victoria Cottage, Lybster for David Wild.

The Committee AGREED to grant the application subject to the conditions detailed in the report.

9. Appeal – Erection of House, Garage and Ancilliary Services and Access at Plot 1, South East of Brindavan, Ardgay for G Glennie

There had been circulated decision notice dated 1 April 2008 from The Scottish Government dismissing the appeal against refusal of outline planning permission for the erection of a house, garage, ancilliary services and access at Plot 1, South East of Brindavan, Ardgay for G Glennie.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

10. Appeal – Erection of House, Garage and Ancilliary Services and Access at Plot 2, South East of Brindavan, Ardgay for G Glennie

There had been circulated decision notice dated 1 April 2008 from The Scottish Government dismissing the appeal against refusal of outline planning permission for the erection of a house, garage, ancilliary services and access at Plot 2, South East of Brindavan, Ardgay for G Glennie.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

11. Appeal – Erection of House, Garage and Ancilliary Services and Access at Plot 3, South East of Brindavan, Ardgay for G Glennie

There had been circulated decision notice dated 1 April 2008 from The Scottish Government dismissing the appeal against refusal of outline planning permission for the erection of a house, garage, ancilliary services and access at Plot 3, South East of Brindavan, Ardgay for G Glennie.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

12. Appeal – Erection of Single Storey House, Installation of Septic Tank, and Soakaway and Formation of New Access at Land to the North of Catreff, Newton Row, Wick for A J Palmer (07/00128/FULCA)

There had been circulated decision notice dated 1 April 2008 from The Scottish Government dismissing the appeal against refusal of planning permission for the erection of a single storey house, installation of septic tank, soakaway and formation of new access at land to the north of Catreff, Newton Row, Wick for A J Palmer.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

13. Appeal – Non-Illuminated Sign Board Measuring 1000mm High X 800mm Wide, Maximum Height above Ground Level 1100mm, at North Lands Creative Glass, Quatre Bras, Lybster for North Lands Creative Glass (0/00435/ADVCA)

There had been circulated decision notice dated 1 April 2008 from The Scottish Government upholding the appeal against refusal of advertisement consent for a non-illuminated sign board measuring 1000mm high x 800mm wide, maximum height above ground level 1100mm, at North Lands Creative Glass, Quatre Bras, Lybster  for North Lands Creative Glass. 

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

14. Appeal – Erection of Two Houses and Alterations to Vehicular Access at Land to the West of Dunroamin, Dunnet, Caithness for Mr A Sutherland (07/00407/OUTCA)

There had been circulated decision notice dated 11 March 2008 from The Scottish Government dismissing the appeal against refusal of outline planning permission for the erection of two houses and alterations to vehicular access at land to the west of Dunroamin, Dunnet, Caithness for Mr A Sutherland.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

15. Appeal – Alterations to Workshops/Stores at Site No. 2, Neil Gunn Drive, Ormlie Industrial Estate, Thurso for E Petrie Painters (07/00372/FULCA)

There had been circulated decision notice dated 28 March 2008 from The Scottish Government upholding the appeal against the failure of the Council to issue a decision notice, and granting planning permission for alterations to workshops/stores at site No.2, Neil Gunn Drive, Ormlie Industrial Estate, Thurso for E Petrie Painters.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

16. Appeal – Erection of House, with Septic Tank and Soakaway at Land to the South of Bonnygates, Reiss/Killimster, Wick for Mr and Mrs W Larnach (07/00090/OUTCA)

There had been circulated decision notice dated 28 March 2008 from The Scottish Government dismissing the appeal against refusal of outline planning permission for the erection of house, with septic tank and soakaway at land to the south of Bonnygates, Reiss/Killimster, Wick for Mr and Mrs W Larnach.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.

17. Appeal – Renewal of Permission for Siting of Static Caravan at Land to the East of Rowan Cottage, Mey, Caithness for Mr Thomas Mahaffy (07/00153/FULCA)

There had been circulated decision notice dated 28 March 2008 from The Scottish Government upholding the appeal against the decision to restrict permission for a period of six months, and varying the terms of the planning permission 07/00153/FULCA for the renewal of permission for the siting of a static caravan at land to east of Rowan Cottage, Mey, Caithness.

The Committee AGREED to note the terms of the decision notice.