Councillor slams planners on proposed Craigahulliar dwelling

The application came before Council’s Planning Committee last Tuesday.

It proposes to build a split level dwelling and a garage, at lands adjacent to 9 Craigahulliar Road.

There were six objections to the plan, however it appeared on the schedule as an approval.

Independent councillor Christine Alexander said she felt the house would be ‘out of character’ for the area.

“This area is the only green area in Craigahulliar.

“The children use this area to play in. The application should be more sensitive to the surroundings.”

The Mayor, councillor Norman Hillis agreed saying: “This is a little terrace of old houses. These houses are about 70 years old, I don’t think this very modern building is in keeping with the other homes, I think it should be refused.”

Councillor Alexander proposed that Council should vote against the planners decision, seconded by the Mayor.

On being put to a vote the proposal was carried by 9 votes to 1.

Addressing the Regional Planning Manager, councillor Alexander slammed Planners for applying the wrong planning policy to the Craigahulliar application.

Councillor Alexander believed that PPS7 should have been applied to the application, however planners did not recognise Craigahulliar as a settlement and applied PPS21, a policy for rural development.

“Craigahulliar is a small settlement, PPS7 should be applied to this application, not PPS21, which deals with more rural applications.”

Divisional Planning Manager, Mary Mcintyre addressed the councillor on the issue, saying:” PPS7 deals with all residential developments except for those in the countryside.

“PPS21 has been applied to Craigahulliar as it is more rural. It is not exact science but we do our best.

“There is no evidence to say that we are misinterpreting the policy.

“I do acknowledge that Craigahulliar looks like a residential area, but in planning terms it is treated as a rural area, so PPS21 is applied.”