A PLANNED hotel and housing development for a lochside beauty spot would “double the size of the community overnight”, residents have warned.

The proposed development at Portincaple, outside Garelochhead, was made public in an application for a ‘screening opinion’ lodged with Argyll and Bute Council.

No formal planning application has been lodged with the authority, but concern is mounting among residents about the effect the planned development could have on neighbouring woodland.

Members of the Portincaple Residents’ Association (PRA) have already met local MSP Jackie Baillie to air their concerns.

READ MORE: Major Loch Long development proposal goes public

The council insists that it’s premature to assume the authority is backing the plans, but the residents’ concerns remain.

Hilary Wharton from the PRA said: “We have written to the council asking them to reconsider, because we as a community are extremely concerned about the impact of this.

“We are concerned about the disruption to the woodland and wildlife, including red squirrels, otters and porpoises, but also the community in general.

“It is fair to say that there seems to be a good groundswell of public opinion very much opposing this development. We have a lot of social media activity on the go.

“The council defines the area as a minor settlement according to its planning policy, which also says that for those areas it is against any more than five housing units.

“So we are shocked and distressed really, as this goes against anything in the local development plan. There are 54 houses in Portincaple so this doubles the size of the community overnight.”

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MSP Jackie Baillie said: “I have met with representatives of the Portincaple Residents Association and understand their concerns about the scale of the development.

“I am happy to provide any assistance that I can in relation to the forthcoming planning application.”

Bruce Jamieson of Puregreen-space Architects in Helensburgh, who have drawn up plans for the development said the name of the village meant ‘port of the mare’, and that drovers from the Highlands used to bring cattle across at that point.

He said: “We have been working on this for a long time and it’s still evolving.

“It is an exciting development and an amazing opportunity to rediscover a lost connection to Loch Long.”

READ MORE: Doubt over plans for up to 140 homes near Helensburgh

Mr Jamieson said the proposals followed landowner Pelham Olive’s recent development at Carrick Castle, on the other side of the loch, where an estate lodge development was given approval by the national park four years ago.

An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “A screening decision, or screening opinion, is the process of determining whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required as part of a planning application.

“The planning authority will indicate either yes, that an EIA is required, or no, it isn’t, and set out reasons why not.

“A request for a screening opinion is not a public process and as such the planning authority does not take third party comments into account.

“We would emphasise that these views are solely in respect of whether an EIA is required for these proposals, and are without prejudice to the determination of any future planning application containing the detail of the proposals.

“This screening opinion should therefore not be taken as reflecting any decision or stance to support or oppose the proposals by the planning authority.”