COUNCILLORS who will decide the fate of a controversial planning application to build 12 houses at Portincaple on the shore of Loch Long have been urged to take the time to listen to the “clear case” made by those who oppose the plans.
Members of Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee (PPSL) decided last week not to make a final decision on Pelham Olive’s application until a public hearing is held to consider the proposals in detail.
That hearing is almost certain to take place via video link – despite pleas by opponents of the plans to wait until Covid-19 circumstances make a safe physical meeting possible.
The PPSL’s members unanimously backed the holding of a hearing on the Portincaple plans – but only after a lengthy debate on whether planning hearings in general should be held via video link or deferred until physical meetings can be safely held.
READ MORE: Controversial Portincaple housing plans 'should be approved', say council officials
However, the committee decided not to hold a site visit before that hearing takes place, with Helensburgh and Lomond South councillor David Kinniburgh, the committee’s chair, saying a visit would not be necessary because members had visited Portincaple on several occasions in the past.
Reacting to the committee’s decision, Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer, who opposes the application, said: “With more than 1,100 objections, it’s important that councillors take the time to be as familiar as possible with the site.
“It’s disappointing that the committee didn’t defer this decision until a safe site visit was possible, but it is important they take the time to listen to the clear case made against the development by the community.”
Lomond North councillor George Freeman told last Wednesday’s meeting he felt the committee was “putting health and safety too much to the fore” in considering physical hearings versus virtual ones.
But Richard Trail (Helensburgh and Lomond South) said: “I don’t think it would look very good for the council to be holding a hearing at the Victoria Hall [in Helensburgh] when there is the risk it will bring about a spike.”
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