A COMMUNITY hall is set to make way for a house on Bute after planning permission was granted by council chiefs.

The Mount Stuart Trust’s application for the former Straad Hall on the island’s west coast was given the go-ahead after only one objection was received from the public.

Concerns over the loss of a public car park, and the new house’s use as holiday accommodation, were addressed by the applicants during the planning process.

The single objection also raised the issue of the loss of the hall itself, and no community groups being approached to take it over.

The applicants said in a statement: “The village hall was returned to Mount Stuart Trust (MST) by a local community group after they themselves were unable to find a use for the building and could not get anyone else to take it on.

“MST state that they do not have the capacity to maintain and operate the village hall for sporadic use such as occasional parties or meetings and approached the community garden orchard group to gauge their interest but they were unwilling to inherit the use of the building.

“The community of Straad is home to a very small number of people and so it would be reasonable to assume that the building is surplus to the requirements of the community.

“Furthermore, as the hall is at present unused, its loss would in our view not be detrimental to the community and there are other community use buildings on the island that can offer alternative provision.

“As such the loss of the hall in our view would not have a detrimental effect on the community and would make way for a high quality low energy dwelling that is supportive of a family.”

In the past the hall has played host to summer afternoon teas organised by the Ballianlay branch of the WRI (now known as the Scottish Women’s Institute), as well as to popular annual Burns suppers.

A planning officer added: “The site is brownfield, given the village hall is to be demolished.

“The loss of the community hall has been accepted given there is no demand and the new house will provide suitable accommodation for a local resident and help to address the need to re-populate the Island.

“The design, scale and siting is appropriate for the site.

“Overall, it is considered that the proposal meets all the necessary policies and will offer an enhancement to the area including enhancement of biodiversity given the current site is void of any vegetation.”