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Planning |
Planning Report 2006-2007As in past years, the Executive Committee has spent much time debating controversial planning issues affecting Linlithgow. Do contact us about joining the Executive Committee if you would like to be more closely involved in such discussions.
West Lothian Local Plan - Update on “Vision for Linlithgow”I regret to report that we are no further forward in receiving a formal decision on our 'Vision' document. A reminder of progress to date is as follows:
As reported in the last Newsletter, the inquiry has taken much longer than anticipated and the last session took place on 9 February 2007. A programme of accompanied site visits is being organised for April and May. If called upon to do so, Linlithgow Civic Trust will be represented as appropriate. Only after these site visits will the inquiry reporters be able to finalise their reports, and thus their verdict on the Civic Trust's Vision document is unlikely before late 2007. Thereafter, of course, West Lothian Council will have to decide whether or not to accept the reporters' recommendations. Planning ApplicationsDuring the past year, Ron Smith has continued to comment on planning applications referred to the Civic Trust by West Lothian Council. This work continues to be done in association with the West Lothian History and Amenity Society. Until recently, the Trust was consulted automatically about all applications affecting either Listed Buildings or property within the Conservation Areas, but the volume of such consultations has fallen greatly over the past year. The West Lothian History & Amenity Society had also noticed a big drop in consultations generally throughout the county and, following approaches to the Council, there now seem to be more applications being referred to us. In the circumstances, we have had to request consultation on planning applications to a greater extent than previously. Unfortunately, the quality of the plans being referred to us is sometimes poor, as they are often A4 black-and-white prints of larger, coloured plans which had originally been submitted to the Council electronically. Such is the price of so-called 'progress'! As a result of the fall in consultations, during the 12 months to 28 February 2007, the Trust commented on only 15 planning applications received by West Lothian Council, compared to 32 the previous year and 57, 54, 56, 44, 48 and 46 in the years before that - continuing a reversal of the trend. It is of course possible that there are simply less development proposals because there are so few opportunities left for infill development in the town, and because of a loss of confidence in the High Street caused by competition from the Stockbridge Retail Park. Prospective development activity which has been the subject of consultation is as varied as always. Significant and contentious applications have, as in previous years, already been brought to the attention of members through the newsletters. In summary these were:-
Since the last Newsletter, we have dealt with the following particularly contentious application. Our views on the matter were given due prominence on the front page of the Linlithgow Gazette under the headline - 'Eyesore'. Erection of 90-Bed Care Home at Bonnytoun Farm RoadThis was a detailed application further to the extremely surprising approval of the outline application contrary to last year's very strong recommendations of the Council's own planning officials. As members will be aware, the Trust objected to outline application because the proposed development in the countryside was considered to adversely affect the setting of Linlithgow Loch and Peel, as well as setting a precedent for further development. With regard to the design and character of the building now being proposed, it was considered that the proposal is entirely out of keeping with its countryside location for the following reasons:
We have objected to the application on the grounds of poor design and materials. Subsequently, we have also requested that the Council reviews the legitimacy of acceptance that the outline permission gives consent for a specific number of bed-spaces. An outline application/permission is only for the principle of a development, not actual numbers, and we have argued that the size of any care home must be scaled down to dimensions more akin to those of one of the small country houses in the area for it to be deemed in any way acceptable. Further to previous reports on applications to which we have objected, it should be noted that the application for a 12-metre high telecommunications mast on the canal towpath, just east of the Manse Road bridge, was refused after an unsuccessful appeal to the Scottish Ministers. On the other hand, the very poorly laid-out development of 66 flats on the abattoir site at Braehead Road is now under construction - no doubt, some residents will enjoy their views of the adjacent Council coup at close quarters! At the Stockbridge Retail Park, lack of attention to detail is manifest in the muddy footpath across the shrub bed at the north-east corner, while the promised footbridge across to the Aldi Store has never appeared. Next to Aldi, the proposed 'restaurant' still remains boarded up. Finally, a reminder that the following significant development proposals are still under consideration by the Reporters dealing with the West Lothian Local Plan:
Care of Linlithgow's Conservation AreasOver the past year, we have raised several matters with the Council in an attempt to prevent long-term loss of the town's character. So far, Linlithgow has been relatively lucky to have escaped damage to its remaining historic areas, but increasing concerns are being raised that even minor departures from traditional standards could, if not remedied, lead to a significant erosion of the quality of the town's conservation areas. In some cases elsewhere, conservation areas have even been de-designated because their special character has been lost. The matters we have raised include:
We have offered to assist with the provision of leaflets advising property owners in conservation areas of their environmental responsibilities, so far without any response from the Council. Satellite Dishes in the Conservation AreaLinlithgow Civic Trust has written to West Lothian Council expressing concern over the proliferation of dishes on listed buildings and generally within the conservation area of Linlithgow. The following is the guidance published by Edinburgh Council: Conservation Areas Satellite dishes will normally be acceptable where they are effectively screened from public view provided that the character and visual amenity of the conservation area are not adversely affected. Listed Buildings Dishes will not normally be acceptable where they would adversely affect the character or setting of a listed building. Poorly sited satellite dishes can be visually intrusive and detract from the architectural composition of a building. Dishes may be acceptable in the following situations:
What do you think? Your views on any subject covered by this newsletter are welcomed. Ronald P A Smith BSc MRTPI |