Planning Matters - January 2008
West Lothian Local Plan - Vision for Linlithgow Submission
We are still awaiting the Reporters' verdict on the Civic Trust's objection
to the Finalised West Lothian Local Plan (submitted in the form of the Trust's
Vision for Linlithgow document). The latest time estimate for the publication of
the outcome of the Reporters' deliberations is two months away, in March,
following which West Lothian Council will have to decide whether or not to
accept the reporters' recommendations.
We are preparing ourselves for both eventualities. Should the Reporters
(Messrs Thomas and Hastie) recommend that the Local Plan be amended to
accommodate the 'Vision', we will urge the Council to do just that. If, on the
other hand, the recommendation is to ignore the 'Vision', we will still ask the
Council to include it in the Local Plan! It is heartening to report that the
Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Town Management Group has generally endorsed
the contents of the 'Vision' document and would like to see its implementation.
Whatever the circumstances, it now seems unlikely that the West Lothian Local
Plan will be adopted as the statutory Development Plan before the end of 2008.
Planning Applications
The most significant applications which have received comment from the Civic
Trust since the last report are as follows:
-
Erection of 90-Bed Care Home at Bonnytoun Farm Road - In
previous Newsletters, we have reported on our objections to the various
planning applications for this proposal.
Further to the extremely surprising approval of the outline application, the
most recent application purported to be more in keeping with its
surroundings, having a more 'traditional' architectural approach. We again
objected on the grounds that the bulk of the building was still excessive
for its setting and that the detailed synthesis of the architectural
approach was incompetent.
The Trust was given the opportunity to voice its objections at the relevant
Council planning meeting, resulting in the application being deferred for
further consideration. As yet, no amended proposals have been referred to us
for comment. Jean Long and various members of the Cadell family are to be
thanked for giving up their time to attend the Committee.
- Installation of Automated Public Convenience at Guyancourt Vennel - This
was considered to be seriously detrimental to the appearance and character
of the conservation area; also likely to endanger the continued existence of
the existing excellent staffed facility - objection submitted.
- Alterations and formation of external seating area at West Port Hotel -
Apart from a concern about the proposed dark colour of the window frames,
this proposal - to open out the interior of the hotel's ground floor to
greatly enlarge the eating area - was thought to be desirable. The external
seating area was thought sufficiently distant from housing not to cause any
significant amenity problems.
- Listed Building Application for Extension to Boghall Lodge, Blackness Road
- This application to extend a very small house in such a way as to form a
courtyard was thought to have potential, but suffered from excessive use of
cedar cladding and required alterations to make the extension more in
keeping with the character of the existing listed building (full
comments).
- Relocation of Roadside Air Quality Enclosure next to Pedestrian Crossing,
Guyancourt Vennel - Not an asset to the conservation area, this metal
cabinet was considered to be an undesirable addition to the clutter of
objects already at this location - objection submitted should it be intended
to site the cabinet for any more than six months in total.
 Erection
of House and Garage at Strawberry Bank - This proposal for the siting of a
house on the remaining gap site next to the canal was regarded as acceptable
in principle. However, detailing and materials were inappropriate for its
conservation area location, and, overall, the design was considered too
'suburban' in character and insufficiently outstanding for such an important
and unique canalside site.
Ronald P A Smith BSc MRTPI
Planning Spokesman, Linlithgow Civic Trust
4 Rivaldsgreen Crescent, Linlithgow, EH49 6BB.
Tel: 01506 670758; Email - planning@lct.org.uk
3 December 2007
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