Plan will see one of city’s oldest pubs refurbished

IT is feared that alterations to one of Dundee’s oldest and most traditional watering holes will turn it into “another faceless brewery pub”.

The concerns were expressed by the council’s convener of city development at a meeting last night.

Councillor Lynne Short was objecting to proposals by Belhaven to carry out internal alterations to The Fisherman’s Tavern in Fort Street, Broughty Ferry.

Mike Galloway, the council’s director of development management, recommended the plans for approval.

The brewery wants to create a new bar, gantry and female toilet.

However, moving refusal of the application, Councillor Short said: “The proposed internal alterations would have an adverse impact on the fabric and character of the C-listed building.”

Councillor Will Dawson, convener of the development management committee, said he saw no reason to refuse the plan.

He said: “This is a straightforward proposal for internal alterations that are sympathetic to the character of the building and there will be no change to the exterior.

“The alterations will provide a better experience for staff and customers and I see no reason to refuse this application.”

Members of the development management committee voted by 22 votes to six to approve the proposal.

The Fisherman’s Tavern sits within the Broughty Ferry Conservation area.

Meanwhile, plans for a controversial new funeral parlour on a vacant unit on Graham Street, once occupied by the Woodside Community Group, were approved unanimously.

Members of the committee agreed that applicant John Webster should be allowed to proceed with the development.

Five neighbours had made objections to the application.

The objectors had claimed there were already enough similar premises in the area and there were also fears that parking would be a major issue.

A petition against the plans with 119 names was handed in to the council.

However, councillors approved the application without debate and without hearing any of the deputations that had gone along to the meeting.