Barlinnie B&B idea rejected

A GLASGOW councillor has told of her bemusement as to why holidaymakers would want to visit Cranhill.

Baillie Josephine Docherty made the comments as the local authority’s planning appeals committee knocked back plans to build a B&B near Barlinnie Prison. Councillors took under half an hour to reject the appeal, which would have transformed a derelict building in Ruchazie Place into a 22-room guest house.

As reported in the Evening Times on Monday, the appeal came after business owner Naresh Gajri had his initial application rejected last June.

His planning agent, Andrew Benning, had accused Cranhill Community Council of objecting to the proposals based on a notion that visitors would be “undesirable”.

But Baillie Docherty said: “I taught there for a year and I can’t imagine any reason, especially in terms of planning, for people to be encouraged to come to this area. I find the whole thing quite peculiar. I can’t comprehend why it would be a tourist B&B.”

Her fellow panel member, Cllr Michael Cullen, pointed to a lack of transport links to the area as the main reason he was rejecting the appeal.

He added: “This sort of development could have a detrimental effect on the residential area.”

Cranhill Community Council chairwoman Marie McCairns told of how residents were “very anxious” about the proposals.