Pub boss slams flats plan for town centre
Bar owner hits out at location of 73 homes
A Paisley pub boss has slammed plans to build social housing in the town centre as inappropriate and inconsiderate due to the impact it will have on her business.
Jacqueline McCaig, who owns the Old Swan Inn, in Smithhills Street, says proposals to build 73 flats between Smithhills Street and Lawn Street will cause nothing but problems for business owners and residents.
Jacqueline, who has ran the popular Paisley bar for more than 20 years, says issues with noise level, lack of parking and overcrowding in the area all deem it an inappropriate place to build housing.
She claims residents who live in the block would be affected by the noise due to early morning bin uplifts and customers leaving the bar late at night
She told the Express: “I just don’t think it is the right place to build housing like this.
“The plans mean that it will basically surround my pub on almost three sides and people that move into them will be affected by the noise.
“I have a busy bar with live music and we will receive noise complaints.
“It’s just isn’t fair on the people who have been given these houses and to us as we will have to answer complaints.
“I have a good relationship with my neighbours and accommodate them by having live bands on earlier in the day. Building flats will just cause problems.
“There are better places for these flats to be built.”
The development, called Abbey Quarter, would be created on a building yard and car park between the two town centre streets.
Detailed proposals have been submitted to Renfrewshire Council’s planning department by Hypostyle Architects, the firm behind the development design.
It states that the new blocks will complement others in the town centre.
The design statement adds: “The development is named Abbey Quarter Phase IV. For use as social rent and New Supply Shared Equity scheme housing units the in-fill proposal aims to add complete the masterplan for this area.
“Recent regeneration has been undertaken on the adjacent sites and this being Phase IV will complete the block.
“While designed in isolation, relating to the specific characteristic of the site, the final proposals blend in harmoniously with the initial masterplan phases.”
Jacqueline fears people who are in need of housing will be “dazzled” by the prospect of a new home without thinking about the location.
She has also criticised the lack of planning considerations for surrounding businesses.
She added: “Potential tenants will be blindsided by a newly built flat then the reality of living in the town centre will set in and they’ll start complaining.
“How is it fair that I’d have 73 potential tenants up against my business?
“There is also no thought being put into how the building of these flats will affect my business.
“There will be noise from the building site along with an increase in dust.
“It’s something that’s going to take a while and isn’t going to be finished overnight.
“It’s ridiculous. Absolutely no care or consideration about my business has been given.”