Garage plan
Planners give OK to Fishescotes proposal
A derelict petrol station in Burnside is to be transformed into a used car sales business.
The former Fishescoates Service Station on East Kilbride Road will display more than 20 cars from its renewed forecourt when opened by Burnside Car Company.
A derelict petrol station in Burnside is to be transformed into a used car sales business.
The former Fishescoates Service Station on East Kilbride Road will display more than 20 cars from its renewed forecourt when opened by Burnside Car Company.
The business was this month granted planning permission for a change of use by South Lanarkshire Council.
The local authority agreed the building could be altered to house a reception area, two offices, staff room, toilet facilities and store room, while the forecourt area will have 33 car parking spaces, of which 22 will be used to display cars for sale.
Planning permission for the business comes months after Burnside Community Council raised concerns about the state of the filling station, which has fallen into a poor state of repair.
The former Texaco garage, which has been shut for almost three years, had been dubbed an eyesore, with rubble on the site, along with litter and graffiti.
In a letter to South Lanarkshire Council’s planning department Professor James Neil, chairman of the community council, said: “The improvement of a derelict and eyesore site should be welcomed in principle but full endorsement cannot be offered unless there are assurances that the proposed used car sales development will be proportionate to the space available and operated in a manner that does not disturb residents in adjoining properties.
“I note the concerns raised by immediate neighbours already with regard to possible loss of privacy and fears of excessive noise from car valeting activities on site.
“Also the plans show a very high density of occupancy and an obvious question is whether vehicle movements on the site will spill over on to the busy East Kilbride Road.
“It is hoped that the dangers highlighted above can on this occasion be pre- empted at the planning stage and that appropriate conditions of operation can be agreed to safeguard the interests of neighbours and other local residents.”
These concerns were considered by planners and Burnside Car Company was granted the change of use permission on the condition that it increases the car parking spaces on site for staff and visitors from six to 11.
Further conditions regarding noise were also imposed and the business was told to erect a 1.8m fence on the boundary with Fishescoates Avenue to maintain the neighbouring households’ privacy.