Bike hire and craft store plans for units
A bike hire facility and craft stores could be included in proposals for new business units in Balmaha.
Local businessman Sandy Fraser, owner of the Oaktree Inn and the St Mocha Coffee Shop in the village as well as holiday letting cottages, has submitted a planning application to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners for a site near his existing businesses.
He says building the terrace of four new units would benefit the existing cluster of facilities and add to the visitor offering for tourists and day trippers.
The site consists of an area of open ground to the south-east of the coffee shop and is just within and to the south of the fencing and gates that screen the working area of the business from that open to public view.
In a submission to park planners, Mr Fraser’s agents said: “Aside from the applicant’s private vehicles the vast majority of visitors to the units will most likely be those already visiting the Oaktree Inn and St Mocha Coffee Shop, and as such will be pedestrians. Vehicular movements to and from the building area anticipated to be limited to perhaps two or three deliveries per week, with these being part of the main deliveries to the inn and will therefore continue to take place off-street, and so again the impact on the local roads should be negligible.
“The nearby public car park will continue to be the main provision for car borne visitors.
“The provision of a cycle hire shop is also in line with Development Plan policies seeking to encourage outdoor recreation. It is something lacking in the local area and would be well received.
“Overall it is believed the scale of development, the style and appearance of the proposed building and the intended uses should ensure the proposed development can be accommodated into the complex of buildings without undue impact on any neighbouring land, businesses or road network. It will also constitute another visual enhancement of the area as well as additional visitor attractions and facilities.
“The proposal is clearly in accordance with Local Plan aims and policies for encouraging further investment in local tourist businesses and facilities and the new retail/craft units, plus the cycle hire centre, will help to stabilise employment outwith the peak visitor months. It is also being regarded a first phase in the intended enhancement of this part of the property which, to date, has been outwith the public realm.
“It is hoped the Park Authority will recognise the investment the applicant is intending to make, the benefits in terms of accessibility to the proposed location, and the efforts that have been made to minimise the impact of the new units in terms of location and design.
“The application site itself is already in commercial use, albeit as a service area for the businesses that border it, and with all adjoining properties being within the ownership of the applicant there should not be any loss of amenity to neighbouring houses which sit further to the east.
“The access has good sightlines onto the public roadway and will be a pleasant paved pedestrian route between the two stone-clad buildings once the electric gates are relocated further south beyond the application site. Thereafter it is proposed to extend the paviors along the frontage of the new units to enhance the visual impact of the area.”
Park planners are expected to make a recommendation on the application in due course.