Angry response to loo-bster snub

ARBROATH: Councillors told to go off on research ‘jolly’

An Arbroath developer has hit out at councillors who voted against his plans to turn a former public toilet into a lobster shack at the town’s harbour, suggesting they “go on a jolly” to find out more.

John Carswell is now considering whether to lodge an appeal with the Scottish Government after the council’s development standards committee went against the advice of their officers and voted against his plan by eight votes to four.

He called for the Angus councillors to go and see how lobster shacks were operating in other coastal towns.

Mr Carswell said: “There are places right up the west and east coast of Scotland doing this successfully – North Berwick, Anstruther, Crail, Oban...

“The councillors should go on a jolly for a few days and go and see what’s happening in other towns that are fishing communities.”

Meanwhile, several business owners in the town have signed a letter to The Courier expressing their dismay at the decision.

The man behind the controversial Arbroath lobster shack plan is considering an appeal after it was knocked back by councillors.

Businessman John Carswell’s proposal to convert the former public toilet at Old Shore Head, near the town’s harbour had been recommended for approval by council officers.

However, it was refused by the development standards committee on Tuesday by eight votes to four.

Yesterday, he said he would consider making an appeal after he received the refusal document from Angus Council.

And he also hit out at the “absolute drivel” some of the objectors said about his plans.

Mr Carswell said: “We’ll see once we get the details of the grounds on which they refused it and we’ll take it from there.

“I don’t know what it will say about why it was refused because I think we covered everything.”

He added: “There are places right up the west and east coast of Scotland doing this successfully – North Berwick, Anstruther, Crail, Oban. The councillors should go on a jolly for a few days and go and see what’s happening in other towns that are fishing communities.”

Mr Carswell also hit out at comments made by objectors that the shack could have sold burgers and chicken nuggets under the terms of the hot food licence.

He said: “That was just absolute drivel.

“We have to have a hot food licence because the lobster was going to be cooked and served hot.”

The development has split opinion at the Fit o’ the Toon, with a dozen people in the area objecting to the plans. Concerns included litter, noise and odour.

However, several business owners have now put their names to a letter to The Courier criticising the council committee’s decision.

Signed by 13 people, including five business owners, it says the lobster shack would have been an additional attraction to Arbroath.

“As Red Lichties who know the need to encourage tourism to our town, we are shocked at the decision of the Angus Council administration to refuse the opportunity of a local business opening at the former blue loo at the harbour and bottom of the Fit o’ the Toon,” it says.

“The lobster shack would’ve and could’ve allowed an attraction to our town, much the same as other coastal towns serving fresh local produce.

“Sadly, we believe that a political decision has been taken to deny a forward-looking vision for our burgh and lay blame on those councillors who voted against this.”

The councillors should go on a jolly for a few days and go and see what’s happening in other towns that are fishing communities

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. The toilet block at Old Shore Head in Arbroath, which businessman John Carswell wanted to turn into a lobster shack but was refused permission by Angus Council.