Glen Creran appeal lodged

A CONTROVERSIAL bid to build a sand and gravel quarry at Glasdrum in Glen Creran, which was rejected by Argyll and Bute Council in August, could win a last-minute reprieve after the Argyll applicant lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government.

A&L McCrae argues the planning authority was ‘inconsistent’ and ‘incorrect’ in its considerations.

The proposal drew support from nine businesses and 1,359 objections, including from Appin, Ardchattan, and Duror and Kentallen community councils. Argyll and Bute Council’s planning officers recommended the application be turned down and its 13-strong planning committee unanimously agreed.

Planners argued the quarry failed to meet the Local Development Plan (LDP), because it ‘would constitute a conspicuous and intrusive form of development within this settled rural landscape, to the detriment of landscape character, the scenic qualities of the Area of Panoramic Quality, and the experience of the adjoining Wild Land Area.

‘The less than satisfactory restoration scheme does not provide confidence [that] lasting adverse effects would be avoided.’

There was also ‘a presumption against new mineral workings other than where an exceptional local need can be demonstrated’, planners explained, and they had found several quarries within a 30mile radius producing sand and gravel, including Kilmartin, Clachan, North Connel, Benderloch and Dornie.

‘The proposal will not meaningfully add to the available supply within the North Lorn market area,’ they ruled, ‘or address any anticipated serious shortfall in supply, and any contribution which it could make would be offset by adverse local environmental consequences.’

In its appeal, the agents for A&L McCrae, Dalgleish Associates Ltd, argue that the planning department ‘had not been consistent in its consideration’ and was ‘incorrect in its assertion that the proposal is contrary to the development plan. Other material considerations have not been properly factored into the decision. The vision of the LDP has largely been ignored.

‘The focus of the LDP is sustainable development, securing economic activity and optimising use of resources. In relation to local, high-quality mineral resources, this proposal directly addresses both the provision of essential building materials and also the minimisation of the carbon footprint of supply.

‘This development would not, in fact, be noticeable, for much of the time,’ they added. ‘The change to landform would not be clear from elevated viewpoints, and certainly not conspicuous. The treatment of representations to the planning authority has been inconsistent; letters of support from several contractors, well placed to judge the local market, are termed “anecdotal”, while the planning authority relies on representations which it sought to elicit from those who currently supply the local market in competition with the appellant.’

A Scottish Government reporter has been assigned and is seeking Argyll and Bute Council’s response by December 14.

The appeal also re-awoke the anti-quarry protest group, which is inviting people to submit their views to the Scottish Government.