Planning committee agrees to save Seil hut
COUNCILLORS have agreed to save a hut built without permission near Seil’s Atlantic Bridge by a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Argyll for his disabled family – but they need a fortnight to decide how to do it.
Graham MacQueen has apologised for building the wooden ‘hut’ north of Clachan Seil for his disabled wife Morven and hoped councillors would not order him to demolish it.
Planning officers recommended the application for refusal, but it drew significant public interest, including 120 letters of support and 16 objections, and went to a public hearing.
Mr MacQueen’s son Peter made an online plea seeking support. He explained that his dad is a full-time carer for three people and, with the aid of their wheelchair-friendly boat, Peter said the hut is necessary for respite.
More than 100 people packed Oban’s Corran Halls for Thursday’s emotional and, at times, angry public hearing, when many submissions were met by rounds of applause or boos. The planning committee chairman, Councillor David Kinniburgh, even called some conduct ‘deplorable’.
Against the proposal, Tim Williams, area planning manager for Oban, Lorn and the Isles, argued: ‘We are here for free and frank opinion. It is disappointing so many who raised objections were not here to discuss it and others disrupted it, not giving the meeting the respect it deserves. I act solely as the voice of the planning authority. I have to set aside sympathy. It has not been easy for me or my team of officers. This is a planning decision that must be made and made properly. This decision is not about personalities. It cannot be about disability. It must be made solely and simply on material considerations, with a necessary disregard for personal circumstances of the applicant and his family.
‘They have to be weighed, but they do not tip the balance in this case. It may be the easier path to attach a greater weight to personal circumstances. Such action would be wrong, no matter how unpalatable that might be.’
In the debate, Councillor Richard Trail began: ‘Retrospective planning applications are the bane of this committee’s life. I am sympathetic to the planners. They look at these planning applications objectively. The circumstances of the MacQueen family are extraordinary. Sometimes the human need overrides the cold hard logic of plans and the law.’
Councillor George Freeman said: ‘There is no criticism of the planning officers. They have carried out what they are required to do.’
Councillor Robin Currie disagreed with the officers’ conclusions, saying: ‘I am very comfortable with the hut. It really fits into the countryside and it can only be seen by someone paddling a canoe.’
Oban Councillor Roddy McCuish said: ‘Sometimes things are morally correct and technically wrong. I will be wholeheartedly supporting this application.’
Mull Councillor Mary-Jean Devon said: ‘I would be looking for a competent motion to accept this as an exceptional case.’
Councillor Graham Hardie thought: ‘This is an exceptional case. The strength of feeling shows that.’
The committee agreed to draw up a competent motion, to be considered when it next meets on Wednesday April 18.
Argyll and Bute Council’s head of governance and law Charles Reppke said: ‘The council is not in the business of making technically wrong decisions.’
Afterwards Mr MacQueen said: ‘It is obvious there are huge difficulties for the planning officers. I apologise for this. It has been a very difficult process for them. The support from the public has been outstanding and the members of the planning committee have almost all expressed a desire to support my application.’