Row erupts over care home plan
Plans to build a 52- bed care home in one of Ayr’s most scenic neighbourhoods have sparked a wall of opposition.
Inverness- based Meallmore Ltd want to build the home on picturesque Dunure Road.
But objectors have slammed the giant structure and claim goalposts on an original plan have been moved.
New proposals have been unveiled for a building stretching over two storeys high at Greenan.
And the scheme is under attack over claims it will obliterate views of the nearby castle.
A raft of objectors, including the town’s MP and MSP, have made their case to South Ayrshire Council planners.
Resident Heath McLean said: “The original masterplan had the care home down at the lowest point of the site but we’re in complete shock over these new plans.
“Building this up at the road will have a huge visual impact on the area and block out Greenan Castle for a lot of people.”
Bill Grant, MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, said: “The existing ground levels have been raised, thus the building if constructed in this manner shall be more prominent.
“Thereby it will impact adversely on the surrounding landscape for residents and potentially detract from the vistas of a tourist route.”
And Ayr MSP John Scott said: “The siting of such a substantial structure immediately adjacent to Dunure Road would have a highly detrimental impact on the amenity of the area.
“It would also be a major departure from the original masterplan, which proposed that the care home should be located at the lowest point of the development.
“My view is that the application to build the care home on this new site should be refused and that it should instead be located where it was originally proposed in the 2009 masterplan.”
A Meallmore spokesman said: “We recently submitted a planning application to South Ayrshire Council to develop a two- storey, 52 bedroom care home to provide high quality personalised care for the frail elderly locally.
“The planning application is currently being considered by South Ayrshire Council and we’re awaiting its outcome.”