Former church to be turned into community hub
Plans to turn a former church in Clachan into a community hub have been given the green light.
Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing (PPSL) committee last week approved the proposal by Clachan Village Hall committee, despite 12 objections from the public.
Eight expressions of support were also received for plans to change Achnaha, a category B-listed building constructed in 1878 as a free church but more recently used as a house, to a community hub.
A council planning officer had recommended approval without the need for a public hearing.
The report said: ‘Notwithstanding concerns of some people who have made representations of objection on grounds of traffic congestion and road safety hazards directly resulting from the proposed change of use, officers consider that the day-to-day community-type uses typical of a village community hall will be of such a modest scale as to have minimal impact on the public/private road infrastructure.
‘In addition, the central village location will offer an opportunity for users to travel to the hall by foot or bike as opposed to a very short car journey.’
It was felt the times when the hall would be used to capacity would be occasional and there was sufficient overspill parking nearby. In relation to neighbouring homes, the report said the former church was appropriate as a hub and village community activities at it would not have detrimental effect on the residential area in terms of noise or disturbance.