Knocked back lobster shack appeal may be lodged

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 Angus Council’s development standards committee by eight votes to four.

Mr Carswell has said he would consider making an appeal after he received the refusal document from the local authority.

He 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 and Oban. The councillors should go and see what’s happening in other towns that are fishing communities.”

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 said the lobster shack would have been an additional “attraction” to Arbroath.