Planning row kicks of new spat
A NEW row has erupted between Oban Community Council (OCC) and Oban councillor Julie McKenzie after she accused it and her fellow councillors of ‘run[ing] for the hills’ over last month’s decision to approve the building of more homes at Glenshellach.
Facing objections from residents at a hearing in Glencruitten Church Hall on November 24, Argyll and Bute Council’s Planning Protective Services and Licensing Committee approved an application from Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) to build 24 flats at Catalina Avenue and 12 houses by Hayfield.
Following the meeting, Councillor McKenzie, SNP member for ward five Oban North and Lorn, posted on her official Facebook page: ‘It’s extremely concerning some elected members in ward 4 chose not to back their constituents on this issue. Oban Community Council also put forward no representation on behalf of the residents, despite them requesting their backing. It leaves me yet again seriously questioning local democracy.
‘Plain English for you – three out of four ward councillors and the community council run for the hills – residents left to fight on their own.’
Glenshellach lies within ward four, Oban South and the Isles, represented by councillors MaryJean Devon, Roddy McCuish, Alistair MacDougall and Neil MacIntyre.
Responding on its own Facebook page, OCC called Ms McKenzie’s statement ‘misleading and full of inaccuracies’ writing: ‘You neglect to mention Roddy McCuish could not vote on the issue due to a conflict of interest since he is secretary of ACHA, while Neil MacIntyre could not vote due to a conflict of interest since he sits on ACHA’s local committee. Councillors are obliged to consider the interest of the whole community and not just the opinions of the people who attend meetings.’
OCC chairwoman Marri Malloy said in a statement at Monday’s monthly meeting that there was also ‘ no mention of councillor Mary-Jean Devon, who did speak on behalf of the residents. Councillor McKenzie accused this community council of not turning up for this [hearing] to support Glenshellach residents. We were never asked by either ACHA nor the residents’ group for a letter of support, so we were not invited, and, no, we didn’t run to the hills. We acted in accordance with the planning group’s rules.’
Ms McKenzie, who has not attended Oban Community Council since July, told The Oban
Times: ‘It concerns me greatly that residents of ward 4, Oban South and the Isles, have had to look to the ward 5 councillors for support with this contentious and important planning issue.
‘It has been clearly evidenced to me that residents of Glenshellach made a forthright appeal to Oban Community Council in their role as a statutory consultee on planning matters to ask for support.
‘My position is clear with regard to Oban Community Council. It is not an easy community council to deal with and, sadly, it appears to have little interest in the views of the people who live in the Oban area.’