Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair, Councillor Gordon Blair, welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He explained that no person present would be entitled to speak other than the Members of the Local Review Body (LRB) and Mr Jackson, who would provide procedural advice if required.

 

He referred to the first meeting on 20 June 2024 when it was agreed to hold an accompanied site inspection, which took place early today (note of site inspection attached as Appendix A to this Minute).  Taking account of the information received at this site inspection and the paperwork previously issued for meeting held on 20 June 2024, he advised that the first matter for the Members of the LRB to address was whether they now had sufficient information to reach a decision on this Review.

 

All the Members of the LRB agreed they had sufficient information.

 

Councillor Irvine intimated that he had noted that the principle reason for refusal of this application was the anticipated intensification of vehicular use of a road, which had no delineation between pedestrian or vehicular use.  Having noted the layout of the road next to the proposed development at the site inspection, he said it might be possible to alleviate that concern by either widening the road at the pinch point, which had been suggested as a commensurate improvement by the Applicant’s Agent, or constructing a pavement on the Applicant’s land running parallel to the UC53 Glenmore Road.

 

He pointed out that looking at Pulpit Hil as a whole, the roads were not uniform in width and there were no pavements.  He said that either of the suggested commensurate improvements may go some way to improving the public road network in a manner that would be practical or proportionate to the development as a whole.

 

Councillors Hampsey and Blair agreed with the comments and suggestions made by Councillor Irvine.

 

Councillor Blair sought advice from Mr Jackson on the preparation of a competent Motion.

 

Mr Jackson advised that the Members of the LRB should seek, in the first instance, confirmation from the Roads Officer on the practicalities of the Applicant widening the road or constructing a pavement.  He said that confirmation should be sought on who would be responsible for the cost of maintaining the road, if it was widened, or the pavement, if that was constructed.  He said that confirmation should be sought as to whether the widened road, or new pavement would be adopted by the Council or remain on private land.

 

Mr Jackson also advised that the Members of the LRB might wish to consider requesting from the Planning Officer, two sets of appropriate conditions and reasons, one including a condition in respect of widening the road, and one including a condition in respect of constructing a pavement, in the event the Members were minded to approve this planning application.

 

Decision

 

The Members of the LRB agreed:

 

1.    to request from the Roads Officer, clarification on the practicalities of the Applicant widening the road at the pinch point or laying a pavement on the Applicant’s land running parallel to the UC53 Glenmore Road, in terms of who would be responsible for maintaining the widened part of the road or the pavement, for example, would either be adopted by the Council or remain on private land; and

 

2.    to request from the Planning Officer two sets of appropriate conditions and reasons, one including a condition in respect of widening the road, and one including a condition in respect of constructing a pavement, in the event the Members were minded to approve this planning application.

 

 

Appendix A

ARGYLL AND BUTE LOCAL REVIEW BODY

 

NOTE OF MEETING OF SITE INSPECTION RE CASE 24/0010/LRB

KELLAN, GLENMORE ROAD, OBAN

MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2024

 

 

In attendance          Councillor Gordon Blair, Argyll and Bute LRB (Chair)

                               Councillor Daniel Hampsey, Argyll and Bute LRB

                               Councillor Mark Irvine, Argyll and Bute LRB

                               Stephen Fair, Applicant’s Agent

                               Derek McLean, Applicant

                               Emma Shaw, Planning Officer

                               Judith Stephen, Planning Technician

                               Stuart Watson, Assistant Network and Standards Manager

                               James Jackson, Traffic and Development Officer

 

Iain Jackson, Governance, Risk and Safety Manager (Adviser)

Fiona McCallum, Committee Services Officer (Minutes)

                    

The Argyll and Bute Local Review Body (LRB) agreed on 20 June 2024 to conduct an accompanied site inspection.  The purpose of the inspection was to view the road and development site.

 

The Local Review Body convened at 11.30 am on 4 November 2024 at Kellan, Glenmore Road, Oban.  The Chair welcomed everyone to the site inspection and introductions were made.

 

The Chair welcomed all attendees and explained the procedure for the site visit.

 

The following observations were made and points noted:

 

1.    The standard width of a pavement for a new build was 2 metres but 1.5 metres may be accepted if 2 metres not achievable.  Beyond that would conflict with pedestrian and wheelchair users.

 

2.    The boundary of the development site and the possible location where a pavement could be constructed or the road could be widened within the curtilage of the Applicant’s land.

 

3.    The proposed size of the new house being 3 bedrooms in keeping with the Applicant’s house next to the development site.

 

4.    The new build is proposed to be the Applicant’s primary residence.

 

5.    The number of vehicle movements during the site inspection.

 

6.    The route taken by visitors/tourists walking to the Pulpit Hill viewpoint.

 

7.    The majority of pedestrians using the UC35 Glenmore Road were neighbouring residents of other properties.

 

Having established that Members had no further questions, Mr Jackson thanked all in attendance for their input. 

 

This concluded the site visit.