A HELENSBURGH man hoping to launch a meat drying and processing facility at his home says he wishes neighbours had been more honest with him about his plans.

Anton Erlank has asked Argyll and Bute Council for permission to convert the garage at his home at 20 Marmion Avenue in south Colgrain.

The South African hopes to use the facility for the processing of two delicacies from his native country – the dried beef known as biltong, and the dried sausage droëwors.

At the time of publication, eight objections to the proposal had been submitted to the local authority.

Mr Erlank said: “I did speak to some of my neighbours about it. They didn’t give any indication that it was a problem.

“They encouraged me to do it, then, afterwards, I found out how they really felt.

“I do understand their points and take them on board. But I think it would have been nice if they had been honest with me and had said how they really feel.”

The objectors to Mr Erlank’s proposal cite concerns including the disposal of waste, the potential smell nuisance and the impact of increased traffic on the street.

Mr Erlank – who already makes biltong in the kitchen of his family’s home – admitted he did not know how much of a smell impact there would be if his project is approved by planning officers. But he said fears over traffic levels were misplaced.

He said: “Some people are concerned that there would be trucks stopping in the road offloading carcasses. That will definitely not be happening.

“It will be relatively small amounts of meat.”

The latest objectors to the proposal include Robert O’Neil and Brian and Janet Averell, who live in Lawrence Avenue, to the rear of Mr Erlank’s home.

Mr O’Neill says in his objection: “South Colgrain is and always has been a residential area. Allowing this application could be the thin end of the wedge to allow other business plans to be put forward, which would in my opinion be difficult to refuse if this was allowed.

“Setting up a business such as the one proposed in a garage in a residential area with all the environmental issues such as smoke, smells, waste disposal, water disposal, noise, meat storage, chemical storage, excessive lighting etc seems to me to be a very bad idea.”

Mr and Mrs Averell state in their objection they fear the disposal of waste would attract vermin.

Mr Erlank told the Advertiser he believed there was a market in the west of Scotland for the meats he hopes to dry and sell.

He said: “To start a business takes a lot of money. That’s why I was thinking of starting small scale.

“If it does grow, and I know the business is working, then I could look at either a shop or an industrial unit to work from.”

Mr Erlank’s application is likely to be determined by Argyll and Bute Council planning officials – though if enough members of the public comment on the proposal it could be put before councillors on the authority’s planning, protective services and licensing committee