A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for four houses on land next to a quiet Helensburgh cul-de-sac has been granted – sparking a furious response from people living near the site.

As reported in the Advertiser last week, Argyll and Bute’s planning, protective services and licensing committee (PPSL) considered Taylor Wimpey’s application to build on the site next to Redgauntlet Road at a meeting on May 16.

And despite the submission of 20 objections from people living nearby, and from Helensburgh Community Council, the committee decided to approve the developer’s application.

The four new homes are in addition to the 95 properties Taylor Wimpey is already building on the adjacent site of the former Hermitage Academy.

John Scullion, chairman of the Redgauntlet Road Residents Association, complained that the first he knew of the application’s approval was when he read about it on the Advertiser’s website on Monday.

Mr Scullion said: “Is this Argyll and Bute’s definition of local democracy in action?

“How can building four houses that will house approximately eight residents, overrule 20 objections by existing residents unless this has all been a done deal and the PPSL committee was merely a formality to go through?”

Writing on the ‘Redgauntlet Road Cul-de-sac Campaign’ page on Facebook, another resident of the street, Sharon Rice, added: “How nice to read about it first hand from the local paper.

“You’d think the council would have had the decency to notify all the objectors and residents first. But why am I not surprised at being bottom of the list?”

The committee decided, in spite of the number of objections, not to hold a public hearing to decide Taylor Wimpey’s application.

Most of the objections were made on road safety grounds, but a report on the application by planning officials stated that the council’s roads manager had no objections and added: “It is considered that a discretionary hearing would not add any value to this process and is not recommended in this instance.”

Permission was granted subject to six conditions, including the provision of visibility splays at each driveway and two parking spaces per property.