COMMUNITY campaigners have called for an area of land on the shore of Loch Long - which was previously the subject of a controversial planning application - to be re-designated as a protected space to prevent future development.
The site off Feuins Road in Portincaple was identified as the prime location for 12 new homes by developer Pelham Olive.
However, after determined locals campaigned against the proposals, Argyll and Bute Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected the bid in January following a meeting which lasted for seven and a half hours.
Now, members of Garelochhead Community Council (GCC) and the Portincaple Residents’ Association have written to the local authority requesting that the area be re-designated as an Open Space Protected Area, as it was until 2003.
The latest draft of the council’s Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) - set to be considered by councillors this month - has the land in question designated as part of the “settlement area” in Portincaple.
If the site were re-designated, it would be harder for any future development plans to be approved.
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A GCC spokesperson told the Advertiser: “During the consultation on the proposed LDP2, we formally submitted a request that the area of woodland in question in Portincaple be redesignated as an Open Space Protected area in order to protect it from exploitation and housing development.
“This is an area of semi-natural ancient woodland, and is one of the few - if not the only - pockets of broadleaf woodland remaining along Loch Long.
“It is important to note that it was formerly protected under the Woodland Park Retention designation.
“The community council has approached Argyll and Bute Council’s planning department a number of times since the recent decision by the PPSL not to approve the proposed housing development on this site.
“We appreciate that the planning team are not available to meet, even virtually, owing to time and resource constraints. We remain keen to engage to ensure that the views of local people that we represent are adequately considered and reflected in the decisions made about the new Local Development Plan.
“With the likely implementation of updated planning legislation embedded in the National Planning Framework 4 later this year or early in 2022, we look forward to a closer working partnership with the council and trust that they will endeavour to go beyond the statutory minimum in community consultation in the future.”
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The residents’ opposition to Mr Olive’s planning application attracted backing from local Conservative, Green, Labour and SNP politicians.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “The council has agreed a proposed Local Development Plan 2 which is the settled view of the council.
“There was extensive consultation on the plan during the winter of 2019/20. All the valid representations which were received during that time will be submitted to an independent adjudicator appointed by the Scottish Government.
“The Reporter will consider those representations and make recommendations of any changes to the proposed Local Development Plan 2 to the council.
“Those recommendations would largely be binding on the council.
“To make any modifications at this stage would delay the plan for around 12 months, and such delays are not encouraged by Scottish Ministers.”
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