RHU residents have been urged by a councillor to keep on complaining to the local authority if noise and anti social behaviour issues at a problem property in the village continue.
Lomond North independent councillor George Freeman responded to concerns highlighted by members of Rhu and Shandon Community Council during a virtual meeting last month.
Discussing the recent decision by Argyll and Bute Council to refuse retrospective planning permission for a change of use at Invergare Castle, from residential to exclusive visitor accommodation, members said they got “the result that the community council was looking for, and indeed the neighbourhood was looking for”.
The community council had submitted an objection to the application, along with more than 30 residents, complaining about excessive noise levels coming from guests at the B-listed mansion, and ineffective mitigation measures to screen guests before their stay.
Questioning what could be done if the problems persist, community council convener Jim Duncan said: “Now that they have been refused planning permission for a change of use, what happens next?
“On their website they were still taking visitors in after the PPSL [planning, protective services and licensing committee] meeting.
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“It comes down to the question of enforcement and whether Argyll and Bute Council have any powers or inclination for enforcement of the planning regulations.”
Cllr Freeman replied: “The only issue now is whether the developer will submit an appeal and I would think there’s a fairly strong likelihood that an appeal will be submitted because what have they got to lose, barring any additional costs?
“I would still be hopeful, looking back to a very controversial one recently at Portincaple, where we did a lot of work on that, and the developer did appeal, but the reporters threw that appeal out.
“I would hope the same would happen this time but there’s no guarantee.”
Mr Duncan then asked: “If the owner continues to let on a short-term let basis, what action will the council take, given that there are no enforcement officers within Argyll and Bute, as far as we know, and they are continuing to let, as far as we can see?”
Cllr Freeman said: “Enforcement really doesn’t have much in the way of teeth, but if there are ongoing concerns, I would encourage anyone, where they think that activity is taking place which is not in line with any approval, to continue to put complaints into the council.
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“You’ve got to highlight them.”
Members also referred to a separate property in the village, Duneira, which was described as “another Invergare in the making”.
Proposals to turn the home into a residential training centre were approved at the beginning of 2020, with applicant Paul Smith subsequently challenging conditions relating to vehicle movement and access to the site later last year.
In October a local review body upheld the appeal against the conditions following a site visit.
Mr Duncan told the meeting: “Unfortunately, I think this could be the next Invergare, it certainly seems to be building that way.
“There has definitely been an increased number of complaints that I’ve been getting from neighbours round about about noise going on until 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning.
“Until conditions are met for a change of use to a training centre then the regulations state that it is still a residential dwelling house.”
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