PLANS for a café and playpark near Connel have been refused in a knife-edge vote among councillors – despite a last-ditch appeal to go against officers' recommendations.

Shaun Sinclair’s proposal for the site at Inverlusragan was the subject of a public hearing by Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing (PPSL) committee last month.

An authority planning officer recommended that the plans be refused because of the impact on an Open Space Protection Area (OSPA), but councillors voted to continue the process to seek advice on a competent motion to approve the application.

However, at the PPSL committee’s regular meeting on Wednesday, February 21, councillors decided by seven votes to six that the plans should be refused.

Councillor Amanda Hampsey (Conservative, Oban South and the Isles) had prepared a motion stating her view that the development should be allowed.

She said: “It is suggested in the report of handling that the proposed development will be highly visible from the northern end of Connel Bridge and from the water of Loch Etive under Connel Bridge and the North Connel/Bonawe road.

“While I accept that may be the case, it is contended that such assessments are subjective and that as the main building will be tucked in against existing development and the remainder of the development is at a level where it will merge into the backdrop of Connel Village.

“The development will create a number of jobs in the area and the business will increase the number of visitors to the area, which is likely to have a positive impact on trade for other businesses in the area, which demonstrates economic benefit will be derived from the development.

“As it stands, the OSPA creates no beneficial use of the location by the public.

“By opening up the site with this development, consequently it will ensure direct access to members of the public, locals and visitors and will offer the public the ability to enjoy all the aspects of the OSPA area in a manner which has not previously been available to them.

“In conclusion, therefore, I am of the view that the development has been designed to minimise the impact on the OSPA to a level that will not detrimentally affect the scenic amenity of the location, and will enhance it through providing access to the area and the siting of the viewpoint.”

Councillor Graham Hardie (Liberal Democrat, Helensburgh Central) said: “I am slightly concerned that the motion is full of supposition regarding the effectiveness of [council] officers. There is no actual fact in it.”

Iain Jackson, the council’s head of governance and legal, stated that the motion was competent, after which Councillor Hardie put forward an amendment that the recommendation to refuse should be upheld.

Mr Jackson also said that further debate on the motion was not possible, as both it and the amendment had been proposed and seconded.

After a roll call among members of the committee, the amendment was backed by a one-vote margin, meaning the application was refused.