KIRRIE SUPERMARKET PLAN: EXHIBITION IN JULY
THE great Kirriemuir supermarket debate is all set to continue - with the public to be given the opportunity to cast an eye over a proposal to site a store on land at Pathhead.
Since the turn of the year, plans to provide the people of Kirriemuir and the surrounding area with more choice in shopping has been heating up.
Now two applications are in the hands of Angus Council planners - one for a site on land south of Beechwood Place and the other for land slightly closer to the town centre, at Pathhead, just south of the Thrums Veterinary Group base.
Members of the public have already been given the opportunity, courtesy of an exhibition staged in Kirriemuir Old Parish Church hall in late March, to mull over the proposed 25 million development by Macdonald Estates plc and Muirhead Estates plc.
Now, it is the turn of the developer behind the second application to present a case to the people of Kirriemuir.
Guild Homes (Tayside) Limited have earmarked a site, to the north of the A926, on land to the south and east of the existing vets' premises for a new supermarket - stating that it offers Kirriemuir a choice of sites for a potential supermarket.
And the development concept will be available for inspection by the general public at an exhibition to be held in Kirriemuir Old Parish Church hall in early July.
The exhibition will be staged on Friday, July 3 from 3 pm to 8 pm and on Saturday, July 4 from 10 am to 3 pm, with Guild Homes (Tayside) Limited representatives on hand to answer any questions.
Mark Guild wants the people of Kirriemuir and surrounding area to have a big say on the future of shopping in the area.
"We want them to tell us if they want a new supermarket and, if so, where do they want it to be?"
Mr Guild added that, ultimately, it will be up to the planners to make the decision, but he wants to ensure that they are fully informed when they come to do so.
"It is the planners decision, the elected members decision, all we are doing is providing a choice.
"Whether or not the supermarket is on our site in the future, I am not fussed.
"All I want to ensure is that all proposals are brought forward, all potential sites are considered, the whole matter of a supermarket is fully considered and debated and a conclusion with which the majority of people are happy is reached."
Mr Guild took the opportunity to address members of Kirriemuir Community Council on his plans for the Pathhead site when he attended the May monthly meeting in Fairlie House.
He explained that a good supermarket in Kirriemuir would draw people from all areas, as well as within the town itself.
"Such a supermarket would encourage people to come to Kirriemuir for their shopping and hopefully also visit other shops and businesses while they are in town.
"The concept is not just a supermarket for Kirriemuir but for the whole community, including the landward areas."
Mr Guild went on to explain that he had been approached by a developer interested in building a supermarket on the Hillhead site which he is presently developing for housing.
"My immediate response to that suggestion was that we had spent seven years and tens of thousands of pounds to promote and achieve allocation of housing on the Hillhead site.
"We are now in the process of a 111-house development of the site over the course of a four-year period, so why, after all that we have gone through to get this far, would we attempt to change that?
"It was then that I suggested the alternative site at Pathhead as a possibility for a supermarket.
"The developers felt it was an excellent site so, based on the fact that it is one the operator is interested in and one that fits planning policy, we submitted a planning application to Angus Council."
Things have moved on since, with Guild Homes (Tayside) only last week lodging with the local authority's planning department supporting transport and retail impact assessments, together with a landscape appraisal and design statements.
Now the company is looking forward to presenting their plans and getting feedback from the general public when they stage the exhibition in Kirriemuir Old Parish Church hall on Friday and Saturday, July 3 and 4.
No date has, as yet been set for consideration of the two supermarket applications, but it is likely that they will be heard at the same meeting later in the year.
A spokesperson for Angus Council said: "The council's planning and transport division is in the process of considering the applications.
"They are likely to be considered together but, as yet, we do not have a date for presenting them to the development standards committee."
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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