RED LIGHT FOR TRIO OF KIRRIE SUPERMARKET PLANS
PLANS to create a new supermarket in Kirriemuir are no further forward, following an epic six-hour meeting on Monday evening.
The decision to stage the special meeting in Webster's High School to debate the merits of a trio of application sites was a wise one, for a long evening of twists and turns proved to be a real 'education' for the 200-plus members of the packed the public gallery.
And, when the dust had settled on presentation, debate, questions, answers, motions and amendments all three supermarket plans were rejected by Angus Councillors gathered round the table for a special meeting.
The proposal to convert a site at the Gairie Works went into the meeting as the supermarket front-runner, having been recommended for conditional approval by officials, but, with councillors expressing concerns with regard to road safety and the plans to demolish a listed building, the vote went down to the wire, and it took the casting vote of Provost Ruth Leslie Melville to knock it back.
The other two applications - for sites on the edge of town - also failed to find favour with the members round the table.
The Muirhead Estates/MacDonald Estates plan for a site at East Muirhead of Logie, was recommended for refusal by planning officials but went before committee with the news that Sainsbury's was committing itself to the site if it was to be given the green light.
Alas, councillors agreed that the proposal was contrary to the development plan and turned it down in an 18-4 vote.
Not so cut and dry was the proposal by Guild Homes to develop a site at Pathhead.
Also considered to be contrary to the development plan, it was recommended for refusal, but the proposals before them had councillors swithering before it too was given a red light, but only by the narrowest of 12-10 margins.
So, what next in the bid to provide the people of Kirriemuir with a new supermarket?
Everything is now back in the hands of the developers, who must decide whether or not to appeal the decision to the Scottish Executive, and let a Reporter make the decision.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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