MORAY councillors have been accused of “throwing away jobs” after rejecting plans for a new country hotel in the region.
Developer Peter Smith branded the move “a complete joke” and said it was another opportunity lost for an area which promotes itself as a tourist destination.
The decision to block his proposals for a 22-bedroom hotel was made just days after the council pledged to take a flexible approach to schemes with the potential to boost the economy.
A local review body upheld a decision made by planners earlier this year when they rejected his project on road safety grounds.
He wants to create a hotel complex at Easter Coltfield, near Alves,
His vision is for an environmentally-friendly establishment serving produce from his small-holding.
Mr Smith had sourced reclaimed stone for the building, and planned to instal solar panels on the roof, and claims he has spent more than £20,000 on the application and consultancy fees.
Mr Smith, 61, said the decision to reject the development was “another lost opportunity for Moray”.
The widower, of Damhead Steadings, Kinloss, said: “It’s a complete joke.
“They have thrown away the opportunity to create a minimum of 25 jobs and have something unique in Moray.”
He said much of yesterday’s discussion by members of the review body focused on the previously-refused planning submission, rather than the current application.
“It’s another lost opportunity,” said Mr Smith. “How many other planning applications get refused because of the roads department? Too many.”
The site at Easter Coltfield can be accessed from four different directions, on single-track roads.
Officers said the road at the front of the site needed to be widened, and that an additional 10 passing places were required to bring the network up to standard for the development.
Mr Smith offered to pay for the work, but planners said it would not be “viable or competent” to build that many passing places before the three-year planning permission expired.
He already has full planning permission for the construction of an agricultural building on his 12-acre site, where the hotel would have stood.
He said: “I could have it as a potato store, with articulated lorries driving about the roads.”
Keith SNP member Gary Coull told the committee yesterday: “We need to strike a balance between economic development, which this undoubtedly contributes towards, and ensuring road safety.”
He pointed to a paper, endorsed by the council earlier this week, which calls for the economic and employment benefits of business to be considered in any development proposals.
The need for quality hotels has also been mapped out in the Moray Economic Strategy, and recent high-profile events such as the European Pipe Band Championships and Scottish Six Days orienteering festival left many hotels and guest houses struggling to meet demand.
Mr Coull’s move to grant the application was seconded by committee vice-chairman Barry Jarvis.
But Forres independent councillor George Alexander said he had “grave concerns” about the access roads, adding: “I think it is very unfortunate that although this is a development we need in Moray, this particular site is not appropriate.”
Mr Alexander’s amendment to reject the application was carried by three votes to two.
Two members of the local review body, including chairman Chris Tuke, were not present.
Councillor John Cowe, chairman of the council’s economic development and infrastructure committee, said: “The council is committed to supporting economic development in the area.
“This was clearly stated at the committee I chair this week and demonstrated by recent planning decisions for Elgin. However, this will not be at the cost of safety for the public, and in particular road safety, which cannot be compromised regardless of the development.
“The council must abide by the Scottish Government’s guidance and rules on vehicle access to new developments and pedestrian safety resulting from them.
“Mr Smith will be more than aware of this obligation from his experience as a developer.”