The historic heart of a north-east port was saved last night after an eleventh hour plea from a Hollywood film producer.
Alan Wands, who used Portsoy’s 17th century harbour as the backdrop for the upcoming remake of Whisky Galore, wrote to planners objecting to proposals for a boat shed and tourist accommodation.
His was one of 83 letters sent to Aberdeenshire Council, along with a 171-signature petition, after the bid to build on the site of the old salt house was made public.
The application, from Garmouth-based architect Stuart Matthew, won the backing of the planning department but was rejected unanimously by members of the Banff and Buchan area committee yesterday.
Mr Wands, who is currently at the helm of the latest big screen version of Compton MacKenzie’s much-loved novel starring stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard, said the development would have harmed the village’s hopes of attracting more movie projects in future.
The Ayr-born producer was quoted by Roger Goodyear, the chairman of the Portsoy Boat Festival, at yesterday’s meeting.
He wrote: “It’s hard to believe that a council that were so helpful to me in the making of Whisky Galore could be so short-sighed in allowing this proposal to go through.
“In my opinion, Portsoy Harbour is a unique and beautifully preserved site which will be spoiled by the building of a holiday home on the site of the old salt house. It will certainly make it much harder for other film makers to use the harbour as a location for period films or television productions.”
In his report on the scheme, Stephen Archer, the council’s director of infrastructure services, said the build would be sympathetic to the conservation area’s character.
However, Portsoy councillor Ian Gray said the community was sick of planning proposals being brought forward for the site.
The bid before the committee yesterday was the latest in a series of applications to convert the land into a boat house and home dating back to the 1980s.
“Portsoy doesn’t want this and doesn’t need it,” he said.
“To dig through a 300-year-old pier – no one knows the make-up of that pier – would be foolhardy.
“Portsoy has had 33 years of this nonsense and if there’s anything we can do we should do it now.”
He was backed up by fellow local member Michael Roy, who added: “I don’t understand and find it hard to come to terms with some of the things the planning officers are saying.
“My inbox has been full with people rejecting this. It would not enhance, but be detrimental to the character of the conservation area.”
Portsoy community council was among the objectors to the proposal, claiming the building would be out of character and detrimental to the unique history of the harbour.
Ashley Goodbrand, a member of the group who attended the meeting, said: “Tourists aren’t coming to Portsoy to look at somebody’s residence.”
Other concerns raised by members of the public included the potential impact on the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, which the port hosts every year.
Last night, Mr Goodyear said he was pleased that “It might be reasonable for a new house somewhere out in the country, but this is in a conservation area of the highest possible level and should be treated accordingly.”
The proposal was identical to a 2010 planning application submitted by Mr Matthew which was rejected in 2012.
Planning permission was granted for a boat shed and studio in the 1980s but the scheme was never followed through.