The owners of a popular north-east village restaurant have been given the go ahead to convert their property despite flood fears.
The application by Moira Patterson to convert her Harbour Restaurant in Gardenstown into a holiday house was put before the Banff and Buchan Area Committee in Fraserburgh yesterday and members agreed the danger of flooding was acceptable.
The committee had been expected to block the conversion after senior planning officials recommended the application be refused.
The site is next to a Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) 1 in 200 years flood zone, with a 0.5% annual chance of flooding.
SEPA, however, did not submit an objection. It was Aberdeenshire Council’s own flood risk team who objected because the owner had not paid for a costly Flood Risk Assessment.
Mrs Patterson’s agent, Michael Ritchie, told the committee: “The building has never flooded in 100 years and it’s very unlikely it ever will flood because it’s above the harbour wall.
“SEPA themselves agree there is no flood risk.”
SNP councillor for Banff and District Ian Gray dismissed flood fears surrounding the conversion. He said: “The flood risk presumably already exists – does adding a bed increase the danger?”
Nevertheless, councillor Gray moved to reject the application for fears it would hurt the town economically.
But – before the conversion was passed seven votes to two – SNP councillor Hamish Partridge rebutted: “The restaurant has proved not to be viable.
“The village relies on tourism and visitors need a place to stay. The owner’s are still trying to keep the tourism aspect.”