Plans to build 20 new houses in a Buchan village were left up-in-the air yesterday after councillors could not agree to refuse the application outright.
The plans, submitted by Aberdeen consultancy firm Knight Frank, had called on councillors at yesterday’s Banff and Buchan Area Committee to approve in principal the use of a 1.8 hectare area of land to the north-west of Cairnbulg for the houses.
But the application had attracted objections from a number of households within the coastal village, including one from the local community council.
In their objection, the community group raised concerns about the proposed access point of the new development – via William Street.
The narrow street, which is often congested with villagers’ vehicles, had also been the main bone of contention amongst councillors.
Cairnbulg councillor Charles Buchan said: “In order to reach William Street you have to pass through the whole layout of the existing fisher village. There are almost no pavements, it’s narrow, and there are also garage entrances and small roads coming onto it.
“The problem is the danger of accidents to children.
“The views of the villagers who have to use this road every day should have a large weighting on the safety of the proposed entrance.”
“It’s not only the community council, it’s the people living in the village – they’re very concerned. If we saw something more positive, I’d maybe feel differently,” added councillor Michael Watt.
Mr Watt had urged his peers to support him in refusing the application on that basis while councillor Hamish Partridge asked the application be deferred for a period of up to six months so that issues with the road and alternate access points to the development could be explored by the applicant.
Mr Partridge won with the support of six votes to three.
Gary Purves, who spoke on behalf of Knight Frank at the meeting, said that his firm had approached a neighbouring landowner which would have allowed them to gain access onto the site through Shore Street, but said they had no plans to develop the land.
“We proceeded on that basis. The (council’s) road service has confirmed it is an acceptable access,” he added.
Another option discussed could have created an access off Rathen Road, but was said not be viable in the short term.