Highland councillors have called into question the Scottish Government’s decision to allow a new Chinese takeaway in the centre of Inverness, after they had initially refused it.
Councillors on the South Planning Applications committee had previously turned down the proposal for a change of use from a telly-repair – formerly Telly on the Blink – to a Chinese Takeaway at 67 Tomnahurich Street on road safety grounds.
Councillor Bill Boyd, who represents Inverness West, said the remotely-made decision showed the planning process regarding developments on trunk roads, which are managed by Transport Scotland, was deficient, with local councillors powerless to influence it.
The site is on the A82 trunk road to Fort William, across from Inverness High School, and lacks any form of parking.
On appeal, Scottish Government Reporter Stephen Hall overturned the council’s decision but placed additional conditions on the consent, including that the take-away should only operate between 5 and 11pm, and that no delivery service should be operated from the premises without going before planning again.
Mr Hall’s report also concluded that there was sufficient on-street parking in the neighbourhood for customers using the takeaway.
Mr Boyd said tha twhile he welcomed the new conditions, the Reporter’s decision flew in the face of local concerns.
He said: “How will compliance with these conditions be monitored? The opening time of 5pm is important so that the takeaway wouldn’t be available during school hours.”
Planning manager Nicola Drummond said breaches in conditions are usually advised by local people.
Conservative councillor Andrew Jarvie, who backed the original decision to refuse consent, said because the takeaway is on a trunk road, the council is powerless to make any improvements to the safety aspect.
He said: “There are no crossings within hundreds of meters on either side of it, there’s not enough parking especially as local residents will be home from work after 5pm. If it was one of the council’s roads, we could have put a crossing there by now and had more sensible parking.”
He went on: “Fifty per cent of council planning decisions are overturned by the Scottish Government, and whilst there has to be a legal process, I don’t think councillors are grossly negligent in 50% of the time. My party is hoping to start a campaign soon to demand that local decisions are respected more.”
Chairman Jimmy Grey told the committee that the Reporter had made his decision and that whilst he disagreed with it, the end of the road had been reached.
