PLANS for the creation of a vehicle dismantling facility and car repair centre at The Braes on Fraserburgh's Park Streethave been shown the green lights by councillors.
The former commercial chemicals store has been change of use consent subject to certain conditions by members of Aberdeenshire Council's Banff and Buchan Area Committee.
Mr W. Stewart's application was discussed by local councillors on Tuesday fol
lowing an earlier site visit.
Members were told that the proposal would involve a change of use to form an end of life vehicle dismantling facility and car repairs.
A report stated: "End of life vehicles are acquired from members of the public, they are dismantled in the yard area where usable parts are stored in the building for resale to the public, and stripped down engines and any other unusable elements are disposed of into skips for collection by an approved contractor away from the site, at a rate of approximately three skips per month at present.
"The remaining carcass of the vehicle is then compacted and uplifted by an approved contractor for disposal away from the site at a present rate of approximately 12 vehicles per month."
The committee heard that the proposal would make use of an existing industrial building on-site as a workshop and store and include a new sliding door to the workshop which would be made of steel sheeting in the colour grey.
In terms of parking it was proposed that there be one space for the owner and one van/lorry space for loading to be located at the entrance within the site.
The site would be serviced by a public sewer and the surface water would be disposed of through yard gullies, which would discharge via a new oil interceptor and then run to the sewer.
The proposed operating hours of the business would be 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 12noon to 5pm on Saturday and Sundays.
Angry neighbours hit out at the proposal, with eight letters of representation being raising a number of concerns.
They claimed the site was unsuitable for the proposed development in terms of space for vehicle dismantling or storage and that there was no customer, staff or disabled parking.
Objectors said there was no room for removal of cars by truck, the site was unsuitable due to access and that the site would be unsafe for employees.
Other concerns ranged from security to ground contamination, the environmental impact to it being unauthorised under planning legislation and SEPA regulations.
The committee was told that one letter had been received expressing support for the proposal where the operating hours are adhered to and that cars to be dismantled or being worked on are not stored outside the existing yard perimeter.
The planning report stated: "The Planning and Environment Service (Contaminated Land) requested that a site investigation be carried out.
A geo-environmental report was submitted to this Service and found to be satisfactory.
"SEPA has no objection to the application in principle subject to a number of comments regarding water run off and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs)."
The site is situated within a redevelopment area as set out by the Aberdeenshire Local Plan 2006, and the principle of the proposal requires to be considered in line with council policy regarding Redevelopment and Mixed Use Areas.
They heard the reuse of the site for employment purposes was not likely to represent a change which will erode the character and amenity of the surrounding area.
In terms of residential amenity, the proposed use has been considered by the Environmental Health and Contaminated Land Service, who both find the proposal acceptable. The proposed operating hours shall be in accordance with SEPA Waste.
The report concluded: "Members must also take into account the 'fallback' position. This is where, with no planning intervention, the existing use can be equally or more inappropriate to the locality.
"As detailed above the lawful use is for storage of chemicals and it is the opinion of the Planning Service that the proposed use (albeit that it currently operates) is no more obtrusive than the authorised and lawful use."
Councillors backed the planners' recommendatiosn for approval subject to a series of conditions being attached to ensure that the coastal path is kept clear at all times and restrictions on the types of materials being burned.
