COUNCILLORS are to decide if a house in Wemyss Bay can become a holiday home, after a number of objections were received.
Inverclyde Planning Board will consider the application to use a detached three-bedroom property at 23 Undercliff Road for short-term lets next week.
Seven objections have been received from ten individuals raising concerns including the impact on amenity, noise, disturbance, traffic, parking, security and management of the proposal.
Onne objector states: “If the licence is granted and guests cause a significant disturbance, the applicant does not live locally and cannot deal with unruly guests. This potentially leaves elderly residents in a vulnerable position and scared in their own homes.”
Another comments: “Little or no nearby amenities such as restaurants or pubs, the nearest being in Inverkip or Largs, increasing likelihood of holiday ‘party time’ arising and going late into the night.”
Planning officials are recommending that councillors approve the application.
Their report states: “It is noted that the property in question sits at the end of a row of detached properties and the density of the immediate surroundings offers both an established level of peaceful amenity as well as a degree of separation between the applicant’s property and nearby dwellings which would lessen impacts in terms of noise and disturbance.
“Should there be any excessive noise from the use of the property this should be reported to the council’s public protection service to investigate under their remit. Regarding concerns over security, any anti-social or criminal behaviour is a matter for Police Scotland to investigate.”
It continues: “The use applied for does not result in an unacceptable impact on local amenity or on the character of the residential area. The proposal offers accommodation for people visiting the area, allowing opportunities for holidaymakers to stay in the area and contribute towards the local economy.”
The report also states: “It has been indicated that the lets will be available throughout the calendar year through a private letting agent, with a local cleaner employed to clean between changeovers.
“It has also been indicated that the property will be let in its entirety with individual lets being made available for one week between April and October and for stays of three or four nights between November and March, with a minimum let being three days over the winter months.
“It is anticipated that there will be around 35 to 40 private lets throughout the year. The applicant also intends on making the let available for family and friends during periods of low demand to maximise occupancy.”
