A PROPOSAL for a containerised food servery/take away outlet at the layby on the A78 at Inverkip looks set to get the go-ahead on appeal.
Permission was initially refused by Inverclyde planning officials but the applicant later appealed.
Councillors on the district’s local review body considered the case today and were in favour of overturning the decision, however they agreed to continue the appeal until their next meeting to get advice on whether to limit the permission for a set number of years or make it permanent.
Officials rejected the application originally, stating: “The proposal is considered to have an unacceptable impact on the green belt and would be incompatible with the surrounding area in terms of the nature and scale of the activity.
“The visual impact of siting a refurbished shipping container will introduce materials which are industrial in nature and would form an unexpected development within the green belt.
“The proposal does not reflect local architecture or materials and would have a detrimental impact on the landscape character and setting of the area.”
But Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “It might technically be green belt, but I don’t see this as an inappropriate use.”
Councillor Natasha McGuire said: “It doesn’t seem like the green belt we would normally protect, not with toilets there and the paved nature of it.”
The applicant’s appeal statement asserts: “It is believed all the opinion related to the design aesthetics, visual impact, street view being a dominant structure etc of this small unit in relation to it being on the boundary of the green belt have been very overstated.
“It is felt that a very unfair, inconsistent and subjective approach has been taken.”
A statement submitted with the original application explained: “The lay-by and surrounding area is becoming a healthy outdoors sports activity hub for various leisure and recreation groups.
“The addition of a small food and drinks outlet therefore has the potential to act as a focal point to support these groups, encouraging water sports on the beach and also walkers, joggers and cyclists.”
It continued: “The design objectives are to achieve a fully self-contained outlet in a sustainable way which is as unobtrusive and contemporary as possible.”
