Planning permission for a builder’s yard near Stornoway has been refused.
Around 100 people objected to O’Mac Construction’s bid to relocate to the village of Steinish.
The company applied to erect workshop store buildings, offices and car parking in the only available site it could find.
The site was on part of a croft on south side of the village road, beside the Lewis and Harris Auction Mart.
Around 30 protesters waving banners applauded when the committee refused permission.
Objections included traffic and safety problems on the single track road, loss of quality agricultural land and impact on the neighbouring auction mart.
Concerns were also raised over negative impacts to local amenity, wildlife, water quality, fishing, and property values.
Despite strenuous efforts O’Mac could not find an alternative site. It was refused land at Arnish, a plot at the Creed Enterprise Park is not available at present, and it was unsuccessful in getting ground at Mossend and at Parkend.
Planning officials recommended approval but -
Cllr Norman Macdonald stated the proposal was contrary to the local development plan and was not an appropriate site, unsuitable and out of character while the public road would suffer traffic issues.
Cllr Calum Macmillan stressed the application was just a “shed in a half acre of land.”
The ground was of “marginal agricultural quality” which had not been turned for many years, he pointed out.
Nearby resident Sylvia Gannon said she was “chuffed to bits” at the outcome.
“I think its great. Its such a beautiful island but tourists will not come if we fill every village with industrial units.”
Maureen Buchanan from Steinish was “absolutely overjoyed” at the refusal.
She said: “We don’t want a commercial area or a builders’ yard. We want a rural area which will hopefully entice people into the village.”
O’Mac Construction had told the council: “Concerns over the road have been ongoing for at least eight years and are not caused by or consequence of the proposed development.
The firm discipline any speeding workers and no wide loads or articulated lorries would be making deliveries to the yard.
O’Mac highlighted its workforce is entirely made up of local tradesmen, many from other island villages with “years of experience in driving along the most precarious roads this island has to offer, with due diligence and safety.”
The main building would have been used for storage, no production was to take place in the workshop and personnel are usually working away from base so there would have been little noise or dust.
Only three crofts are actively worked in the village and the site is unsuitable for grazing or cutting highlighted the company.
Builder’s yard plans refused
9 Nov 2017
