Surprise at Inchmarlo planning refusal

Aberdeenshire councillor and Green Party MSP candidate Martin Ford has
expressed his surprise at Aberdeenshire Council's unexpected but fully
correct decision to refuse planning permission in principle for the
proposed leisure and residential development at Inchmarlo.

Councillor Ford spoke in the debate on the application at last
Thursday's (10 March) full council meeting. He argued the proposal
involved too many breaches of planning policy and the claimed benefits
were insufficient and too uncertain to justify permission being given.
The right decision, in the public interest, was to refuse permission,
but to emphasise that the applicant had the option of addressing the
problems with the application and reapplying.

Speaking after the debate, Cllr Ford said: "I was, frankly, very
surprised that Aberdeenshire Council decided to adhere to its planning
policies and refuse the Inchmarlo application.

"While all planning applications are different and each has to be
considered on its own merits, there were, as the applicant pointed
out, obvious similarities with the Trump application at Menie. The
applicant had made a case for the proposal based on economic and
employment benefits as grounds for setting aside the development plan.
The Inchmarlo proposal involved similar, though much less serious,
breaches of housing, countryside and some environmental policies.

"And of course, both applications - Menie and Inchmarlo - were refused
by Aberdeenshire Council.

"However, given the Council's subsequent actions after the refusal of
the Menie application, I did not expect refusal on this occasion."

The decision in 2007 to refuse planning permission for Mr Trump's
proposed development at Menie caused major rifts within the Council.
Cllr Ford was removed as chair of the Infrastructure Services
Committee by councillors angry he had voted against the application.

The Inchmarlo application was refused by 40 votes to 20 at last
Thursday's full council meeting.

ENDS

Contact: Martin Ford 01224 790052