Comment posted on Council website not currently accepting planning objections by Ewan Kennedy
I make absolutely no secret of the fact that I am a local resident and suggest that it’s not unusual for people to be concerned about the amenity of the area in which they live. It is of course welcome that Mr Gibson takes an interest in our environment from his home in Malibu.
And, Robert, I agree that the decision to grant consent for more houses on the Kames peninsula was a shocking example of bad planning, in breach of the policies that were supposed to protect that site. You will find that I objected to it at the time.
I see that A&BC have called for a photomontage of the proposal, so it will be interesting to see how obtrusive it will be. The problem with most repro castles is that they usually are highly visible, perhaps Shuna Castle being a good early example, that maybe being the whole point.
Finally I should clarify that my objection failed to go through as it exceeded the permitted length, not due to any software fault. I wouldn’t want to add unfairly to A&BC’s woes.
Recent comments by Ewan Kennedy
- Good news from salmon farming sector: Marine Harvest breaks ranks and seeks ASC certification
Don’t hold your breath as all this is promised by the end of the decade i.e. 31 December 2019 or 2020 depending on how you count your decades.It will be interesting to learn how the sea lice data is to be collected and the methods monitored.
ASC is sponsored by the WWF and it’s no doubt purely a coincidence that Marine Harvest is a contributor to the WWF.
- saveseilsound’s new blog gives Jamie McGrigor the facts on Scottish Salmon Company ownership
There’s an article mentioning Mr Lopatinsky here:http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/business/interview-stewart-mclelland-chief-executive-of-the-scottish-salmon-company-1-2140434
He’s about 41 years of age and brought up in the United States, where he attended Cornell University. There are suggestions that his fund owns parts of Charlotte Square, possibly including Bute House.
As Roc Sandford suggests he’ll no doubt be delighted to clarify all these matters himself.
- Scottish Government gives Raasay crofters a consultation on shooting rights
This is staggering incompetence by someone and it’s fascinating that the Environment Minister blames the civil servants. One is left wondering what exactly Ministers actually do, if they don’t make decisions. There’s a full analysis of the legal background and the issues by Andy Wightman accessible here:- http://www.andywightman.com/Towards the end of last year Mr Wheelhouse “decided” not to call in the very suspect decision by SEPA to grant a licence for pollutants to be dumped in Seil Sound at Ardmaddy South. It is likely that the decision will be subject to judicial review and it will be interesting to find out if civil servants are to be blamed for this as well, when matters come out in court.
- School closures: fascinating Court of Session opinion on Scottish Ministers’ appeal against judgment in favour of Western Isles Council
This is an extremely important and interesting decision, also commendably short. The Ministers were in the strange position of arguing that their powers were constrained whereas the Council argued they could look at the merits. But the Council failed in challenging the decision to call in. Effectively this means that the Ministers have more powers than they thought they had and the decisions will now need to be taken by them, after considering the issues rather than just the procedure. - Phew. It’s not illegal to put up a dummy for election as a councillor
Almost right, Jim B. There’s a good analysis on the Lallandspeatworrier’s blog. Much worse than a typo, the dummy in the Procurator Fiscal’s office used the wrong section of the Act. It’s basic stuff for lawyers to get this sort of thing right and in the private sector he/she wouldn’t have any clients after this.Ms Torry would have been economical on expenses
though.
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Would the tone of Mr Kennedy’s objection suggest, perhaps, that he would be able to see the development from his own house at er….. the head of Loch Melfort?
Just a thought.
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The council’s reference for this application is actually 12/00814/PP – but it seems that it’s yet to appear on the interactive map of planning and building warrant applications on the council’s website. I can understand Ewan Kennedy’s objections but it might just be that the location of the repro castle, albeit not far from Glenmore House, is sufficiently tucked into the woodland at the foot of the hill slope that it doesn’t really spoil the house’s setting. It wouldn’t be the first ornate ‘non native’ castle in the west – or even the first modern repro castle. As long as the existing woodland is conserved it could well be less obtrusive than other recent development in the area, for example the array of bungalows further down the loch at Kames.
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I make absolutely no secret of the fact that I am a local resident and suggest that it’s not unusual for people to be concerned about the amenity of the area in which they live. It is of course welcome that Mr Gibson takes an interest in our environment from his home in Malibu.
And, Robert, I agree that the decision to grant consent for more houses on the Kames peninsula was a shocking example of bad planning, in breach of the policies that were supposed to protect that site. You will find that I objected to it at the time.
I see that A&BC have called for a photomontage of the proposal, so it will be interesting to see how obtrusive it will be. The problem with most repro castles is that they usually are highly visible, perhaps Shuna Castle being a good early example, that maybe being the whole point.
Finally I should clarify that my objection failed to go through as it exceeded the permitted length, not due to any software fault. I wouldn’t want to add unfairly to A&BC’s woes.
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Good luck to the development a nice bit of house building if you can afford it beats the glut of boring bland house that currently clutter Loch Melfort..
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The vernacular architecture in Argyll tends towards white or drab grey single storey boxes (largely of the McLeod variety in that area I believe), with some individual ‘flair’ such as the ubiquitous conservatory.
There is rarely anything being built that in 50 years time people will look at and say wow.
If someone has the cash and the imagination to build a faux castle, in a style that really will not spoil that particular landscape and amongst a complete mishmosh of house styles and types, then why the shrill objections?
No jealousy from me, I say good on them.
And as for Mr Wakeham’s PhD in Pedantry, the application is on the website with all the detail anyone needs.
And I think Mr Kennedy has mistaken me for a film actor.
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Why the gratuitous sour remark, MG? At the risk of being accused of further pedantry, the proposed site for the repro castle isn’t ‘amongst a complete mishmash of house styles and types’ and my comment about the council website was accurate, so wouldn’t it be a good idea to stick to the facts? Or do you just like sniping at people?
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Pedant.
And I said that Argyll was a mishmash of house styles and types.
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The problems on house design in ABDC stem from the planning department at ABDC .Simply McLeod’s have to build according to the criteria supplied by ABDC planning…Mr Kennedy’s house is such a mis-mash and has angles and glass everywhere with no design towards heritage which he so vehemently presented wrongly in his argument…what has his own house to do with Scotland ? all to do about nothing except, a 70`s dream trip on modern design…as they say people in glass house’s should not throw the verbal stone..
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Haven’t seen your name before, ‘awayyago’, but – taken with your comments – it seems fairly intolerant. Why on earth shouldn’t someone criticise proposed development if they think it’ll effect the setting of a fine existing house? I happen to think that the damage might not be too bad, but I’m not about to start slanging him; I’ve no idea what his house looks like but I do wonder what you consider a house should be ‘to do with Scotland’.- repro?
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Planning applications are always a difficult and sensitive subject, having been at the sharp end from both sides in the past. There will always be someone who disagrees with another person’s idea of a dream home, and as we well know there are plenty of people who object to applications because they got there first and want to keep the area as they found it.
I agree with you Robert that the damage from this proposal shouldn’t be a problem (and I apologise for my snippy pedant comments, the Rose is heady stuff in this heat) and might actually enhance the area, setting off Glenmore house and whatever happens to the steading.
While I wouldn’t stoop so low as to criticise Mr Kennedy’s taste in house design, it does beg the question what is considered acceptable and what isn’t.
Of course, we don’t want to return to the days of the blackhouse, so we should embrace house design, whether traditional, modern or ’70′s dream trip with a twist.
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Sure this is the grey area of design in Scotland. Simply if someone wants to build on stilts should it not be allowed?(it would save the flood plains as in Germany an adopted design).Simply ,Scotland is unlike the Germans,Egyptians, or the Popeye’s so why the high brow approach from Kennedy?. who seems to be nothing more than a career objector when it comes to anyone, submitting a planning application. For a dog kennel never mind a hoose….the guy is well documented ..just ask him he will proudly tell you all the applications he has objected to in the very short time he has been resident on the West Coast …question for him how many local people can he recognise in the film, Ring Of Bright Water?..How local is he honestly? ZILCH!!!
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And..has anyone ever seen an objection from said owners of the existing hoose?..but! agast! this is not Kennedy`s argument ..he does not take that small point into consideration but…. based argument`s along the line of scottish design on the west coast..which simply none exist`s …and were proud of it!!
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May I add my support to your application.
Not before time Argyll engages with innovative architectural design.
Historically Architecture has always plagerised styles from the past and there is nothing fundementally wrong in that.
Good luck with your application.
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If the council website will not allow online objections to a planning application there is a simple solution. Deal direct with the “Organ grinder and not the Monkey”!
The last time I was unable to make an online comment about a planning application I sent an email direct to Angus J. Gilmour the Head of Planning at Argyll & Bute Council concerning my complaint. The following business day I had an email from one of his staff apologising for the problem with the council website.
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There has of course been some quite shocking prefab type housing in the west of scotland over the years which has been neither inspiring nor inkeeping. It really has to end and decent planning officers employed and supported by the council instead of them trying to be everyones pal. Their weak attitude has tarnished many areas here forever.
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This whole affair of a ‘castle’ at the head of Loch Melfort has precipitated rumours from within the local community (no names mentioned but seems to have emanated from the Childrens playgroup mothers) that movie star “Mel Gibson” – yes he of antipodean, post-holocaust B movie fame slash William Wallace wannabe – has been revving up and down the coast road from the Culfail to the Galley of Lorne – no doubt picking up anything in a skirt and abusing the local minorities. The rumour has spread to Oban as a local Electrician was heard discussing having spotted MG at the Oyster Bar in Connel. By this time next week Mel will be propping up the local economy in Fort William.
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