Dornoch Community Council taken to task over objections to change of use applications
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A LOCAL resident has taken Dornoch Area Community Council to task over its opposition to turning commercial premises in the town into domestic residences.
Carol Mackay, of Dornoch and District Community Association questioned community councillors on the issue at their online meeting last Wednesday.
She was referring to three recent change of use planning applications to which the council have objected.
It was against the construction of apartments on a vacant site in Dornoch business park; the conversion of the former vet’s surgery in St Gilbert Street to an apartment; and the move to turn shop premises on Castle Street into a granny flat.
Highland Council have rejected the business park application but have given the go-ahead to the surgery proposal. The authority has still to decided on the Main Street application.
Ms Mackay said she had been approached by a number of local people unhappy at the stance taken by the community council.
She claimed there were already empty business premises in the town and asked for the reasoning behind the community council objections. She also suggested there had been a lack of transparency and thought for the needs of local people.
But treasurer Jerry Bishop launched a robust defence, pointing out that it was not the community council but the Highland Council who made the final decision on planning applications.
“Every time we lose a shop we lose some of the vibrancy of the town,” he said.
Genevieve Duhigg said community councillors had had “rigorous debates” and had talked about the issues in detail before deciding to lodge objections.
Graeme Ross said: “We have to take the wider view in the interests of the community and do our best to serve the common good. We have to look at it in the long term.”
Yvonne Macrae said she could see how people might be disgruntled, but there was a huge demand for business space at the new business hub, showing the need for commercial premises.
Chairman Patrick Murray suggested the community council could do more to encourage people to attend its meetings.
