Council / Planning round-up 13 August
THE PROPRIETOR of the Walls shop has expressed concern about proposals to turn the village’s adjoining vacant bakery building into flats due to a lack of parking spaces included in the plans.
Responding to the planning application, Roger Atkinson said under the current plans residents would “inevitably” use up spaces in the shop’s car park as well as blocking a lay-by which is often used for dropping off and collecting people from the bus.
He expressed worry about a lack of car parking space stopping vulnerable people from accessing the shop or affecting deliveries.
“The plausible negative ramifications caused by there being significantly insufficient parking for the proposed planning could have a huge detrimental impact on the shop, post office and lifeline services it provides and I think for the relatively minimal benefit to the community of the suggested conversion the negative consequences on a fundamental community asset greatly outweigh them,” Atkinson wrote.
The site plan for the three-flat project does not include any parking within the development boundary but highlights one existing car parking space next to the bakery and shop, and two “possible” parking sports on the opposite side of the road near to a bus stop.
Shetland Islands Council’s roads service has recommended refusal of the plans unless the parking issues can be addressed.
Meanwhile members of the Sandness and Walls Community Council said they welcomed the potential for new accommodation coming to the area, but concerns were raised about the parking issue.
EMN Plant has lodged a pre-application enquiry with the planning service over potentially deepening the Scatsta quarry.
The company said in a planning document that “significant resources have been identified within the floor” of the quarry, with evidence suggesting that the quality of rock improves with depth.
“The proposal is to realise these potential reserves by seeking a new planning permission to extract and further secure Shetlands aggregate landbank whilst having minimal impact,” it added.
Deepening the quarry void could release around 200,000 tonnes of rock.
The planning document added that there is also an opportunity to restore the quarry void with the importation of inert and non-hazardous wastes to a profile in keeping with the surrounding landform.
SPECSAVERS has applied for planning permission to replace the signs on its Lerwick branch with illuminated ones.
It has proposed new internally illuminated signage to shopfront, side elevation and rear elevation.
A planning submission highlights how a building in close proximity on Lerwick’s Commercial Street was recently given planning approval of internally illuminated signage.
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