Former Moray Baptist Church in Garmouth seeks planning consent for a change of use to a retail unit as neighbours object
Plans for a change of use of the former Baptist Church in Garmouth have been hit with objections from neighbours.
The site has recently been in use as a beauty and hair salon but an application wants to change its use to retail.
That ‘retail’ designation can capture a huge range of shops, post offices, financial institutions, and businesses, offering various professional or other services
But two objections submitted by neighbours make clear there are concerns about parking at the proposed business.
One unnamed objector said that vehicles parking outside the premises “blocking access to my property” will be a problem because access is required “at all times for professional reasons”.
They also cited road safety issues over parked vehicles that could potentially obstruct the free flow of traffic on the narrow street, which lacks a pavement for pedestrians including “children walking to and from the school bus”.
The objection continued that there was the “potential” for noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour, and air pollution through cars left running, depending on the use of the property.
Another objector echoed concerns about the lack of definition of what kind of business may be located there.
They stated: “Noise, unsocial hours, litter, smell, parking, road safety, traffic!
“Church Street being a single track road, with very little pavement for pedestrians walking dogs, coming off school buses, and deliveries.
“In the past the school buses have been known to sit and toot their horns as cars, vans, blocking the road way.
“Plus the fact our cottage in the past has had its roof gutters damaged with vehicles scraping past the property, and two years ago a car hit the corner gable end of the house causing damage to the wall.
“They left the remains of their car, but never came to say they had hit the house. Scary as me and my chair are right next to that inside.
“But most important there must be clearance for emergency vehicles! At all times! We require access outwith our cars and have in the past been blocked in! Even with bollards outside the property they still managed to hit it.”
