Councillors discuss Huntly Conservation Area petition

Huntly residents are pleading with Aberdeenshire Council to reduce the town’s conservation area following concerns that many can’t afford to make improvements to their homes.

The town’s community council submitted a petition with 109 signatures asking the local authority to reduce the protected zone.

And they also asked that the review take place within the next 12 months.

Homeowners living in the area are being charged huge sums to carry out work to their homes such as installing new windows.

Members said that many people living in the town were not able to install more energy efficient windows and argued that residents have no other option but to turn up their heating.

Any upgrade works to properties living in the conservation area must follow specific planning guidelines to “preserve and enhance” the buildings and character of the zone.

Huntly residents have contacted the Community Council over the years in a bid to get Aberdeenshire Council to relax the rules around materials used in the conservation area.

The petition said there is “considerable local concern around the impact of the extensive conservation zone on properties outwith the immediate town centre”.

It went on to say that there were “disproportionate costs to property owners to make home improvements due to the requirements of it”.

And it stated that planning rules in the area were leading to more properties “falling into disrepair and poor condition”.

The petition noted that the Huntly Conservation Area has not been reviewed since 2013.

Aberdeenshire Council defines a conservation area as an “area of special architectural or historic interest”.

The Huntly conservation area features a mixture of 18th and 19th Century buildings.

It includes The Square and a number of surrounding streets including Gordon Street, Deveron Street and Duke Street.

The petition was was considered by the Marr area committee on Tuesday.

Members agreed to note the petition and asked for officers to bring back a report on the matter.

Committee chairman councillor Robbie Withey said that further discussion on any conservation area issues could be held once they receive more information.

It is hoped that the report will go before the committee at their next meeting in January.

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