Fury at council restrictions on Huntly conservation area
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A DOCUMENT to help determine planning applications for properties in Huntly's conservation area has been approved by the Marr area committee of Aberdeenshire Council.
The review of the Conservation Area Management Plan (CAMP) had raised hopes of an easing of the planning rules which govern home improvements.
Instead, Fiona Murray, who has consistently challenged the constraints of the conservation area described the CAMP as a huge disappointment.
The CAMP, sets out to protect the streetscapes.
Everything from dormers to down pipes will have to be of traditional styles and materials. Satellite dishes are said to "seriously
disfigure" properties and should only be installed where it is possible to do so without affecting the townscape.
But it is the advice that windows be repaired rather that replaced which is most contentious in Huntly.
The CAMP states: "When windows are shown to be of limited interest or beyond economic repair replacements must replicate the originals in terms of design, construction and decorative finish, although we may concede the use of double-glazed units.
"Modern timber windows can achieve the same performance of their uPVC counterparts with the advantage of being a more sustainable building material."
Mrs Murray said: "The CAMP is said to promote the advancement of a cohesive heritage focused community and economic growth project in Huntly. I would contend it does nothing of the sort. It has divided the community and puts an unnecessary financial burden on house owners.
"It is a gross insult to demand that anyone wanting to upgrade their property's windows and doors which are currently wooden, that they can only have them repaired and if deemed to be irreparable, then they have to be replaced with wood and of the same design.
"In the 21st century, can we not opt for high quality uPVC replacements? Why, do we have to be included in the conservation area which ought to be confined to The Square."
A householder who asked not to be named said: "We cannot improve our house the way we want to. Councils keep telling us to insulate our houses but they won’t let you improve your property the way you can afford. Our windows are 30 years old, they are draughty."
Members of the public and Huntly Community Council were consulted during the CAMP review but only a very small number of householders completed forms delivered to them.
Community Council chairman Tony Gill said: "The review was on the standards expected in a conservation area. We had hoped that it would also revise the extent of the conservation area, ideally limiting it to the town centre and significant buildings, not a blanket block area. We need to lobby for this to be done sooner rather than later."
