Proposal for safety barriers at Portsoy harbour is approved by area committee
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Plans to install safety barriers at Portsoy harbour have been approved by councillors.
Aberdeenshire Council submitted an application for full planning permission and listed building consent to introduce the structures at the New Harbour to limit the access to the sea wall at the sets of stairs.
The Banff and Buchan area committee assessed the proposal during its meeting on Tuesday.
In the report that went before councillors it recommended that it be granted.
It outlined: "The application site relates to the Grade ‘B’ Listed structure of Portsoy New Harbour located to the north-east of the old harbour within the Portsoy Conservation area.
"The new harbour comprises of a concrete sea wall built on the seaward side.
"The Harbour Authority was instructed by Corporate Health and Safety after a site inspection and risk analysis that the access to the sea wall needs to be limited.
"The proposal seeks to install safety barriers with new signage to the Listed Grade B Portsoy new harbour sea wall.
"To prevent access to the sea wall, the supporting planning statement notes that three types of design were considered for the proposed barriers through which Option C 'Traditional cannon bollards with spiked chains' was selected as the least intrusive form of barriers within a historical and culturally sensitive site.
"The barriers would be finished with black classic cast iron, slim line cannon bollard and traditional black spiked iron chains.
"Each cannon bollard would be at least 900mm with two rows of spiked chains suspended via eye bolts and fixed to the sea wall.
"A secondary chain would be designed to restrict attempts to crawl underneath."
The barriers will be mounted at least one metre from the pier deck to prevent people from bypassing it via the upside.
The local authority's planning service was in favour of the plans and recommended they be approved as they complied with the relevant policies.
The report added: "The development would not have an adverse impact on the setting of the New Harbour and on the amenity of the Portsoy Conservation Area.
"In assessing the proposed development against the wider policies of Scottish Planning Policy and the Local Development Plan 2022 and any other material considerations, there were no adverse impacts which would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposal."
The council received three objections to the application who issues were visual impact; the impact on the character of the historic harbour area and the Portsoy Conservation Area; and safety concerns.
Portsoy and District Community Council also objected to the proposal as it outlined that the barriers are not suitable for the historic character of the harbour and detract from the overall appearance of a B listed structure in a conservation area. It noted that the barriers would be ineffective in preventing access to the top of the harbour wall.
During the Banff and Buchan area committee meeting on Tuesday Councillor Glen Reynolds submitted a motion to defer for a site visit, which was supported by Councillor Ross Cassie.
Councillor Reynolds said: "I am not content that we have sufficient information before us. Simply because something does not negatively impact on the aesthetics of a conservation area doesn't mean that it necessarily should happen.
"This is a hugely historic site, dating back to 1692 if not before. We have to be very careful about having any meaningful structure and the sets of bollards will have a material impact, whether it's negative or otherwise.
"We need to look at the necessity and reasoning behind why these should happen because it would set a very precarious precedent for bollards such as these going up here, there and everywhere when they are not really required."
An amendment was tabled by Councillor John Cox to approve the application, which was seconded by Councillor Stewart Adams.
Councillor Cox said: "If we were not to agree this where would the council lie having been given strong advice in terms of health and safety measures having to be put in place.
"The aesthetic aspect has been dealt with but its more the principle of refusing or stalling any decision here today should an incident happen where the council would be at fault having been given significant notice there is a requirement for these measures to be put in place."
The decision went to a vote with the councillors voting 6-4 in favour of the amendment to approve.
