Support for Gartly homes plan
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Contamination fears have been brushed aside as plans for three new homes next to the oil-hit Gartly School have been backed by councillors.
Stuart Abel applied to Aberdeenshire Council seeking planning permission in principle for the new houses just off Park Lane.
His proposal will see the homes constructed on a site directly behind the recently closed primary school.
The development would see three “modest sized plots” created.
But as it is just in the planning permission in principle stage, no detailed designs have been submitted yet.
However one objection was received from a neighbour who said the development would have a negative impact on the amenity and privacy of his property.
Gordon Simpson said he was “very concerned” that the proposed access road would encroach on his land.
He said: “Because the road will be built at the rear of my property, contrary to almost all other properties everywhere, I will not be able to enjoy peace and privacy in my own garden.”
“I am very concerned about people and vehicles coming onto my land,” he added.
But despite his opposition, council planners recommended the plan be approved.
They said the new homes would “offer additional housing to meet the need in the area”.
As the new houses would be located on land to the west of the railway line, officers suggested they could be “vulnerable” to noise nuisance from passing trains.
Network Rail and Environmental Health had similar concerns but it is believed “acceptable” noise levels could be achieved through mitigation measures such as installing acoustic fencing.
Further detail on this is expected to be included in more detailed designs.
The application was considered by the Marr area committee earlier today.
Councillor Gwyneth Petrie gave the proposal her support, saying the site was “sensible” and the “best option” for new housing.
She said: “I know there are concerns around the access but there are mitigations in there to ensure that the people living in that property are not impacted.
“I did have concerns about the contaminated land, but if the professionals are not concerned then we have to take their word for it and hope nothing arises when they build.”
“It’s good to see some more houses going up in Gartly,” she added.
The committee then unanimously agreed to approve the delegated grant.
Councillors agreed to permanently close Gartly in November last year.
It shut its doors to pupils in December 2018 after a leak of heating oil caused the site to become contaminated.
The local authority forked out £451,500 for extensive remediation works in a bid to clear the oil spill but unfortunately it didn’t fix the issue.
Aberdeenshire Council later revealed that reinstating the building could cost more than £1 million.
But over time pupil numbers fell and the school was mothballed in 2021.
