Kildonan residents are fighting to stop a housing development which they say is totally out of keeping with the village.
Willie McNish of Seafield chaired a public meeting last Monday night and said: ‘We are fully aware that a development will take place in some way but we are appalled at the occupancy level. The community of Kildonan is objecting to an urban development in a village situation.’
That was the message from a meeting held in Kildonan Hall to discuss the plans to build nine houses and nine flats on the site of the Breadalbane Hotel.
The hotel was bought in April 2007 by Ayrshire hotelier Derek Callaghan. It closed in August and the contents were sold at auction in October. At the time Mr Callaghan told the Banner: ‘A five-bedroom hotel just isn’t feasible any more. The redevelopment will include flats, some of which will be sold but I will hold on to some of them for rental purposes.’ Mr Callaghan’s registered business address is Walcal Property Developments of Dreghorn. The Banner was unable to contact him this week.
The meeting had been called because of village concerns at the impact of 18 more residences on the small village and the loss of an amenity when the hotel is demolished.
Local community councillor Alastair Yates said: ‘The Breadalbane Hotel had 24 bed spaces and this replacement development has 55 beds.
‘A lot of them could end up as holiday homes. We’re not against holiday homes but there will be too many.
‘Of the 29 houses between the village hall and the schoolhouse only 10 are lived in full time.’
The Kildonan Keys development of 12 houses was built in the last two years just 100 metres along the road from the Breadalbane. Roger Garratt of the Improvements Committee lives in one of the Keys houses. He said: ‘Of the 12 new houses in the Keys only ours and three others are in permanent occupation.’
Under the guidance of chairman Willie McNish the residents compiled a list of what they felt were relevant planning objections. Foremost was the scale of the courtyard development. Alastair Yates said: ‘Five of the houses are two-and-a-half storey. That’s too high. Local council planning guidelines are for a maximum height of one-and-a-half storey. It would be completely out of keeping with the village.’
In the early 1900s the Breadalbane boarding house was popular with visitors and after the Second World War it became a hotel. Janet Lacey is a former owner of the hotel and said: ‘It is a terrible shame that it closed. If it is knocked down it will be such a loss for the village.’
Arran Community Council has lodged an objection to the development following a special planning meeting in Lamlash council offices on Monday July 7.
