Glenfarg Hotel:

Row goes on as owner sees flats proposal rejected.

A spat between a Perthshire hotel owner and residents is to continue despite the council rejecting plans to build flats at the site.

The local authority have thrown out proposals to build 12 flats at the Glenfarg Hotel.

This is the latest scenario regarding the Glenfarg Hotel, after John Hewitt, who ran it, deciding to close the premises and lodge a plan to build flats at the site.

Mr Hewitt, a director of Arngask Hotels Ltd, claimed he could not afford to reopen the hotel as it was not “economically viable”.

He also alleged there was a “hate campaign” on social media directed towards him and his family.

The announcement to close the hotel was met with anger by many residents, some of whom formed The Glenfarg Hotel Action Group.

Steve Whiting, one of the group, claimed the flats plan would rip the heart out of the village and said it was being done for “financial gain”.

A total of 164 letters of objection have been received, with only one in support.

A number of reasons have been given for the objections, including the proposal being contrary to the local development plan.

Opponents also feel the hotel has potential to be run viably in separate ownership with a different management style.

A report drawn up by Perth and Kinross Council recommends refusal of the flat plan and calls into question the applicant’s supporting statement.

It states: “A supporting statement has provided details of the hotel’s previous ownership and the historic marketing undertaken prior to the purchase in 2013.”

“The applicant’s supporting statement is not sufficiently robust in confirming the open marketing strategy undertaken.

“It is not clear when open marketing commenced or the dates and times that the property has been available on portals/websites/marketing companies and adverts.”

The decision to refuse the application has been appealed and the matter will now be discussed at a local review body on April 26.

The applicant’s supporting statement is not sufficiently robust in confirming the open marketing strategy undertaken

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The council rejected plans to turn the hotel into flats.