Objectors rally against care home plan

Plans to build a four-storey care home next to Hermitage Park in Helensburgh have sparked objections from people living nearby.

Almost 20 members of the public have contacted Argyll and Bute Council to lodge official objections to Simply UK’s plans for a former local authority depot on Sinclair Street, next to the town centre park.

The planned care home would include bars and a beauty salon, but residents submitting responses to Argyll and Bute Council’s website have concerns about access arrangements along with hedge and tree boundaries.

Richard Cullen said: ‘I and a number of other residents have consulted our title deeds and plans, and I wish to advise you that the hedges and trees running along the back of the terrace, bordering the grassed rear entry lane and forming the northern border of the depot site, is the property of the residents of Prince Albert Terrace, and does not constitute any part of the development site. As such, we would expect that any development maintains the integrity of the hedge and trees and has no impact on the border of our properties.’

A planning and access statement by Simply UK at the time of the application’s submission in March said: ‘The new care home aims to offer superior levels of care in luxurious surroundings and will provide residents with hotel-like services such as a beauty salon, bars, top class food and round-theclock care all set within a leafy and peaceful setting.’

The authority is expected to deliver its verdict on the proposals by April 24, although the number of objections lodged so far makes it more likely that the application will be decided by the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee, rather than by officials.