Styx given permission to improve its access
STYX can move ahead with plans to improve access, parking and its play area, after planning permission was granted following a year of consideration.
The Western Community Centre team applied for permission for the project in April 2020, which would see the site expanded to use the field behind the centre and create a new access on to Route Du Longfrie.
Management committee chairperson Sue Noyon said they were pleased they could now plan what to do next: ‘We are absolutely delighted to have the plans approved and now we can move forward with acquiring the field and then developing it,’ she said.
Around 2,000 people of all ages use the centre every week. But the narrow entrance in Rue de Longfrie made access difficult and the parking around the centre building meant pedestrians had to be cautious.
Under the proposals the existing entrance will be closed off and the area around the centre pedestrianised. A new access would be created from Route du Longfrie and go across the edge of the field to the back of the existing site. A new parking area would be created where the current playground is and a new playground created in the field. Originally 81 parking spaces were proposed, but this was reduced to 61 during the planning process – with some of the spaces proposed along the access road removed. There was one objection to the scheme, which raised concerns about the loss of the open field. In the report, the planners agreed that the proposal would change the appearance of the agricultural field
‘However, careful thought has gone into the proposed layout to ensure that the roadway and parking are located against the north site boundary adjacent to the Longfrie Inn bring bank and existing mature boundary trees, with a substantial belt of new tree and shrub planting proposed to screen the roadway and parking in views from within the site and also from the south east on Route Du Longfrie,’ it stated.
The planners said the loss of part of the existing roadside bank – to create the new access – was regrettable, but the improved access made the change acceptable. Also planned for is play equipment, fencing, a petanque terrain and small fruit/vegetable beds. The planners said they did not feel these additions would have a significant adverse impact on the open character of the area. Exact costings for the project are now being drawn up and a fundraising campaign for the improvements is likely to be launched in the next few months.