Outrage as Holyrood gives green light to holiday lodges plan

Published date14 January 2022
Publication titlePaisley Daily Express
Bosses at the Bowfield Hotel and Country Club, in Howwood, were celebrating earlier this month when the Scottish Government backed their proposals on appeal to build ten glamping pods

That was after the plans were thrown out for a third time by Renfrewshire Council back in August, despite owners Manorview Group making tweaks to the application to try and get it passed.

Councillors on the planning board opted to refuse the proposals by 11 votes to three "on the grounds of noise and disturbance".

The board had already rejected the application in 2020 and a previous appeal on the back of that was also binned that year.

But government planners have now given full approval for the luxury lodges - which will each have a hot tub - following Manorview Group's latest fightback, on the condition no one is in the tubs after 9pm.

Councillor Andy Doig, who represents Howwood, said the process represents a "democratic deficit" in the planning process which needs to be looked at.

"There's definitely a gap in local democracy here," he said.

"Local councillors have come to a definite view on something and then it gets overturned in Edinburgh.

"There's a democratic deficit there and I think it needs to be addressed.

"We will...

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