PLANS for a new tourism development within Eglinton Park will “infringe on the privacy” of an elderly couple’s long-term listed home neighbouring the site, according to objectors.
Land next to Eglinton House, east of Irvine Road, has been earmarked for the creation of seven glamping pods, an office building, workshop, shower/toilet block and a single storey house.
However, Joe and Helen Broussard, who have lived in the B-listed Eglinton House since 1978, have claimed their privacy will be “unjustly compromised” if the proposals are given the go-ahead.
The couple, both 74, were refused planning permission in 2008 to build a wheelchair accessible house on their own land after Joe broke his back in an accident, leaving him paraplegic.
Joe said: “The buildings proposed for this development will all be closer to our listed building home than where we had planned to build a single-storey, wheelchair accessible house to address my special needs.
“Our application was denied because it ‘would detract from the listed building’.
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“The camping pods will be clearly visible from the windows of the listed building and will infringe on our privacy.
“These pods will be about 20 metres to the south of our house and will certainly detract from the listed building.”
Mr and Mrs Broussard also claim that the proposed development site is not, in fact, brownfield land - as stated in the application - and therefore, is not suitable for this type of development.
According to the council’s online planning portal, four objections have been received so far, with members of the public free to comment for or against the plans until the August 26 deadline.
Other concerns raised include potential traffic issues on the single-lane road with no enforced speed limit, the “very large development on a very small piece of land” potentially destroying the peace and tranquillity of that area of the park, and a lack of protection for the green space within the country park.
Joe added: “It is the local people from Kilwinning who use this road to access the rest of the country park.
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“The last thing this road needs is more traffic which will obviously increase if the development is approved.
“We would urge [NAC’s planning department] to put heritage, nature, wildlife, the integrity of the country park and consideration for existing residents above economic development which may, in fact, not materialise.”
A design statement submitted with the plans said the land is currently a forestry area and around half of the trees have been condemned by an arborist or have a very short life span.
The document said: “A report undertaken by my client confirms that none of the trees are of good quality and that the remaining 51 per cent of the trees will require a high level of maintenance in order to be preserved.
“The site is relatively flat and ideal for my client’s intended purpose of establishing a recreational holiday destination for those preferring a staycation.”
To view the plans in more detail, search North Ayrshire Council’s online planning portal for the reference code 22/00530/PP.
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