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A storage container depot would be the first thing you would see arriving in Armadale. But it’s not the “gateway” to the the town that either planners or councillors want. Councillors on the Development Management Committee (DMC) turned down plans for the depot on the eastern fringe of the town for the second time this year. Mr W. Cochrane had an application to set up 22 storage containers on a site next to Armadale Speedway on Bathgate Road turned down in July. In a report to this month’s meeting of the DMC planners said of a new proposal: “The site is highly visible and at a gateway position on the main approach into Armadale from the east. “The proposal would have an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of this main approach into the town.” Mr Cochrane’s revised proposal planned to cut the number of containers down to 20 and reduced the planned height of a fence from 3.15m to 2.5m. The report added: “The proposed development would have an adverse impact on the visual amenity of the s streetscapein terms of design and scale of the portable storage containers and associated infrastructure which will have an adverse impact on the character of the surrounding area. “The portable containers would be out of keeping and would directly impact on the visual amenity of the adjacent residents at Birkdale Park.” The planning report also detailed concerns about the effect of proposed operating hours on neighbours living around the site. “The proposed operational hours of the storage facility are 7am until 8pm, seven days a week. Members will note that Environmental Health raised concerns regarding operation hours particularly around 7am opening every day. “This matter would need to be considered further if the committee decided the proposal should be approved. There are also insufficient details of the lighting assessment in regards to light spillage and shielding. “There are insufficient details of the existing boundary trees condition by lack of a tree report and no root protection area has been noted on the submitted plans.” There were no objections from neighbours, and no-one appeared to speak in support of the proposals to committee. Councillor Tony Boyle said it was the “wrong development in the wrong place” . He said: “I was not at the site visit, but I’ve passed the area many times. It’s not just the housing development across the road. There is one to the rear of the site that would also be affected. It’s the wrong thing in the wrong place and I cannot support it.” Fellow councillors agreed. Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .
