PLANS TO build memorial gates in honour of the Queen Mother at Glamis Castle go before councillors this week, two months after they rejected earlier ones.

Planning chiefs recommend approval for the modified proposals—part of a new entrance to her childhood home which they say would “add to the sense of arrival to the castle.”

Strathmore Estates, behind the £600,000 project, was sent back to the drawing board in February by Angus development control committee, which described the plans as mediocre.

Those proposals were for a narrower, less ornate main gate with plainer stone pillars, coupled with an entrance piazza. The pillars in the earlier design were drum-shaped, to echo the turrets of the castle, and have been replaced with more regal and slender gate posts featuring crests of Angus and Dundee more prominently.

Ironwork on the gates is also more intricate in the new plans, which will be discussed at Thursday’s development control committee.

Following the input of roads chiefs, the entrance has been widened to 5.5 metres after they felt the previous scheme was too narrow for cars to pass side-by-side.

Planning boss Alex Anderson says, “The current entrances to Glamis Castle do not align with the main drive that runs south from the castle, and they do not interface with the village in the way that one would expect.

“A grand entrance drive should have a bold entrance to mark the start of the drive and add to the architectural effect of such a drive.”

Mr Anderson will tell councillors there is a possibility an entrance at the southern end of the drive existed around the 17th century, although not necessarily in the same location.

He says there is general agreement with the new designs, modified following discussion. Historic Scotland is now supportive, and an objection by the Scottish Civic Trust was withdrawn.

“The revised proposal is sympathetic to Glamis and will make a positive contribution to the estate and the village,” states Historic Scotland.

“The design has a hierarchy which is very important and which was missing from the previous designs.”

The project has sparked the concern of residents, who fear increased traffic, parking in front of properties, pedestrian safety and that it will not enhance the area’s appearance.

Mr Anderson says the existing main entrance can barely take a coach and is close to a junction, which exacerbates a hazard if buses are unable to pass through in one go.

He continues, “Glamis Community Council is aware of the current traffic issue and welcomes the gates in that context, although the community council has expressed reservations over the proximity to the school.

“There is unlikely to be any increase in traffic volume. It will simply be concentrated in a different part of the village.

“Coaches currently travel through Main Street, so there is already a degree of traffic noise in the area,” he said.