By Andrew Jarret

THE DEVELOPER behind the bid to build a Tesco on the site of the former Westburn Foundry in Arbroath has won its appeal against Angus Council’s refusal to grant roads construction consent for the new store.

It means that after a protracted, complex and hugely-expensive five-year planning battle, there is now nothing standing in the way of Tesco building a 3500-square-metre supermarket at the top of High Road Bridge.

Angus Council, which refused the consent on the grounds of road safety, yesterday confirmed, “The Scottish Executive’s enterprise, transport and lifelong learning department has notified the council that the appeal by Gladedale Capital Ltd (formerly Bett Properties Ltd) against the refusal of road construction consent has been upheld by the Scottish ministers.”

The decision to uphold the developer’s appeal, and the timing of the announcement itself— apparently on the same day as the election—has, however, angered local councillors.

There is a view it was a “final swipe” by the departing Labour administration at Holyrood against Angus Council.

“This decision has taken a long time to come and it’s hugely disappointing,” said independent councillor Bob Spink.

“We were against this consent on the grounds of road safety and these concerns remain.

“We live here and we know the problems we already have in this area with traffic, but again local opinion and local democracy has been dismissed.”

Mr Spink said he would be interested to see if Tesco are “as good as their word” and start building a store little more than half the size of the existing Morrison’s supermarket nearby.

He said, “I’m not aware of any moves or efforts to buy Bruce House, which they would need in order to build a bigger store.

“Even if they build this smaller store our argument remains that this does not bring Arbroath’s supermarket retail floor space up to equivalent levels with other towns.

“The appeal decision should have been made months ago, and I find it very suspicious that it was held back until the elections, but what can you do?”

Councillor Alex King was “gobsmacked” by the appeal decision. He said, “Everybody, but everybody, said that the road layout was unsafe.

“This is such a slap in the face. I am amazed at this decision by the Scottish Executive.

“If there are any accidents in the future at this junction it will be wholly down to the Executive who have ignored the wishes of the people of Arbroath and the elected members.

“This is unbelievable. Do elected councillors mean nothing? Did we waste our time standing last week?”

He added, “This stinks all the way to the highest of places.”

The developer of the rival bid for a 5000-square-metre Asda at the Westway Retail Park, which has long been local residents’ and the council’s favoured site, said, “Asda remains wholly committed to realising its ambitions to bring a superstore to the Westway Retail Park.

“Tesco’s plan for a small store does not alter our position.”

Local councillors have attempted to have the Angus local plan amended to include food retail provision at Westway to progress the Asda application.

But it proved to be yet another matter where they were foiled by the Scottish Executive.

A spokesperson for the Gladedale group said yesterday it expects to make a full announcement regarding its plans for Tesco early next week.