By Philip Murray

PROPOSALS FOR a major attraction in Edzell which would create up to 35 jobs are facing a “make or break” week.

The plans, for a visitor centre and garden on the village’s former mart site, were dealt a significant blow last month when councillors backed recommendations to throw the scheme out at the planning stage.

At the time one of the masterminds behind the project, Alan Spence, hit out at a planning procedure he argued was at loggerheads with local opinion.

However a groundswell of support from local residents and businesses has resulted in the plans continuing to limp on.

But the coming week finally looks likely to make or break the proposals, with Mr Spence determined to put the matter to rest “one way or another.”

He has a number of meetings lined up after planners allegedly indicated there might be a degree of flexibility over the final layout. And it is thought that the success or failure of these meetings to resolve the situation will finally bring the matter to an end.

“I haven’t given up on the plans entirely but my concern is that a reduction in the site’s scale could reduce its potential viability,” he told The Courier.

“The whole point of it is that it has to be a ‘destination’ for visitors and not just something people stop at while passing through. So there has to be a balance between a reduction in scale and its long-term viability because there is no point in setting up something which is just going to fail a few months down the line,” he added.

Moving on, Mr Spence also spoke of the support he has received since the original plans were knocked back, and revealed that the centre would now be dead in the water if it weren’t for that show of solidarity.

“I found the whole planning process extremely discouraging and wouldn’t have had a shadow of doubt in my mind about pulling out if it hadn’t been for the messages of support I’ve received from locals,” he continued.

“I came out of that council meeting utterly convinced the project was dead, and I almost wish I hadn’t received such considerable support in its wake as I could have put the whole thing behind me and just moved on.

“The planners just came out with a list of negatives without mentioning any of the positives and, for my own sanity’s point of view I wish I could just close the door.

“I really mean that. I want this sorted one way or another. I think it may need significant changes if the scheme is to succeed, though.

“One of my investors has, understandably, taken his money and invested it elsewhere, so in the next week or so we need to resolve this one way or another, because we all have a lot of money tied up,” he added.

Mr Spence also hit out at the council report into the handling of his planning application.

The report’s publication was pushed back by councillors last week to allow for a more detailed investigation following criticism of its “limited” scope.

Councillors in the development standards committee had been asked to note the report and its exoneration of the existing planning process. However, some attacked the “flimsy” nature of the review, which they argued barely covered more than a sheet of A4 paper.

Others were also highly critical when they heard that Mr Spence had not been contacted for his comments, despite the investigation being prompted by his complaints in the press.

After a vote it was decided to send the report back for further investigations to be carried out.

“Is the review not just a case of the fox looking after the chickens? When I read that planning was going to conduct a review of planners it just sounded so silly,” said Mr Spence after hearing of the report.

An Angus Council spokesperson said, “At a meeting of development standards on April 29, a review of the Edzell Mart planning application was discussed and a decision was taken to contact the applicant to ascertain his views.

“This will be done in due course.”