Angus planners have given the unanimous green light to a new equestrian centre and café in Tealing in what its owners say will be a £250,000-a-year boost to the village.
The plan, centred on farm buildings at Mill of Tealing, will go ahead in the face of opposition over traffic fears relating to both the village and the blackspot junction with the nearby A90 dual carriageway.
Planning chiefs had given an approval recommendation to the ambitious proposal, which applicant John McLean told Angus development standards committee was the realisation of a long-held ambition connected with his passion for horses.
The new facility will include an indoor arena, café and retail area and an outdoor area, with hacking ground.
Mr McLean said research had highlighted a clear need for additional Angus provision, with other local stables operating close to capacity. He assured councillors those using the centre would be discouraged from taking their mounts onto the local roads.
The café will be open seven days a week and the applicant said the intention was to sell local produce, as well as promoting local artists.
“We hope to create a facility that the community will use and be proud of,” he told councillors.
However, John Adamson of Tealing community council told the committee: “The community council strongly supports local objections, largely relating to road safety, poor access and increased traffic at the A90 junction.”
Opponents said the sharp corner on which the steading sits could be a hazard for users of the facility and other drivers.
“We genuinely fear that approval will result in dangerous increased traffic flows and put lives at risk,” he said.
Supporting approval, Councillor Bob Myles said: “Much has been made of the traffic issues, but I feel if anything this will help to moderate traffic in the immediate vicinity.
“Anyone going round the sharp corner there is foolish.”
He added: “I do, however, recognise that access to the main road is not ideal but I don’t think it should be tied to this application at all.
“I think this is a good use of the land and buildings and I welcome it.”
Tealing community council has been pursuing improvements at the A90 junction, which they say has been a blackspot for two decades.
Average speed cameras are due to be switched on shortly as part of a scheme covering the trunk road between Dundee and Stonehaven, but the community council has been pushing for a speed limit reduction to 50 miles per hour on the stretch from the north of Dundee to the Glamis turn-off at Petterden.
