Holyrood has been asked to rule on a St Andrews planning application which was compared to putting lipstick on a pig.
Kinnettles Hotel owners have appealed to the Scottish Government after their plans for a coffee kiosk in the town’s conservation area were turned down by councillors.
The proposal involved selling hot drinks and snacks from a converted horse box in Greyfriars Garden.
The corner plot is owned by the hotel and already used by patrons.
However, 50 neighbours objected amid fears they would be disturbed by noise.
And one member of the north east planning committee described the application as silly.
Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Ann Liston said: “It doesn’t enhance the conservation area, it doesn’t enhance the listed buildings.
“It looks pretty silly to have a horse box in gardens like that.
“I would go so far as to say it’s like lipstick on a pig.”
Approval could mean ‘open season’ for applications
The March 8 decision was the second time the Kinnettles Hotel application had been refused.
A previous appeal to Scottish ministers was also refused, but only on the grounds there was not enough information about how the coffee shack would look.
This time, the applicants submitted drawings showing a small, lightweight trailer finished in blue tongue and groove cladding.
And Fife Council planners had recommended approval, saying the hotel had no outdoor space for guests.
Planning officer Mary Stewart said: “The impact is not considered to be significant.”
However, councillors disagreed.
SNP member David McDiarmid feared it could open the floodgates.
He said: “There are 17 gardens along there and if we approve this it would be like open season for planning applications.”
The case will be allocated to a Scottish Government reporter for a ruling in due course.
Conversation